Stacking the Shelves/The Sunday Post #7

 

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

Happy Sunday everyone! The weather has been so weird this week for me lol! We had a super hot day, then two days of SNOW, then back to warmer weather! I seriously do not know how to dress these days lol. I am officially done school, last exam was Wednesday so I have a free summer! I don't even know what to do with so much free time lol. I currently work Tues-Wed-Thurs-Sat, so I put in an application to another office for Mon-Fri work. We'll see what happens but if not, I guess I have those days for reading lol! 

Last Week on my Blog:

Monday: It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Tuesday: The Murder Game by Carrie Doyle - Review

Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday 

Thursday: The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin - Review

Friday: Book Blogger Hop

Saturday: Legend of the Lakes by Clara O'Connor - Review

This Week on my Blog: 

Monday: It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Tuesday: Crimson Tears Book Blitz (with Giveaway!)

Wednesday: Can't Wait Wednesday

Thursday: The New Husband by D.J. Palmer Review

Friday: Book Blogger Hop

Saturday: Some Other Now by Sarah Everett Review

Sunday: Stacking the Shelves/The Sunday Post

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit Reading Reality!

I picked up some great books this week! I feel so guilty about this but I actually have never read any Sarah J. Maas books... *gasp* I know lol. But I am going to change that soon as I picked up almost the entire Throne of Glass series!

Purchased Myself:

Received from NetGalley:

Legend of the Lakes by Clara O'Connor

 

Title: Legend of the Lakes (The Once and Future Queen #3)
Author: Clara O'Connor
Publish Date: June 24th, 2021
Publisher: One More Chapter
Source: Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for review!

I thought to die that night in the solitude where they would never find me…

Cassandra stands silent upon a ravaged battlefield, watching as the druids prepare the dead for the pyres, embers drifting up into the still winter darkness. She can barely breathe through the agony of her grief, but she cannot waste another second on tears.

Because Londinium, the Caesar, the empire… all of it is still out there. The empire whose code she had followed, whose prince she had promised to marry, whose schemes she had been swept up in since birth.

They tried to use her magic against her. To silence her.

So she will use her magic against them. To silence them. Forever.

The third and final chapter of The Once and Future Queen trilogy, this epic scifi fantasy adventure set in a dystopian world where the Romans still rule will enchant fans of Sarah J Maas and Cassandra Clare.

Penelope's Review

*Please DO NOT read this if you haven't read the first two books - SPOILER ALERT*

OMG. I will forever be in love with this series, despite the emotional turmoil Clara O'Connor has put me through. I mean seriously... she tears my heart out, starts to put the pieces back together again, then ambushes me and rips my heart out again (I was ready to throw my Kindle across the wall let me tell you) and then puts the pieces back together again. Like what?! CLARA... MY HEART.... CAN'T!! But it did. And now I feel whole again.

So after the end of the second book, I was upset to put it lightly. By upset I mean my world felt empty and devoid of light and happiness. I mean... who in their right mind creates a character like Devyn... and then KILLS HIM?!?!?! WHAT?! I was 100% convinced that this author was not going to be able to redeem herself, despite a tweet telling me that it was going to be ok lol! 😂 I did not believe her AT ALL but I held out hope.

Needless to say, she redeemed herself. I was very grudgingly brought over to Team Gideon, but was soon a very enthusiastic fan. Gideon was an excellent character. Loyal, loving, dark, straightforward... everything I love in a male lead. I didn't think I would ever like Cassandra with someone other than Devyn but alas... I was proven wrong. Gideon is literally perfect. I can't even. 

Cassandra herself was excellent in this final book. Far from the naïve, slightly self-absorbed person she was in the first book, Cassandra is now self-assured, eager to help her people, and more in tune with her magic. She has to go through quite a bit in this book, but faces everything with heart and determination. 

It speaks to the skill of the author that I was able to fall so thoroughly in love with two different love interests. I cannot wait to read anything and everything that Clara O'Connor comes out with. Perhaps a spinoff featuring Féile? 😉👀 Lol whatever it is, this author has me as a fan for life. Now I have to buy actual physical copies of this trilogy because... how beautiful are these covers right?!

Rating: 5/5 Devils!

