Waiting on Wednesday (180) The Midnight Dance

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. Click the link to see the original post plus a whole slew of links to other blogs. After you read this one, of course.

The Midnight Dance

Author: Nikki Katz
Publisher: Swoon
Release Date: October 17, 2017

Goodreads:

When the music ends, the dance begins.

Penny is a dancer at the Grande Teatro, a finishing school where she and 11 other young women are training to become the finest ballerinas in Italy. Tucked deep into the woods, the school is overseen by the mysterious and handsome young Master who keeps the girls ensconced in the estate and in the only life Penny has ever known.

When new memories appear, showing a life very different from the one she thought she'd been leading, Penny begins to question the Grand Teatro and the motivations of the Master. With the sweet kitchen boy, Cricket, at her side, Penny vows to escape the confines of her school and the strict rules that dictate every step she takes. But at every turn, the Master finds a way to stop her, and Penny must find a way to escape the school and uncover the secrets of her past before it's too late.

Why I'm Excited: This sounds a bit odd, but ballerinas is one of my go-to subjects. I wanted to be a dancer so badly when I was a girl, and still just love everything about the ballet. Also Italy. Also this gorgeous cover. I'll definitely be keeping my eyes out for this one. 

What are you waiting for on this Wednesday? Link me up!

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Weekly Rewind 1.28.17

Weekly Rewind

The new books on my shelves and my week in a nutshell.

Throughout my student teaching semester I was using my weekend post as a way to let people know what's going on in my life, so I'v decided to rename my weekend post because this feature is more personal than just what books I've received. The Weekly Rewind will be about what's going on with me and my blog, as well as about the books I've added to my shelves. This post is linked to Stacking the Shelves over at Tynga's Reviews and the Sunday Post over at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. 

My Life and Blog

Life: I haven't written one of these in a couple of weeks. I was sooooo sick a couple of weeks ago, and last week, my husband came down to VA for the weekend and I just never got around to the blog. Not a whole lot is going on at the moment. Yesterday was the last day of the semester. Halfway there! 

Blog and reading: I posted a WoW this week and a review for the book Scythe. I finally finished The Boy Came Back--which was really cute. I'm currently reading Magpie Murders and kind of By Your Side. As much as I love Kasie West...this one isn't really doing it for me. I've been slogging through it very slowly for about a month now and doubt I'll finish it by its release date. 

New Books: Just a few this week. So without further ado, I hope you are all having fabulous weekends!

For Review

   

By Your Side by Kasie West

I'm struggling with this one...and I'm really disappointed in this cover. You couldn't take a photo in an actual library? Throwing a bunch of books on the floor doesn't symbolize library to me. 

My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

I love a good Kinsella book. I need to get on this one!

Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

This doesn't come out until June, but I've been in the mood for dark and adult and got hooked after reading the first couple of pages. It's a novel in a novel book (although at a quarter of the way through, it's really just been the "novel" inside so far--but good). 

The Lost Girl of Astor Street  by Stephanie Morrill

Set in the 1920s in the underbelly of Chicago, a girl tries to solve her friend's murder. It sounds interesting, but it's not getting the best reviews...

What I snagged from the library

 

Carve the Mark by Veronica Mark

I didn't actually love Divergent. I thought the premise was rather ridiculous and didn't finish the series (yes, I know how it ends). That said, I found Roth's writing fast-paced and easy, so I'm excited to read something new from her.

You Don't Know My Name by Kristen Orlando

A girl who is expected to follow in her family's footsteps and join a powerful spy group falls in love with the boy next door. I cannot resist spies! I don't know what it is. 

Well that's it for me this week. Feel free to leave a link to whatever weekend post you do (Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post, etc). I love to see what books people have recently snagged and especially enjoy hearing about my fellow bloggers' weeks. I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend!

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Scythe (Review)

Scythe

Author: Neal Shusterman
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date: November 22, 2016

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Thou shalt kill.

A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.

Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.

*****************************************************************

MY THOUGHTS:

I was immediately drawn to Scythe as soon as I saw that cover. So gorgeous. After reading the synopsis, I was even more excited. I loved the way-too-short-lived show Dead Like Me that aired a few years back (a show about a group of dead themselves people who work as scythes by freeing the souls of people moments before their deaths). While this book really isn’t anything like the show, I enjoyed it immensely and am already counting down to the next book in the series.

Scythe is set in a futuristic world where all manner of death and illness has been cured. This world is controlled by an A.I. entity known as the Thunderhead (the cloud), with the exception of scythes, who work outside of the Thunderhead’s “jurisdiction”. Because death can now be “cured”, select people work as scythes--people whose job it is to murder a predetermined amount of people a year to keep the population from getting too large.

