Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway!

Hi everyone! I am so excited to be hosting the kick-off spot on the BRAVELY by Maggie Stiefvater Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my review and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 About The Book:

Title: BRAVELY

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Pub. Date: May 3, 2022

Publisher: Disney Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 384

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

What if you had one year to save everything you loved?

ONE PRINCESS. Merida of DunBroch needs a change. She loves her family—jovial King Fergus, proper Queen Elinor, the mischievous triplets— and her peaceful kingdom. But she’s frustrated by its sluggishness; each day, the same. Merida longs for adventure, purpose, challenge – maybe even, someday, love.

TWO GODS. But the fiery Princess never expects her disquiet to manifest by way of Feradach, an uncanny supernatural being tasked with rooting out rot and stagnation, who appears in DunBroch on Christmas Eve with the intent to demolish the realm – and everyone within. Only the intervention of the Cailleach, an ancient entity of creation, gives Merida a shred of hope: convince her family to change within the year – or suffer the eternal consequences.

THREE VOYAGES. Under the watchful eyes of the gods, Merida leads a series of epic journeys to kingdoms near and far in an attempt to inspire revolution within her family. But in her efforts to save those she loves from ruin, has Merida lost sight of the Clan member grown most stagnant of all – herself?

FOUR SEASONS TO SAVE DUNBROCH – OR SEE IT DESTROYED, FOREVER. 

 

Penelope's Review 

So going into this book, I really wasn't sure what to expect! I absolutely adored the Disney film, Brave, so when I saw a "sequel" in the form of a book by none other than Maggie Steifvater, I knew I had to sign up for a copy. I was a little worried that it would feel a bit too 'young' for me, and I was terrified that it would ruin the image of Merida and her rambunctious family that I had in my head.... I am SO happy to be able to say that NONE of these things happened. This book was great! I feel like Maggie really had a handle on how to write Merida and stay true to her character while also having her grow up a bit.

I love love love the elements of history and mythology woven expertly into this book. It was fun to explore the Cailleach and Feradach in a tale such as this one. The concept of having to change one's entire family in the span of a year was exciting and thrilling. It was great reading about the small differences in Merida and her family that come with growing a little older - I loved that Maggie was able to give me the family that I came to love in Brave, and make them even more loveable! She really did stay true to the original characters without coming off as a direct movie replica. Cheers to her writing skills for that lol! 

And the new characters were equally as fantastic in their own ways. I liked watching them contribute to the story, yet remain interesting themselves rather than just interesting in relation to the DunBroch's. 

I think the beginning and end were both amazing - they were fast-paced and really kept me captivated. Some parts in between were a bit on the slow side. But change takes time, and I think the author did a good job of showing that. It's just worth noting however.

Overall, I think the writing style in this book is great, I loved reading more about Merida and her story. I loved the ending, though I secretly hoped for more about a particular character. I think Maggie did a wonderful job with this, unsurprisingly, and I look forward to seeing where her writing takes us next!

Rating: 4/5 Devils!

About Maggie Stiefvater:

Maggie Stiefvater is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Raven Cycle, the Shiver trilogy, and other novels for young and adult readers. She is also an artist, an auto enthusiast, and a bagpiper. She lives on a farm in the Shenandoah Valley with her husband, two children, and an assortment of fainting goats.

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of BRAVELY, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

5/1/2022	The Reading Devil	Review/IG Post
5/2/2022	YABooksCentral	Excerpt
5/3/2022	Nonbinary Knight Reads	Review/IG Post/TikTok Post
5/4/2022	Kait Plus Books	Review/IG Post/TikTok Post
5/5/2022	A Court of Coffee and Books	Review/IG Post
5/6/2022	@jael_and_jenessa_reads	Review/IG Post
5/7/2022	ChristenKrumm	Review/IG Post

Week Two:

5/8/2022	Nagma | TakeALookAtMyBookshelf	IG Review
5/9/2022	Fire and Ice	Review
5/10/2022	onemoreexclamation	Review/IG Post
5/11/2022	Quill Tree Fox	Review/IG Post
5/12/2022	My Fictional Oasis	Review/IG Post
5/13/2022	Lisa Loves Literature	Review/IG Post
5/14/2022	@coffeesipsandreads	IG Review

Week Three:

5/15/2022	Mallory Books	Review/IG Post
5/16/2022	BookHounds YA	Review/IG Post
5/17/2022	History from a Woman’s Perspective	Review
5/18/2022	Pages_and_Procrastinaton	Review/IG Post
5/19/2022	A Bookish Dream	Review/IG Post
5/20/2022	A Backwards Story	Review/IG Post
5/21/2022	Karen Dee's Book Reviews	IG Review

Week Four:

5/22/2022	@drewsim12	IG Review/TikTok Post
5/23/2022	@thebookishfoxwitch	IG Review
5/24/2022	Momfluenster	IG Review
5/25/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
5/26/2022	onemused	IG Review
5/27/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
5/28/2022	zaineylaney	Review/IG Post/TikTok Post

Week Five:

5/29/2022	@lexijava	Review/IG Post
5/30/2022	The Bookwyrm's Den	Review
5/31/2022	The Clever Reader	Review/IG Post

Omens Bite by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast Review!

