TTT. I'm Thankful For...

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by  The Broke and the Bookish

This week on Top Ten Tuesday is what are you thankful for. I know Thanksgiving is an American tradition/holiday and I don't have much to thank for this year (as many of you know, this year has been terrible to me). However, I'd like to share the bookish moments that warmed my cold heart.  

I'm thankful for...

The release of A Torch Against the Night. Thank you Sabaa Tahir for creating such an amazing world. Thank you for making me dream. Thank you for making me count the days until I finally had my copy. Thank you for Elias and Laia (I'll go down with this ship).

Discovering Leigh Bardugo. This year was the first time I plunged into the Grisha World. I loved Six of Crows, I finally read Shadow and Bone last month (or was it this month?) and I'm currently reading Crooked Kingdom [slowly reading it because of uni :´( ]. Leigh Bardugo is an extraordinary writer and I'm thankful for having her novels on my bookshelf.

The announcement of Always and Forever, Lara Jean. I'm a huge fan of Lara Jean. And Peter. *.* I started reading contemporaries because of this series. So, I couldn't be more excited when a third book was announced. However, I'm terrified of the future of Lara Jean and Peter (please, don't break them up, Jenny). Because, let's face it, high school relationships don't last forever and the tittle kinda suggests a break up...

Being reached by authors to review their books. I may not be reached by well-known publishers or authors and my email are ignored because I'm from Portugal, but I get to know wonderful and touching stories that many people don't. And, I get the opportunity to help promoting them. And, this is something I really love doing. <3

Becoming a #bookstagrammer. If you aren't following me yet, here it's my account, @mybookishsecret. I've meet so many wonderful people and I've so much fun taking bookish photos.

Finally having a bookshelf!

And I must cut my list short because it seems I've uni work to do. =P However, you can check my Monthly Recap post and take a look at the Random & Randomness section to know which news made me super excited this year.   

Cover Reveal. Umberland

Yesterday, Owlcrate revealed the cover of Umberland by Wendy Spinale, the sequel of Everland, which I do have on my shelf, but I haven't read it yet *hides in a corner ashamed* I confess that even though I haven't read the first book yet, I'm already excited for this one. Peter Pan meets Alice in Wonderland? You can count me in!

Umberland is expected to be released in May 9th 2017.

"Gwen, Pete, and the others have escaped from Everland. But the safe haven they hoped to find at Alnwick Castle doesn't exist. With the Queen of England on her deathbed, Duchess Alyssa has stepped in to lead, but things have gotten worse as the cure Doc created for the Horologia virus has mutated, accelerating the disease. The only possible solution he can think of is to go back to the virus's origin: an extinct poisonous apple. Legend has it a tree bearing the apple might be found at the center of a deadly labyrinth hidden deep within Germany. A place that no one in their right mind enters. Leaving Pete in charge of the survivors, Alyssa sets out with only her sword, her wits, and the help of Maddox Hadder, a wild boy who oversees the castle gardens. To get to the center of the maze, she'll be forced to battle monsters more terrifying than her darkest nightmares. But can anyone truly survive the madness of the maze? And what if there's no apple to be found there?"

Waiting on Wednesday. Roseblood

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Who can believe this year is almost coming to an end? We already are in the middle of November. :O And, because of such, I decided it's finally time to choosing books that will be released on 2017. So,  this week on WoW is Roseblood by A.G. Howard. Of course, it's a retelling, a modern day retelling of The Phantom of the Opera (which I hope to read some day) and it's summary is so dark that I can't wait to have an opportunity to read this beauty (the cover is to die for *.*). The book will be released on January 20th 2017.

"In this modern day spin on Leroux’s gothic tale of unrequited love turned to madness, seventeen-year-old Rune Germain has a mysterious affliction linked to her operatic talent, and a horrifying mistake she’s trying to hide. Hoping creative direction will help her, Rune’s mother sends her to a French arts conservatory for her senior year, located in an opera house rumored to have ties to The Phantom of the Opera.

At RoseBlood, Rune secretly befriends the masked Thorn—an elusive violinist who not only guides her musical transformation through dreams that seem more real than reality itself, but somehow knows who she is behind her own masks. As the two discover an otherworldly connection and a soul-deep romance blossoms, Thorn’s dark agenda comes to light and he’s forced to make a deadly choice: lead Rune to her destruction, or face the wrath of the phantom who has haunted the opera house for a century, and is the only father he’s ever known."

From Goodreads

Monthly Recap. October 2016

Hello November. I can't believe that two more months and 2016 will end (not that I mind, because 2016 has been an hellish year to me). Who's already counting the days for all those 2017 releases? *rises hand* I simply can't wait to get my hands on a copy of Hunted by Meagan Spooner.  

As it's known, I went back to college and my reading time has been reduced. So, of course, I didn't read as much as I wished this month (again). At least, I didn't read books I want to - why so many freaking articles?! Apart from the books mentioned below, I also started reading Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo and Nineteen Eighty-four.

