Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Hod King by Josiah Bancroft & Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee

Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

This week's upcoming book spotlight is:

The Hog King by Josiah Bancroft
 Publication Date: January 22nd, 2018

Orbit 
608 pages

Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository 

From Goodreads: 

"Fearing an uprising, the Sphinx sends Senlin to investigate a plot that has taken hold in the ringdom of Pelphia. Alone in the city, Senlin infiltrates a bloody arena where hods battle for the public's entertainment. But his investigation is quickly derailed by a gruesome crime and an unexpected reunion. 

Posing as a noble lady and her handmaid, Voleta and Iren attempt to reach Marya, who is isolated by her fame. While navigating the court, Voleta attracts the unwanted attention of a powerful prince whose pursuit of her threatens their plan. 

Edith, now captain of the Sphinx's fierce flagship, joins forces with a fellow wakeman to investigate the disappearance of a beloved friend. She must decide who to trust as her desperate search brings her nearer to the Black Trail where the hods climb in darkness and whisper of the Hod King. 

As Senlin and his crew become further dragged in to the conspiracies of the Tower, everything falls to one question: Who is The Hod King?"

608 pages? That's almost two hundred pages more than either of the first two books, so I'm really excited to see what is going to be in all of that. I've been really enjoying this series, so the fact that this is out in about two months is extremely exciting.

             and...

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
 Rick Riordan Presents

304 pages

Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository 

From Goodreads: 

"Rick Riordan Presents Yoon Ha Lee’s space opera about thirteen-year-old Min, who comes from a long line of fox spirits. But you’d never know it by looking at her. 

To keep the family safe, Min’s mother insists that none of them use any fox-magic, such as Charm or shape-shifting. They must appear human at all times. Min feels hemmed in by the household rules and resents the endless chores, the cousins who crowd her, and the aunties who judge her. She would like nothing more than to escape Jinju, her neglected, dust-ridden, and impoverished planet. She’s counting the days until she can follow her older brother, Jun, into the Space Forces and see more of the Thousand Worlds. 

When word arrives that Jun is suspected of leaving his post to go in search of the Dragon Pearl, Min knows that something is wrong. Jun would never desert his battle cruiser, even for a mystical object rumored to have tremendous power. She decides to run away to find him and clear his name. 

Min’s quest will have her meeting gamblers, pirates, and vengeful ghosts. It will involve deception, lies, and sabotage. She will be forced to use more fox-magic than ever before, and to rely on all of her cleverness and bravery. The outcome may not be what she had hoped, but it has the potential to exceed her wildest dreams. 

This sci-fi adventure with the underpinnings of Korean mythology will transport you to a world far beyond your imagination."

This sounds like a ride and I am here for it. I love that this is a sci-fi mixed with Korean mythology influences because that's not something that I think I've seen, and it sounds wonderful.

What do you think about these upcoming releases? What are your anticipated upcoming releases?

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Top Ten Tuesday: A Few of My Favorite Friend & Sibling Relationships

            

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly book blog meme now hosted by Jana over at The Artsy Reader Girl!

This week's topic is: Platonic Relationships in Books
I've actually been planning  a sibling/friendship type of post for the future,  so I figured I'd just share a few of each for this topic! There are a lot of platonic relationships that I like in different books, so it was tricky to try to narrow some down. I do often wish that there were more books focused on platonic relationships rather than romantic ones, but I'm still happy with the ones that we do have so far. What are some of your favorite platonic relationships in books?

Sibling Relationships:

I love a good sibling relationship, whether it's one where both sibling love each other and get along really well or whether it's a difficult one where the two often struggle with one another. Here are a few sibling relationships that have really stood out to me. 

  

 

Kandri and Mektu Hinjuman
from Master Assassins by Robert V.S. Redick: This brotherly relationship is contentious at best, but I love how these two always seem to stick together and help each other in the end, even when one of them can't seem to stand the other. - Review
Amazon | Book Depository

Kaspar and Emil
from The Toymakers by Robert Dinsdale: This is another somewhat contentious relationship. It has its good moments, but it devolves into something a bit hot and cold, and it was a really interesting brother-brother relationship to follow. - Review
Amazon | Book Depository

Kara and Taff
from The Thickety: A Path Begins by J.A. White: Kara and -- are an awesome brother-sister team. I love Kara's protectiveness over her younger brother, and I love that her brother always seems to be there to help her and calm her down when things get tense. I also particularly like that Kara is always willing to note how intelligent her brother is and how helpful he can be--it's a really positive thing that I like to see in books.
Amazon | Book Depository