 

Title: Omens Bite (Sisters of Salem #2)
Author: P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Publish Date: April 5th, 2022
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Source: Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy!

Twin sisters, Mercy and Hunter are witches, descendants of the Goode family of witches. After the murder of their mother at the hands of a foul demon, they have become the protectors of the Gates to different underworlds--ancient portals between their world and realms where mythology rules and the darkest of creatures exist.

The problem is that the Goode sisters have split from each other. Grief and anger have torn them apart, driving Mercy to save the cursed Gates on her own and Hunter into the arms of a dangerous goddess. And when Mercy shifts her focus to the Egyptian Gate and Khenti, the guardian of its Underworld, little does she know that her connection to him will land her in the kind of trouble that only Hunter can save her from.

When it comes to breaking the curse, Mercy and Hunter's bonds are put to the ultimate test.

Penelope's Review

This is the second book in The Sisters of Salem series and follows witch twins Hunter and Mercy as they recover from losing their mom and trying to save the gates. These twins were super close in book one, but grief and trauma have driven a wedge between the sisters that sees them apart for the majority of this book.

Hunter is pretty well-written as a character in this book - she's angry and hurt, determined to stand on her own, rather than in Mercy's shadow, for the first time and I loved it. Her emotions and reactions felt so genuine, even when they weren't exactly the most healthy. It made her seem so relatable, as obviously everyone grieves differently. While Hunter was unfortunately making some arguably terrible decisions in her anger, I am confident that everything happens for a reason and she will find her way back to herself and her twin. 

Mercy, on the other hand, was very selfish and kind of annoying. Like I said, everyone grieves differently, but with Mercy I just kept thinking she needed to get off her high horse and try to be a little more empathetic. I'm curious to see where things go with her, I feel like she may be a bit of a different person in the next book so we'll see.

In terms of plot itself, I liked the storyline here. There was a lot going on with the sisters, the gates, Kirk, etc. We get some hints of romance, but nothing definitive - I have a feeling that might go somewhere in the next book. We ended on a cliff hanger, so I'm interested to see what happens with all of that as well. 

In terms of writing style.... I do agree with some people's reviews saying it's got a bit of a younger feel. It definitely does, but if you read their House of Night series and liked it, then I don't think that will be an issue for you. It's the same sort of feel.

Overall, I'm interested to see where this story takes us. I'm not sure if this is a trilogy or more, but let's see where these witchy twins take us!

Rating: 4/5 Devils!

A Scottish Highland Surprise by Julie Shackman Blog Tour!

 

Hi everyone! Welcome to my stop on A Highland Scottish Surprise by Julie Shackman blog tour! I'm so excited to introduce you all to this book, I hope you love the sound of it and add it to your TBR's! Scroll down to check out the full tour schedule!

Title: A Scottish Highland Surprise
Author: Julie Shackman

Discover the secrets and surprises that the scenic Scottish town of Briar Glen has to offer…

When wedding planner Sophie Harkness refuses to move a friend’s wedding to accommodate a spoilt bridezilla, she finds herself out of a job. That is until she discovers her late grandma has purchased a local shop for her in the pretty Scottish town of Briar Glen.

Surprised and delighted, Sophie opens her own porcelain shop in honour of her grandmother. But when an unusual tea set is left with Sophie, along with a mysterious letter, she can’t help but be intrigued by the story behind the antique.

And when the handsome but aloof art critic Xander North comes knocking on her door, Sophie is about to find out the true colourful past of her latest treasure.

The perfect feel-good romance for fans of Jo Thomas, Katie Fforde and Trisha Ashley.

If you're wondering where you can purchase this lovely book, look no further! Ihave the links here:

UK - Amazon

US - Amazon

About the Author:

Julie Shackman is a former journalist from Scotland, who has always wanted to write feel-good romance. As well as being an author, Julie also writes verses and captions for greetings card companies. Julie admits to having an obsession with stationery and handbags. She is married, has two sons and a Romanian rescue pup, who she named Cooper. A Scottish Highland Surprise is Julie's sixth novel.

https://twitter.com/G13Julie

https://www.facebook.com/julie.shackman

https://www.instagram.com/juliegeorginashackman

The Clandestine Queen by Brandon J Greer Blog Tour + Giveaway!

