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The Blackstone Ritual Book Review: A Discussion About Author Ethics
Okay, so this review will be a little bit different from any others that I have written, mostly because along with reviewing the book, I want to talk about the manipulative marketing techniques the author appears to have employed in order to boost sales of his books. This review will contain spoilers, mostly because this review is (hopefully) intended to prevent people from supporting an author that seems to resort to these tactics. In many ways, the situation is reminiscent of the Handbook for Mortals by Lani Sarem, who conned her way onto the NYT Bestseller List by bulk buying copies of her own book. From Goodreads: Throughout the kingdoms…
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The Bone Shard Daughter Book Review
The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart From Goodreads: The emperor’s reign has lasted for decades, his mastery of bone shard magic powering the animal-like constructs that maintain law and order. But now his rule is failing, and revolution is sweeping across the Empire’s many islands. Lin is the emperor’s daughter and spends her days trapped in a palace of locked doors and dark secrets. When her father refuses to recognise her as heir to the throne, she vows to prove her worth by mastering the forbidden art of bone shard magic. Yet such power carries a great cost, and when the revolution reaches the gates of the palace, Lin…
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All the Stars and Teeth Book Review
All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace From Goodreads: Set in a kingdom where danger lurks beneath the sea, mermaids seek vengeance with song, and magic is a choice. She will reign. As princess of the island kingdom Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her entire life training to be High Animancer — the master of souls. The rest of the realm can choose their magic, but for Amora, it’s never been a choice. To secure her place as heir to the throne, she must prove her mastery of the monarchy’s dangerous soul magic. When her demonstration goes awry, Amora is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with Bastian, a…
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July TBR: 2020
Since we’re now a few days into July, I thought I’d share my To Be Read list for this month. My apartment is slowly getting taken over by books. There’s no room on the shelves, and there are several teetering piles of novels in the bedroom, so I’ve had to put myself on a physical book buying ban until we (hopefully) move in September to (hopefully) somewhere with more space for shelves. I’m still getting monthly boxes from Illumicrate and Fairyloot, and I’ve still treated myself to the special edition Shades of Magic box, but I think, unless there are any other incredibly amazing special edition boxes coming out between…
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The Damned Book Review
The Damned by Renee Ahdieh From Goodreads: Following the events of The Beautiful, Sébastien Saint Germain is now cursed and forever changed. The treaty between the Fallen and the Brotherhood has been broken, and war between the immortals seems imminent. The price of loving Celine was costly. But Celine has also paid a high price for loving Bastien. Still recovering from injuries sustained during a night she can’t quite remember, her dreams are troubled. And she doesn’t know she has inadvertently set into motion a chain of events that could lead to her demise and unveil a truth about herself she’s not quite ready to learn. Forces hiding in the shadows…
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Venom Book Review
Venom by Bex Hogan From Goodreads: Marianne has never wanted to be a fighter, but with unrest and discord threatening the Twelve Islands, she will have to battle threats both inside and out in an attempt to attain peace for her homeland. Marianne is now the Viper, but her hopes for peace in the Eastern Isles are being frustrated. The corrupt King remains on the throne, bandits are proving hard to stop and Marianne is not sure who among her crew she can truly trust. For the islands to prosper, the invisible bond that once existed uniting land and sea must be reinstated. There’s only one way that can happen –…
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Dangerous Remedy Book Review
Dangerous Remedy by Kat Dunn From Goodreads: Camille, a revolutionary’s daughter, leads a band of outcasts – a runaway girl, a deserter, an aristocrat in hiding. As the Battalion des Mortes they cheat death, saving those about to meet a bloody end at the blade of Madame La Guillotine. But their latest rescue is not what she seems. The girl’s no aristocrat, but her dark and disturbing powers means both the Royalists and the Revolutionaries want her. But who and what is she? In these dangerous days, no one can be trusted, everyone is to be feared. As Camille learns the truth, she’s forced to choose between loyalty to those she…
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Wishlist Wednesday: The Faithless Hawk
The Faithless Hawk by Margaret Owen When is it released: July 28th What is it about?: As the new chieftain of the Crows, Fie knows better than to expect a royal to keep his word. Still she’s hopeful that Prince Jasimir will fulfill his oath to protect her fellow Crows. But then black smoke fills the sky, signaling the death of King Surimir and the beginning of Queen Rhusana’s merciless bid for the throne. With the witch queen using the deadly plague to unite the nation of Sabor against Crows—and add numbers to her monstrous army—Fie and her band are forced to go into hiding, leaving the country to be ravaged…
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Recommendations: YA Books by Black Authors
Hey everyone, Hope your Mondays are all going okay. Today, I wanted to take an opportunity to highlight some amazing YA books by Black authors. In light of what’s happening in America and around the world right now, I want to do my best to continue to educate myself on these issues, and to do better in making sure to support Black authors and creators going forwards. In the interests of full disclosure the list of books I’m posting today is going to be split into three parts– books that I’ve read that I’m recommending, books that are currently on my TBR and I will hopefully get to soon, and…
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Sunday Chart
It’s been a loooong time since I last wrote one of these, but I thought I’d take this chance to start up doing a Sunday Chart again, based on my recent reads. I’m hoping, in the next few weeks, to pick back up on the reviews, since I’ve actually been reading a lot recently but just not quite feeling like writing reviews of the books I’ve read. Aurora Burning by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman Dangerous Remedy by Kat Dunn The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson The Education of Margot Sanchez by Lilliam Rivera Descendant of the Crane by Joan He Dear Martin by…
