Waiting on Wednesday: Crossroads of Canopy by Thoraiya Dyer

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released!

This week's upcoming book spotlight is:

Crossroads of Canopy by Thoraiya Dyer

Publication Date: January 31st, 2017
Little, Brown Books

Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

From Goodreads:

At the highest level of a giant forest, thirteen kingdoms fit seamlessly together to form the great city of Canopy. Thirteen goddesses and gods rule this realm and are continuously reincarnated into human bodies. Canopy’s position in the sun, however, is not without its dark side. The nation’s opulence comes from the labor of slaves, and below its fruitful boughs are two other realms: Understorey and Floor, whose deprived citizens yearn for Canopy’s splendor.

Unar, a determined but destitute young woman, escapes her parents’ plot to sell her into slavery by being selected to serve in the Garden under the goddess Audblayin, ruler of growth and fertility. As a Gardener, she yearns to become Audblayin’s next Bodyguard while also growing sympathetic towards Canopy's slaves.

When Audblayin dies, Unar sees her opportunity for glory – at the risk of descending into the unknown dangers of Understorey to look for a newborn god. In its depths, she discovers new forms of magic, lost family connections, and murmurs of a revolution that could cost Unar her chance…or grant it by destroying the home she loves. 

I think what attracts me to this book is both the fact that I've never heard of Thoraiya Dyer and also that the summary describes an incredibly intricate and unique-sounding plot. I am really intrigued by the sound of this one.

What do you think about this upcoming release? What are your anticipated upcoming releases?

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Top Five Tuesday: 5 Favorite Book Podcasts

Top Ten Tuesday is weekly book blog meme hosted by the lovely girls over at The Broke and the Bookish. 

This week's topic is anything audio related, so I have chosen to share some of my favorite book podcasts! I've only just recently (within the past few months) really gotten into podcasts, so while there are tons of other great book-related podcasts still out there, these are a few that I am particularly fond of and always make sure to listen to. Eventually I will look into some other ones, but these ones are keeping me pretty busy for the moment. The best thing about all of these and my having just discovered them is that there are so many backlist episodes to listen to... :D

1. Overdue

Website description: "Overdue is a podcast about the books you've been meaning to read. Join Andrew and Craig each week as they tackle a new title from their backlog. Classic literature, obscure plays, goofy murder mysteries: they'll read it all, one overdue book at a time."

Overdue never fails to make me laugh with each and every episode. I love listening to hosts Andrew and Craig tell each other about the books they read and all the crazy ideas and conversations that result. They cover a wide range of books from Island of the Blue Dolphins to The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes to Flowers in the Attic, so I promise you'll never be bored. 

2. Book Riot Podcast

Website summary: "The Podcast is a weekly news and talk show about what's new, cool, and worth talking about in the world of books and reading, brought to you by the editors of Book Riot."

The Book Riot podcast is one of my favorites because of how varied the topics can be. They cover different book events, conferences, book related news (such as converting yeast from Roald Dahl's chair into beer (???)), and it's an all-around good time. Jeff O'Neal and Amanda Nelson are the most common hosts, and although they are great at discussing the funny aspects of book news, they also do a wonderful job of discussing the more serious aspects facing books and the publishing industry with passion, such as issues of diversity.

3. All the Books

Website Description: "All the Books is a weekly show of recommendations and discussions about the most interesting and exciting new book releases."

This is also a Book Riot podcast, but this one specifically focuses on new releases, which is a great way for me to keep up to date with all the new books! What I really like about this one is that they cover both the popular mainstream new releases, but also some of the not as hyped ones that are still equally great reads - and all in a variety of genres -  so I appreciate the wide coverage. 

4. Literary Disco

[Website description too long to paste]

Literary Disco is hosted by Julia Pistell, Tod Goldberg, and Rider Strong. The basis of the show is that the three friends read books, poetry, or essays and then discuss them! Of course, there are always other shenanigans and stories being told that add great entertainment value. Out of these five podcasts, Literary Disco probably holds the most in-depth discussions on various subjects, which is great if you're into some more intense discussion. There are also games, the occasional live shows, and author visits. (Side note: after listening to this podcast for a couple weeks and thinking that Rider's voice was so familiar, I finally looked him up and realized that he was Shaun from Boy Meets World. Go figure.)