Book Blogger Hop

 

This is hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer! Hop over to their page to grab a button and join in the fun!

This Week's Question:

Do you do most of your blog work on a computer, iPad, or phone? (submitted by Elizabeth @ Complex Chaos)

I do 100% of my blogging from a computer! I struggle enough on that screen, I can't even imagine trying to blog from my phone lol! All the coding and formatting... ugh I would cry if I had to work on something other than my laptop!

The Nature of Witches: Rachel Griffin

 

Title: The Nature of Witches
Author: Rachel Griffin
Publish Date: June 1st, 2021
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Source: Huge thank you to Raincoast Books and the publisher for providing an ARC for review!

For centuries, witches have maintained the climate, their power from the sun peaking in the season of their birth. But now their control is faltering as the atmosphere becomes more erratic. All hope lies with Clara, an Everwitch whose rare magic is tied to every season.

In Autumn, Clara wants nothing to do with her power. It's wild and volatile, and the price of her magic―losing the ones she loves―is too high, despite the need to control the increasingly dangerous weather.

In Winter, the world is on the precipice of disaster. Fires burn, storms rage, and Clara accepts that she's the only one who can make a difference.

In Spring, she falls for Sang, the witch training her. As her magic grows, so do her feelings, until she's terrified Sang will be the next one she loses.

In Summer, Clara must choose between her power and her happiness, her duty and the people she loves... before she loses Sang, her magic, and thrusts the world into chaos.

Practical Magic meets Twister in this debut contemporary fantasy standalone about heartbreaking power, the terror of our collapsing atmosphere, and the ways we unknowingly change our fate.

Penelope's Review

 This was a really surprising book. Even after reading the synopsis I wasn't quite sure what this book was going to be like. I was pleasantly surprised at the directions this story went. It ended up being an enjoyable read with a really interesting storyline.

So basically the book is about witches who have full powers in their own seasons, but Clara is an Everwitch which means she has the power of all 4 seasons. Each season has its own characteristics and I really liked that they all seemed to fit well - for example, the Winter witches are very direct and straight forward, the Summer witches are more light hearted, etc. It just worked well and made me feel in tune with each season. 

The book had some really powerful messages about the environment and the impacts that humans are having on it, so that was a really neat aspect. It was a bit odd to realize that this was set in modern society - the idea of witches talking to government officials in this day and age threw me off a bit but didn't retract too much from the story. There were times when I felt this was a bit slow going, but the overall story was one I enjoyed so I didn't mind the slower sections. 

I liked the characters and the mental journey Clara had to go through. Watching her come into her own and learn to love was really sweet. Sang was a great character - a nice balance to Clara. Overall, I think this was a really good book with some great messages. I recommend giving it a try when you get the chance!

Rating: 4/5 Devils!

Can't Wait Wednesday #14

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they're books that have yet to be released.

This week I'm excited for the new addition to a series I recently started enjoying! Lillian Marek is quickly becoming a favorite of mine for historical romance novels! Give her a try if you haven't already!

Title: The Winds of Change

Author: Lillian Marek

Publish Date: May 25th, 2021

Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing 

She is rooted in the traditions of the past. He envisions a different future.

LADY CLARA GRAMMONT, daughter of an earl and niece of a duke, has the world at her feet, or so it must seem to those looking on. However, she is bored by the gloss and gossip of polite society. She is tired of gentlemen who see nothing but her status and her dowry and expect her to be charmed by their posturing.

JOHN SMITH is the orphaned son of a poor shopkeeper. He has grown wealthy through his own efforts and is now committed to bringing England into a new age. He can see the enormous benefits that railways can bring, transporting goods cheaply and enabling people to travel quickly. He despises the idle aristocrats who will stand in the way of progress to protect a fox hunt, but he needs approval from Parliament to build the railway. And he needs the support of Lady Clara’s uncle, the powerful Duke of Ashleigh, to get that approval.

Lady Clara is intrigued by the idea of a railway. To the distress of her family, she is even more intrigued by John Smith. He in turn finds himself far too attracted by Lady Clara and is in danger of losing sight of his reason for meeting her. Then the powerful forces opposing the railway put both of them in danger

They must defy everyone to be together.