This book follows two main characters: Citra and Rowan. The two are both chosen by a longtime, respected scythe named Scythe Faraday to be his apprentices. This is unusual because a scythe usually only takes one apprentice under his/her wing at a time. Citra and Rowan are drawn to each other (of course they are), but scythes live solitary lives without companionship. Furthermore, only one of them will become a scythe after serving their apprenticeship, which makes them competition (a competition neither of them know if they really want to win).  

I seriously loved this book. I liked both Citra and Rowan and were rooting for both to succeed. I liked the honorable Scythe Faraday and the way in which he held human life in such regard even as he was charged with taking it.

One of my favorite parts of this book is how each chapter ends with a snippet from different scythe's diaries. "Old school" scythes, like Scythe Faraday, accept their part in the world, but still feel the weight that murder brings. Other scythes, such as the main villain, Scythe Goddard, live as extravagantly as possible. Goddard kills with a small group of scythes who pull off the type of mass murder/massacres that are terrifying in today's climate (wiping out every person on an airplane, for example). It speaks to the type of evil that will always be in society--even one where all disease, hunger, and pain have been all but exterminated.

My favorite thing about this book is that the ending is satisfying. Yes, I want to know what happens next--and I really am so excited to get back to this world--but the ending isn’t frustrating at all. I loved how this installment wrapped up, and I didn’t feel at all cheated or anxious as I turned the last page.

Definitely Recommend.

*An arc was provided to me from the publisher in exchange of an honest review.

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Waiting on Wednesday (179) Moxie

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. Click the link to see the original post plus a whole slew of links to other blogs. After you read this one, of course.

Moxie

Author: Jennifer Mathieu 
Publisher: Roaring Brook
Release Date: September 19, 2017

Goodreads:

An unlikely teenager starts a feminist revolution at a small-town Texan high school in the new novel from Jennifer Matheiu, author of The Truth About Alice.

MOXIE GIRLS FIGHT BACK!

Vivan Carter is fed up. Fed up with a school administration at her small-town Texas high school that thinks the football team can do no wrong. Fed up with sexist dress codes, hallway harassment, and gross comments from guys during class. But most of all, Viv Carter is fed up with always following the rules.

Viv's mom was a tough-as-nails, punk rock Riot Grrrl in the '90s, and now Viv takes a page from her mother's past and creates a feminist zine that she distributes anonymously to her classmates. She's just blowing off steam, but other girls respond. As Viv forges friendships with other young women across the divides of cliques and popularity rankings, she realizes that what she has started is nothing short of a girl revolution.

Moxie is a book about high school life that will make you wanna riot!

Why I'm Excited: Riot Grrls and 90s vines! Oh, how it takes me back. I discovered my feminist roots during the 90s third wave. Plus after this weekend's inspiring protests, how could I not feature this one? I really enjoyed this author's The Truth About Alice, and am excited to read something new from her. I cannot wait to get my hands on this book and will definitely be keeping my eyes out for this one. 

What are you waiting for on this Wednesday? Link me up!

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Waiting for Wednesday (178) Here Lies Daniel Tate

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. Click the link to see the original post plus a whole slew of links to other blogs. After you read this one, of course.

Here Lies Daniel Tate

Author: Cristin Terrill 
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: June 6, 2017

Goodreads:

A young, street-savvy runaway looking for a place to call home realized he might have conned his way into the wrong family in this fast-paced and thrilling novel from award-winning author Cristin Terrill.

It seems too good to be true when Daniel Tate, missing since he was abducted from one of California’s most elite private enclaves at the age of ten, turns up on a snowy street in Vancouver six years later. At first too traumatized to speak, he is eventually able to tell the authorities who he is and is reunited with his overjoyed family. In time, they tell him, he’ll recover the memories he’s missing; all that matters is that they have him back.

It’s perfect. A miracle. Except for one thing:

That boy isn’t Daniel Tate.

But he wants to be. A young con artist who’s been taking on false identities for years, this impostor has stumbled onto the scam of a lifetime. Daniel has everything he’s ever dreamed of—wealth, privilege, the chance to make a fresh start, and most importantly, a family that loves him. Now that he’s finally found a place to belong, he doesn’t question his luck.

Until he realizes that maybe Daniel isn’t missing at all. Maybe someone knows what really happened to the boy he’s pretending to be…and if he can’t uncover the truth—he could be next the next Daniel Tate to disappear. 