5. Get Booked

Website description: "Get Booked is a weekly show of custom book recommendations."

Who doesn't love custom book recommendations? Each week, two hosts (it sometimes varies) take reader book recommendation questions and give their own suggestions. The suggestions are always incredibly spot-on and cover various aspects of the reader's question. Some of the requests are pretty relevant to my own taste, and even the ones that aren't are a great way for me to be introduced to new books. I often find myself jotting down random book titles on anything that is available - napkins, notepads, my skin...

Do you listen to any book podcasts? I'm always looking for more, so feel free to share!

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A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess

*A Shadow Bright and Burning will be released Tuesday, September 20th!*

A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess. Random House, 2016. Paperback/Softcover. 416 pages.

*I received a printed ARC of A Shadow Bright and Burning courtesy of Random House in exchange for an honest review.*

Jessica Cluess' debut novel begins the story of Henrietta Howel, who is believed to be the first, prophesied female sorcerer, a rare quality in the male-dominated world of magicians. As Henrietta begins her training to become a fully-fledged sorcerer, she starts to struggle and second-guess whether she even is the prophesied one.

A Shadow Bright and Burning felt both unique and familiar. The overall idea of a protagonist discovering their powers and traveling to a 'school' to learn more with other, more advanced pupils seem like an age-old tale (but I suppose it is popular for a reason). However, the ideas and magic system created feel fresh, and I truly enjoyed reading about every aspect.

As mentioned, I am a huge fan of this magic system. It felt very concrete (well, for the most part) and it had 'rules' that overall actually made sense. I liked that there was such a huge difference between what magicians and sorcerers are, and the explanations were fascinating. For instance, magicians create conduits of power with the elements, whereas sorcerers merely act as conductors and  alter/etc. the elements. This also perfectly sets up the background for why magicians are inherently seen as being more evil, as they can sort of create their own catastrophes.

Henrietta Howel is our main character, and I'm not sure how I feel about her. She's very stuck on tradition and acting 'like a lady,' which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it got a little old sometimes. However, I did appreciate how bold and unafraid she was, at times, and how she was willing to stand up for herself and own the fact that yes, she is a woman, but no, she is not going to accept your sexist views.

I enjoyed many of the supporting characters, such as Rook, Lilly, Magnus, Hargrove, and Blackwood. Hargrove is an incredible character, and I'm pretty sure he is one of my favorites in this book. Lilly is a sweet lady's maid to Henrietta, though I must say she was pretty similar to other lady's maids from other books, so perhaps that just shows Cluess really got the part down. I enjoyed the rest of the characters as well (including those not named here), and I'm sure I would have enjoyed many of the others if I had seen them more. I understand that there's only so much time to have other characters in the fray, but I missed seeing some of the other boys at the 'school' where Henrietta studied. They were always there, but rarely discussed, so when they suddenly become much more prominent at the end of the book, I found myself feeling like they were just sort of thrown in there.

There were a few surprises along the way that felt somewhat predictable, but fortunately this didn't really detract from my enjoyment of the book. A Shadow Bright and Burning was so entertaining and well-written that I didn't care about a few of the cliches or stereotypes used. And while most people like to complain about love triangles, I'm not sure I minded this one, - and I'm not sure if I would even call it one - simply because it wasn't prominent. It definitely wasn't at the forefront, and there was never anything overtly annoying or in your face about it. Sure, flirtations and romantic interests were apparent, but it wasn't like most of the dreaded, constantly fretted about love triangles found in other books, so please don't let reviews that mention this take away any potential interest in reading this book.