Liesl and Josef
Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones: This is a tough relationship between --- and her brother --. It's a very delicate one that goes through some extreme emotions, but it's one that I think has a lot of really interesting facets to explore. - Review
Amazon | Book Depository

Sophie and Kristos
Torn by Rowenna Miller: This felt like the more classic brother-sister relationship where the brother is always getting into trouble and the sister wishes he would just be a bit more tame. I like that in the end they are each able to teach one another something, and that each cares about the other so much. - Review
Amazon | Book Depository

Friendships:

There is nothing that I love more in books than a good friend group. Honestly, any strong friendship is welcome in my books because it's such a fulfilling type of relationship to see, and I particularly enjoy seeing the different types of people that are brought together and what keeps them friends through the struggles of life (or, you know, pulling off major heists or attempting to save the world.) Also, Harry Potter friendships will always be my top, but I'm not including them because it feels a bit obvious for me to do so. Here are some friendships I love!

  

  

Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart: These kids are the best. They are all so different, yet somehow all provide the perfect piece to their friendship puzzle. I love having the opportunity to go along with them on their quests and solve their puzzles with them. This is a middle grade series, but it's perfect for any age.

Amazon | Book Depository

Phedre and Hyacinthe 

Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey: Although their friendship doesn't get an excessive amount of time, I think everything about their relationship is so unique and special. They meet in such an unexpected way and are so very different from one another, yet also so alike. They have a truly deep friendship that I admire. - Review

Amazon | Book Depository

Davian, Wirr, and Asha

The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington: These three are incredible. Although they are often separated at various times throughout the book, they are always thinking about how the others are doing and will stop at nothing to be there for one another. - Review

Amazon | Book Depository

Kaz, Jesper, Inej, Nina, Matthias, and Wylan

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo: This is probably a pretty popular friendship group in the book world, but it's not without good reason. This group has some of the best better, the best adventures, and the best love (although some find it hard to show it) for each other.

Amazon | Book Depository

Jackal, Oats, and Fetch

The Grey Bastards by Jonathan French: This is a pretty 'tough love' group of friends that have no problem ragging on one other about anything, but at the end of the day they all love each other and have each other's backs. I love these types of friendships. - Review

Amazon | Book Depository

Richard, Henry, Bunny, Francis, Charles, and Camilla

The Secret History by Donna Tartt: I think it's safe to say that this is a...dysfunctional  group of friends, tp say the least, but it's also one of my all-time favorites. 

Amazon | Book Depository

Have you read any of these books? What are some of your favorite friend/sibling relationships in books?

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Review: Queen of Nod (The Balance #2) by C.W. Snyder

*Queen of Nod is now available!*

Queen of Nod (The Balance #2) by C.W. Snyder
Curiosity Quills Press, 2018

Ebook. 274 pages.

About Queen of Nod:

"Alice hoped to find peace after the death of the Red Queen. Instead, she faces a new foe: a plague of madness that threatens to bring Nod to its knees, shaking the foundations of the afterlife. Forced to flee from her home and abandon her throne, she is led on a journey that has the potential to remake or break her. 

From the forest world of the Fae to the expanse of the multiverse, Alice and Zee search desperately for a cure before it's too late. Along the way, they meet new companions and enemies - the powerful and deadly Magi, the changeling princess Maggie, and the Triad, a sinister trio of brothers who would stop at nothing to subjugate all they see. 

The fate of Nod hangs in the balance, and the key might just lie in the one place Alice has never dared to go - the depths of her own mind."

I read and reviewed the first book in The Balance series, Child of Nod, earlier this year and was deeply impressed by this darkly imaginative take on the classic Alice in Wonderland story. In this series, Alice wakes up to find herself not in Wonderland, but in Nod, a corrupted fairy tale land where she also discover that she is, in fact, dead. In Child of Nod we got to know Alice as she discovered exactly where she was and what her purpose was, and now in Queen of Nod we get to follow Alice as even more challenges befall her as she takes on her role as queen.

As a sequel, Queen of Nod did not disappoint me in the slightest and is just as imaginative and sinister as the first book. I wasn't entirely sure where the story would pick up in the sequel or what the main plot conflict would be (and I won't give spoilers), so I was very pleased to see the direction that Snyder did choose to take the story. One of my favorite aspects of the first book was the inclusion of so many different hints of different myths and classic stories that popped up in various places, and I was so glad to see that this continued in this book. The pacing in this book also felt slightly faster than Child of Nod, and it seemed as though there was a bit more action overall in this book, which was a great addition. The world-building was expanded even more and there are a myriad of new creatures and beings introduced that I loved, although at times it did feel a bit overwhelming to remember everything. 