Instagram

• Marked in Flesh, Anne Bishop
• Say Her Name, James Dawson
• The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorn [read for my masters]
• The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare [read for my masters] 
• The Shoemaker's Holiday, Thomas Dekker [read for my masters)

It's no surprised that I loved Marked in Flesh. Anne Bishop is an amazing writer that deserves a lot more recognition. Say Her Name (based on the urban legend Bloody Mary) has a dozen YA clichés, but I found it kind scaring. There was a moment I could swear I was hearing the drip-drip-drip (later I realized that I had forgotten to turn off the water after my cat drinking from it =P ).

After this month I'll probably need a new bookshelf... But there is not place to put it, so maybe I should just go through all my books and see those I read and didn't love and wish to unhaul (or hide in a dark corner never to be seen).

First, I didn't spend as much money as you may think. I pre-ordered my Six of Crows duology back when it was announced in the Spring. Heart's Blood I bought in August, but it got stuck in customs and I only got my hands on it now. Also, I pre-ordered Stealing Snow in August too. None of this money was spent this month. Oh, and Three Dark Crowns came with September´s Nerdy Bookworm Box, which means it was not an October expense. =P So, officially, only two three books were bought this month (missing in  the pictures Alice's Adventures in Wonderland).

Random & Randomness, as the name indicates, is about random bookish stuff. Inspired by a few blogs, I decided to create this little space where I share some bookish love.

• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Global Fan Event - I wish I had attended this event - sadly, global doesn't really mean global. I confess I wasn't (and I'm still not) a bit interested in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, but I'm super excited for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. You can read here everything that was announced during the event. Who's excited for, at least, five more films? *raises hand* 
• Harry Potter Funko Pop! Vynil Series 3 - Aren't they gorgeous? *.* I think some of them are already being sold. I know I want Harry with Hedwig. And McGonagall. And Bellatrix. Oh, and Harry holding prophecy. Okay, it's easier to say those I don't want. 
• Game of Thrones, Season 7: The First Photos - How am I going to survive until next Summer?! I want to watch the new season now! I just want my ship to finally happen (even if it's short-lived; I mean, we all know how Martin and the producers love to break our heart). Btw, have you seen the 20th Anniversary Illustrated edition of A Game of Thrones? *.*
• Leigh Bardugo's new Duology - Are you excited? Because I know I'm. Since I read Six of Crows, I became I fan of Leigh Bardugo (and if you aren't following her on Twitter, you should).   
• Kingdom Hearts 1.5 and 2.5 Coming to PS4 - I'm more than excited for this. For those who don't know it, I'm a huge fan of Kingdom Hearts. I always get goosebumps when I hear its theme song. I. FREAKING. LOVE. IT!
• My review of The Shadow Queen.    

Short-Reviews 2. The Shadow Queen & Love, Lies and Spies

Title: The Shadow Queen
Author: C.J. Redwine
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Published: February 16th 2016
Pages: 336 pages

"Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen. In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart. But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose."

The Shadow Queen is a Snow White retelling and I read just right after Stitching Snow. The two retellings were unique and I loved both takings on the tale. That said, I didn't find myself wondering if I was reading the same story - don't you love when there are "thousands" of retellings of the same story, but completely different?

I found the plot of The Shadow Queen compelling. It reminded me of the original fairytale but, as I stated above, with a unique touch (Lorelei doesn't need a prince; but the same can't be said about Kol not needing a kiss to wake up from a sleeping curse -but not literally). The story was fast-paced with lots of action and so many twists that left me mouth-opened. Also, the sceneries were beautifully described. Ravenspire was such a magical kingdom. 

Now, about the characters: I really liked them. Lorelai was an amazing kick-ass princess - also, she was very strong, but knew her limits (even though sometimes she was wrong about how weak she was). Kol's determination to protect his people moved skies (he was never meant to be King and yet he adapted so well to his new role). Oh, and did you know Kol was a dragon? I had never read a retelling where the Prince Charming was half-dragon (yes, I adored the idea). Leo was hilarious [SPOILER -I understand why he had to die, but did he really have to die? His death was so heartbreaking]. Irina, the Evil Queen, was despicable and hateful (which means she was a very well-written villain). There were some chapters I felt I should feel sorrow for her, but Irina was so insidious that any reason why I should pity her didn't touch my heart. Oh, and Lorelai's falcon was as bad-ass as her - too bad she was always trying to feed everyone with mice, which was very disgusting.
  

On the whole, The Shadow Queen is a nice retelling - and if you love retellings, you should take a look at it - and C.J. Redwine created an alluring and harsh world (there were so many ruthless and painful scenes). I must say that I can't wait to read The Wish Granter (it is inspired by Rumplestiltskin) which may not be a sequel, but is set in the same world.