Lastly, I'd just like to touch on Cluess' world building. This world was great to me, because it was set in a realistic world in what feels like the nineteenth century, complete with mentions of historical events and even America, but it was also fantastical and full of a magical background/lore that flowed perfectly throughout the setting.

This was honestly a really fun and enjoyable ride. I truly enjoyed learning the lore, the history of the magic, and the rules and how it is and can be used. Cluess has created a truly exciting world that I cannot wait to read more of, and thus I am giving A Shadow Bright and Burning four stars!

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You might also like:
Like a River Glorious by Rae Carson
Arabella of Mars by David Levine
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Hidden Huntress by Danielle Jensen

Lock and Key: The Initiation by Ridley Pearson

*Lock and Key: The Initiation will be released Tuesday, September 20th!*

Lock and Key: The Initiation by Ridley Pearson. HarperCollins, 2016. Paperback. 386 pages.

*I received a printed ARC of Lock and Key courtesy of HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.*

Sherlock Holmes is a well-loved detective character that has been featured in countless books, television shows, movies, and many other forms of entertainment. James Moriarty is the prolific criminal mastermind and nemesis of Holmes, and his role has been increased in many subsequent works of fiction based off of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original.

Lock and Key brings the classic feud of Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty to the present day, where the two attend Baskerville Academy and are placed together as roommates. The two do not hit it off, and James takes an immediate dislike to Sherlock's observant and somewhat arrogant nature. The story kicks off when the headmaster of the school announces that a valuable Bible has been stolen, and not long after this announcement James begins to receive mysterious red envelopes with difficult riddles that he must attempt to solve.

The story, however, is not narrated by James, - as one might expect - but is instead narrated by his younger sister, Moria. I found this to be quite a clever idea, and it worked well for a majority of the novel, though it did become a bit confusing in certain narrative events and seemed to be forgotten about sometimes. I also would have liked to read this story from  James' perspective, considering the book is essentially centered around him and his own journey from a loyal companion to his sister at their home to a harsh, troubled boy at their new boarding school. Despite this, reading from Moria's perspective gives the reader some unique perspectives on various events that occur, and also shows us how both James and Moria change over the course of their stay at Baskerville, though in two very different directions. It makes me wonder if it would have been possible for James to not become as hateful as he did, or if this was just in his nature.

Pearson excellently captures Sherlock's sharp, impossibly intelligent mind and also greatly enhances his arrogance - in fact, Sherlock is not the most likable character in many instances. But then there is also the rather unlikable James Moriarty as well, who acts as both a contrast and a similar character to Sherlock. Both boys are stubborn and fairly sure of themselves, and neither one likes to show any form of weakness, which in fact seems to be a weakness in itself.

My main problem with Lock and Key was how long-winded it became. I appreciate the fact that Pearson put so much effort into creating an extremely intricate story with many details, but it just became too confusing as the book progressed past the promising beginning. I found myself somewhat bored in many various periods of tediously long explanations and dialogues. This is marketed as a children's book, but I can see younger readers becoming a bit bored with this one, despite the initial hook and strong beginning.

For mystery fans, Lock and Key is filled with a perfect combination of ingredients: anonymous clues in the form of riddles, a secret society, enigmatic characters, and a slew of difficult problems to solve. Overall, I am giving Lock and Key three stars; while it was enjoyable, the confusing parts in the latter half of the novel and extensive explanation hindered my enjoyment a bit too much for me to give it more stars.

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You might also like:
Over the Underworld by Adam Shaughnessy
Sunborn Rising: Beneath the Fall by Aaron Safronoff
The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse by Brian Farrey

Blog Tour + Giveaway Part Two - The Storybook Knight by Helen and Thomas Docherty

Today I am excited to announce the blog tour for Helen and Thomas Docherty's The Storybook Knight, the second and final part in a two-part blog tour with Sourcebooks! You can find the main page for The Storybook Knight here.