In Queen of Nod, we get a closer look in the inside of Alice's head, as that is where one of the main sources of conflict for this book lies. This was done with such an interesting perspective that added some extra depth to Alice's character and allowed me to dive further into the darkest parts of Nod along with her. Although we got to know Alice quite well in the first book, I didn't fully connect to her at the time and this book seemed to expand her character just enough to really help me feel more connected to her.

There are plenty of gore and horror elements in this book, so do keep that in mind if you feel are sensitive to that sort of content. That being said, none of these elements are done in an excessive or unnecessary manner--it all seemed to fit the story and the specific event taking place at the time really well, and I appreciate Snyder's taste in that aspect. I also really enjoyed the way that the narrative tends to jump around at times between different (and sometimes unexpected) characters, especially since each one's voice felt very distinct from the other. There is oftentimes a dreamlike quality to the narrative that adds an extra element of intrigue to the storytelling.

I love my stories dark and creepy, and that is one reason why I have enjoyed these books as much as I have. Snyder manages to tell a story that is endlessly creative and full of wonder, yet also incredibly dark, unsettling, and full of grim realities and frightful events. It speaks to something very real about our world and how this darkness seems to exist everywhere. 

Overall, I've given Queen of Nod four stars! If you have an open mind and like some creepy Alice-inspired retellings or just some quirky, creative stories in general, then I encourage you to check these stories out.

Buy the book: Amazon

*I received a copy of Queen of Nod courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating of the novel.*

You might also like:
Child of Nod by C.W. Snyder
Gilded Ashes by Rosamund Hodge
The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Review: Banebringer by Carol A. Park

Banebringer by Carol A. Park

Shattered Soul Books, 2018

Ebook. 597 pages.

About Banebringer:

"'Banebringers. Source of the bloodbane who stalk the land. Cause of a thousand wrongs. Despised. Cast out. Hunted. 

Vaughn never asked for the powers of a long-forgotten moon goddess. But rarely do the gods give humans a choice when using them in their machinations. Now Vaughn is a Banebringer, loathed by all who discover his true identity—even his father, a man obsessed with his own power and bent on destroying Vaughn's miserable life. 

Vaughn is desperate to end his father before the madman ends him. But to do so he'll need the skills of Ivana, a vindictive assassin with her own scores to settle. The only question is whether Vaughn can keep himself from becoming another of her targets long enough to see his father eliminated."

Well here's another stunning self-published fantasy to add to the 'must-read' list! Just when I think there's no way I could read yet another great fantasy debut, I'm proven wrong. Banebringer is an exciting, well-developed, and deeply intriguing fantasy that I am so glad to have had the chance to read.

There are a lot of things to praise in this book, but I'll start with the world-building and magic system. The magic system itself is really incredible. It's of the elemental variety, which is a type of magic that I always enjoying exploring, and it was also the type of magic I actively enjoying learning about. It has some unique elements that really stood out to me and that really elevated the quality and strength of this book. It's easy for magic systems to be overly complex at the beginning of a fantasy novel and turn readers off, so I was particularly impressed with the one Park has created for this world.

The world-building is also incredibly strong and I found myself completely immersed in it. It's a darker world that lends itself to dark fantasy well without falling into the straight-out grimdark category, and it has so much detail that really makes this feel like a complete world 

There are two main characters that we follow, Vaughn and Ivana, and both were fantastic. The setup is sort of the classic hate-to-friends relationship due to some seriously clashing personalities, and while I know some people dislike this scenario, I can't help but love it. I also want to note that the antagonist in this one was so well done and I really liked how Park crafted their motives and story together with the two main protagonists. 

Ivana is a talented assassin with a tough exterior and an assertive personality that won't let anyone walk over her, while Vaughn comes across as more shallow and power-obsessed. They were both well-developed and brought so much life to the story, adding some drama, some humor, and some authenticity. Ivana may be hard-shelled, but she still feels deeply; Vaughn may seem shallow, but there is so much more to him than meets the eye In a book of this size, it's extra important to have multi-dimensional characters that you can become attached to, and Park did this wonderfully. Even the secondary characters seemed carefully developed and added to the story in productive ways.

For being nearly 600 pages, this book is surprisingly fast-paced and leaves very little in the way of lagging, which is an impressive feat for such an epic fantasy. I found myself glued to the pages and constantly looking forward to what was next, which, again, can be quite a challenge with a hefty tome.

Overall, I have very little to critique of Banebringer and can easily recommend this to any fantasy fans out there--4.5 stars from me!

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

*I received a copy of Banebringer courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review. This has no effect on my rating of the book.*

You might also like:
Kings of Paradise by Richard Nell
We Ride the Storm by Devin Madson