Title: Loves, Lies and Spies
Author: Cindy Anstey
Publisher: Swoon Reads 

Published: April 19th 2016
Pages: 368 pages 

"Juliana Telford is not your average nineteenth-century young lady. She’s much more interested in researching ladybugs than marriage, fashionable dresses, or dances. So when her father sends her to London for a season, she’s determined not to form any attachments. Instead, she plans to secretly publish their research. Spencer Northam is not the average young gentleman of leisure he appears. He is actually a spy for the War Office, and is more focused on acing his first mission than meeting eligible ladies. Fortunately, Juliana feels the same, and they agree to pretend to fall for each other. Spencer can finally focus, until he is tasked with observing Juliana’s traveling companions . . . and Juliana herself."

First and foremost, do not be scared by the writing! There is a Portuguese saying that goes like this: "Primeiro estranha-se, depois entranha-se" (first you strange it, then it dives into you; it's a bad translation, but it's the best I could make). That was how I felt when I started reading Love, Lies and Spies. At first, the writing was odd and I found myself re-reading the same expression thrice, but then the more I read, the more I became familiar with the language (I can now proudly say that I know what 'friday-face' means). The language used shows that Cindy Anstey did an extensive research, creating a Victorian society that felt very real.

Now that that is off my chest, I say how much delicious romantic this novel was. *.* Love, Lies and Spies was a very enjoyable reading. I enjoyed the plot (even though it took some time to be revealed what kind of spy-job Spencer had in hands) and it even had a surprising twist. I loved some characters, hated others (can I slap aunt Phyllis and Vivian?) and some I simply found them idiots (yes, I'm looking at you Maxwell Pyebald). The romance was written perfectly. There was attraction, but not insta-love. And, most important, no love triangle.

Spencer is a swoon-worthy gentleman (see what I just did here?). Juliana is adorably clumsy - but it doesn't mean that can't take care of herself. A most unfortunate event (or maybe not) brings these two together and soon a friendship turns into love. However, of course, love is never easy and these two have no intentions of being touched by the Cupid as Juliana is captivated by her lady beetle research and Spencer is trying to discover a traitor. But these distractions only make their building romance even more lovely. I was rooting for them since the first time Juliana laid her eyes on Spencer's blue eyes.

All in all, the debut novel of Cindy Anstey has all the ingredients of a fluffy and eye-catching historical romance set in the Regency period. If you haven't read Love, Lies and Spies yet, I recommend you to do it. Just go to your nearest bookshop and buy it.

Waiting on Wednesday. Den of Wolves

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week on WoW is Den of Wolves by Juliet Marilier. I'm going to repeat myself for the hundredth time: I LOVE Juliet Marillier. Everything she writes goes straight to my can't-wait-to-put-my-hands-on list. So, of course, I impatiently waiting the supposedly last Blackthorn & Grim novel (let's cross fingers and hope for a few more books). The book will be released on November 1st.

"The “powerful and emotionally-charged” fantasy series from the author of the Sevenwaters novels continues, as Blackthorn and Grim face haunting secrets and old adversaries...

Feather bright and feather fine, None shall harm this child of mine...

Healer Blackthorn knows all too well the rules of her bond to the fey: seek no vengeance, help any who ask, do only good. But after the recent ordeal she and her companion, Grim, have suffered, she knows she cannot let go of her quest to bring justice to the man who ruined her life.

Despite her personal struggles, Blackthorn agrees to help the princess of Dalriada in taking care of a troubled young girl who has recently been brought to court, while Grim is sent to the girl’s home at Wolf Glen to aid her wealthy father with a strange task—repairing a broken-down house deep in the woods. It doesn’t take Grim long to realize that everything in Wolf Glen is not as it seems—the place is full of perilous secrets and deadly lies...

Back at Winterfalls, the evil touch of Blackthorn’s sworn enemy reopens old wounds and fuels her long-simmering passion for justice. With danger on two fronts, Blackthorn and Grim are faced with a heartbreaking choice—to stand once again by each other’s side or to fight their battles alone..."

From Goodreads

Cover Reveal. Our Dark Duet

I can't believe I keep missing cover reveals *evil stare at my master degree work* So, here it's the cover of This Savage Song sequel, Our Dark Duet. What do you think of it? I loved how the keep the violin. *.*  

Our Dark Duet is expected to be released on June 13th 2017.

"Kate Harker is a girl who isn’t afraid of the dark. She’s a girl who hunts monsters. And she’s good at it. August Flynn is a monster who can never be human, no matter how much he once yearned for it. He’s a monster with a part to play. And he will play it, no matter the cost.

Nearly six months after Kate and August were first thrown together, the war between the monsters and the humans is terrifying reality. In Verity, August has become the leader he never wished to be, and in Prosperity, Kate has become the ruthless hunter she knew she could be. When a new monster emerges from the shadows—one who feeds on chaos and brings out its victim’s inner demons—it lures Kate home, where she finds more than she bargained for. She’ll face a monster she thought she killed, a boy she thought she knew, and a demon all her own."