Even dragons can’t resist a good story…

Even though Leo would rather sit at home and read, his parents send him out into the world in the hopes that Leo will become a famous knight. But when Leo comes up against the land’s most fearsome beasts, he soon discovers that scary monsters enjoy a good book as much as anyone…

The Storybook Knight is yet another highly imaginative and entertaining picture book that is sure to bring a smile to readers of all ages.

Leo is the most endearing and heartwarming character that I have come across in ages, and his charming qualities are only enhanced by his pacifist nature and love of books. This book is not only a great story, but also teaches children that books are a great way to find conflict resolution, and that there is also nothing wrong with being a reader! The story is also told in a lovely rhyming pattern that makes it flow well and is thus perfect for reading aloud.

The artwork is simply delightful, as it embodies a traditional form of illustration that brings me back to my own childhood. The characters are all wonderfully depicted and full of life and brought many smiles to my face. I cannot wait until I have my own children so that I can read this story to them, and I am sure to pick this up for a few of the young ones within the rest of my family and friends.

Below is a Rafflecopter giveaway that gives you the opportunity to win an original sketch of Leo and Ned by illustrator Thomas Docherty!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Storybook Knight Website: http://books.sourcebooks.com/the-storybook-knight-join/ 
Be sure to pledge your allegiance and receive your very own certificate of membership!

Activity Kit/Educator Guide

HELEN DOCHERTY has spent most of her career as a language teacher, most recently specializing in Spanish. 

Website: www.helendocherty.com
Twitter: @docherty_helen

THOMAS DOCHERTY studied metalwork and sculpture at college before becoming an illustrator of children’s books.



Website: www.thomasdocherty.com

Twitter: @TDIllustration

Biography information and photo from http://books.sourcebooks.com/the-storybook-knight-dochertys/.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Beast is an Animal by Peternelle van Arsdale

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released!

This week's upcoming book spotlight is:

The Beast is an Animal by Peternelle van Arsdale

Publication Date: March 7th, 2017
Little, Brown Books

Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

From Goodreads:

Alys was seven when the soul eaters came to her village.

These soul eaters, twin sisters who were abandoned by their father and slowly morphed into something not quite human, devour human souls. Alys, and all the other children, were spared—and they were sent to live in a neighboring village. There the devout people created a strict world where good and evil are as fundamental as the nursery rhymes children sing. Fear of the soul eaters—and of the Beast they believe guides them—rule village life. But the Beast is not what they think it is. And neither is Alys.

Inside, Alys feels connected to the soul eaters, and maybe even to the Beast itself. As she grows from a child to a teenager, she longs for the freedom of the forest. And she has a gift she can tell no one, for fear they will call her a witch. When disaster strikes, Alys finds herself on a journey to heal herself and her world. A journey that will take her through the darkest parts of the forest, where danger threatens her from the outside—and from within her own heart and soul. 

Everything about this one just screams 'intrigue' to me, and I am dying to find out more about it!

What do you think about this upcoming release? What are your anticipated upcoming releases?

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First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

First Chapter Tuesday is hosted every Tuesday by Diane over at Bibiophile by the Sea. Join the fun by making your own post and linking up over at Diane's blog, or simple check it out to find more new books to read!

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

Greenwillow Books, July 2016. Hardcover | Kindle | 464 pages

First paragraph:

"The night Kate Harker decided to burn down the school chapel, she wasn’t angry or drunk. She was desperate.

Burning down the church was really a last resort; she’d already broken a girl’s nose, smoked in the dormitories, cheated on her first exam, and verbally harassed three of the nuns. But no matter what she did, St. Agnes Academy kept forgiving her. That was the problem with Catholic schools. They saw her as someone to be saved.

But Kate didn’t need salvation; she simply needed out."*


I just finished This Savage Song and it was such a thrilling book. The monsters, worldbuilding, and character development are all outstanding, and I felt compelled to make this my First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intro for today!

What do you think? Would you keep reading? (And feel free to join in and make your own post!)

If you're enticed by this chapter, be sure to check out the full synopsis on Goodreads!

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*Excerpt taken from the novel itself; I do claim to own any part of the excerpt.