Hi everyone! This is my post during the blog tour for The Clandestine Queen by Brandon J Greer. In The Clandestine Queen a fifteen-year-old abandoned witch must find her way home to become queen while trying to escape from a demon hell-bent on destroying her.

This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours and the tour runs from 29 March till 18 April. You can see the tour schedule here.

The Clandestine Queen
By Brandon J Greer
Genre: Fantasy
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: 12 April 2022

Blurb:
A shard of ice hides in her chest
A raging fire burns in his.
A lost queen
A desperate assassin
Together they will change the world.

Maggie Abernathy always thought she was human, even though she could do the most peculiar things. Things no other girl in her village could do. Fifteen years after being abandoned as a baby, she begins to question who she is, where she belongs, and what she might be capable of. When a mysterious letter from the past calls her home, she embarks on a journey that will change her life forever-if she survives.

Loravain-an enslaved, ember-breathing witch hunter-is hot on her trail and gaining fast. If he can find and kill her, he will win what he has sought for twenty years: freedom from the demon he serves. But he knows he isn't supposed to be the villain, and his conscience weighs heavily even as he continues his hunt. Will the prospect of freedom overpower his desire for redemption?

As their fates intertwine, neither knows what the future truly holds.

Links:
- Goodreads
- Bookbub
- Amazon
- B&N
- Cedar Fort

Read the first 5 chapters!
Want to read the first 5 chapters of The Clandestine Queen for free? Get the first 5 chapters here

About the Author:
Brandon J Greer is the second and third oldest in a family of eight kids. (He was second oldest until a new marriage brought a new child that bumped him to third.) To set himself apart from so many siblings, he discovered the arts. Drawing, acting, and writing pulled him in at a young age. His first book, Around the World in About a Year, was written in the sixth grade, complete with hand-drawn illustrations. The book was garbage but won him a place in an arts competition at the local university. Now living in northern Utah with his wife and daughter, he travels as much as he can. His favorite places to go are Yellowstone and Peru.

Author links:
- Website
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Instagram
- TikTok

Giveaway
There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of The Clandestine Queen. Five winners will each win a signed copy of The Clandestine Queen (US Only).

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Highland Justice by Heather McCollum ARC Review!

 

Title: Highland Justice (Sons of Sinclair #3)
Author: Heather McCollum
Publish Date: April 26th, 2022
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Source: Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for review!

Without mercy, there is no love in this third installment of the Sons of Sinclair historical romance series by award-winning author Heather McCollum.

Gideon Sinclair, the third Sinclair brother, judges everything in stark terms of good and evil. There is nothing in between, and he is efficient at passing judgment without mercy. Now that his clan has conquered the warring MacKays, Gideon starts the process of integrating them into the Sinclair Clan. He will sort the people, punish the bad, and better the lives of the good. Judging is as easy to him as breathing, until he meets Cait MacKay, who steals his breath...along with his Sinclair ring.

A young widow, Cait MacKay has given her life over to helping the orphaned children in the clan. But love won’t put shoes on their cold feet and food in their stomachs. Cait tired years ago of seeing the rich get richer and the poor suffer more and more, so she decided to do something about it. An agile thief of the rich by night, when she is caught, the new conquering chief must decide her fate.

When Gideon realizes that the thief is the same woman who had already captured his attention, he hesitates for the first time in his life. Letting her get away with her deed leads to more trouble when she is accused of stealing from King James and is arrested. Now Gideon must commit his own crime against the Scottish crown if he is to save Cait. But can a man who was raised to honor and uphold justice break the law for the woman who’s stolen his heart?

Penelope's Review

This is the third book in the Sons of Sinclair series, but each can be read as a standalone. I read and loved Joshua's story in the second book and I was really excited for Gideon's story! I'm happy to say I was not disappointed!

As the Horseman of Justice, Gideon follows the letter of the law at all times. He doles out punishments and sentences based on what he feels is just and fair, based on both experience and copious amounts of time reading books. Cait, on the other hand, doesn't see the world in black and white. She understands the reality of all the grey areas that life holds and is unafraid to do what is necessary for those she loves regardless of how morally grey her actions may be. 

I absolutely loved these two together. They complemented each other perfectly, both teaching the other something of value and importance. Gideon's view of the world becomes more flexible, and Cait begins to see herself as someone worthy of love. 

There are a few arcs in the story that bring some tension and excitement, but overall it's a happy story. I like this author's writing style, and the little unique elements she adds to her stories to keep a reader turning the pages. I am quite looking forward to Bas's story - I have a feeling it may become my favorite of the series!

Rating: 4/5 Devils!