Why I'm Excited: So the whole pretending to be the missing person has been done--a lot--but this one sounds exciting. I've heard nothing but good things about this author and am looking forward to reading her work (I should probably start with her debut...which I've owned for at least two years now. Lol). Regardless, I'll be keeping my eyes open for this one. 

What are you waiting for on this Wednesday? Link me up!

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Waiting on Wednesday (177) Liberty: The Spy Who (Kind Of) Liked Me

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. Click the link to see the original post plus a whole slew of links to other blogs. After you read this one, of course.

Liberty: The Spy Who (Kind Of) Liked Me

Author: Andrea Porter 
Publisher: HarperTeen 
Release Date: June 6, 2017

Goodreads:

Andrea Portes is back with a fast-paced, super-fun spy novel, told in her signature snarky, voice-driven style.

What is a hero? Paige Nolan knows.

Edward Raynes, the young man who exposed America’s unconstitutional spying techniques, is a hero, even if half the dum-dums in the country think he’s a traitor. Or her parents, journalists who were captured by terrorists while telling stories of the endangered and oppressed. They were heroes, too. Were. . . or are—no one has ever told Paige if they’re still alive, or dead.

Not heroes? Anyone in the government who abandoned her parents, letting them rot somewhere halfway across the world. And certainly not Paige herself, who despite her fluency in five languages and mastery of several obscure martial arts (thanks, Mom!) could do nothing to save them.

Couldn’t, that is, until she’s approached by Madden Carter, an undercover operative who gives her a mission—fly to Russia, find Raynes, and discover what other government secrets he’s stockpiled. In exchange, he’ll reopen the case on her missing parents. She’s given a code name and a cover as a foreign exchange student.

Who is a hero? Not Paige Nolan, but maybe, just maybe, Liberty is. 

Why I'm Excited: Spies! I don't know why I love them so much--I just do. I haven't read anything by this author, but I love fast-paced, snarky novels so I'll definitely be keeping my eyes out for this one.  

What are you waiting for on this Wednesday? Link me up!

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Weekly Rewind 1.7.17

Weekly Rewind
The new books on my shelves and my week in a nutshell.

Throughout my student teaching semester I was using my weekend post as a way to let people know what's going on in my life, so I'v decided to rename my weekend post because this feature is more personal than just what books I've received. The Weekly Rewind will be about what's going on with me and my blog, as well as about the books I've added to my shelves. This post is linked to Stacking the Shelves over at Tynga's Reviews and the Sunday Post over at Caffeinated Book Reviewer. 

My Life and Blog

Life: Sorry for the radio silence. I was home for 11 days for Winter Break, which immediately put me into super sloth mode. I did some reading, but mostly just laid around watching tv with my husband or playing with my kitty cats. We did end up going to see the newest Star Wars (although not on Christmas Day). I liked it, but have to admit that it started to drag for me. I think it would have greatly benefitted from a tighter editing job with about 20-30 minutes shaved off. I might review it. I haven't decided yet. 

Going back to work on Tuesday was pretty rough. I'm naturally very nocturnal, so when I have any significant amount of time off, I automatically start going to bed later and later (and sleeping in later and later). Having my alarm go off at 6:45 again was rough (and I know that that isn't even as early as a lot of people have to get up). We did have a 2-hour delay this morning, though, which was awesome. Growing up in Wyoming, I always laugh at what VA finds delay worthy. Lol. 

Blog and reading: Nothing this week as far as posting is concerned. I hope to get back into the swing of things in this new year. My goal is to post at least once a week that isn't just a WoW or this weekend post, but I also long ago decided that I will not feel bad about only posting those two memes. This is a hobby that I enjoy, so I won't let it feel like a chore. 

I finished my reread of Little Big Lies over the break and cannot wait to see how HBO does with the limited series starting in Feb. I am currently reading A Darker Shade of Magic. I got as far in as 250 pages last year, but decided to start over because I don't remember it is well as I wanted. Now that the third and final book is almost here, though, I decided now was a great time to pick it back up. I started Eliza and Her Monsters almost immediately after getting it. It's not quite as compelling as I hoped, but it's very early on. I've also found my way back to The Boy is Back by Meg Cabot. Finally, I picked Scythe back up today and am almost done. I hope to finish it this weekend. 

New Books: Just a handful of books this week. So without further ado, I hope you're all having fabulous weekends! 

For Review

  

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

A girl who anonymously writes a popular online webcomic finds out that the new boy in school is one of her biggest fanfic writers. This has snippets of the webcomic and other things like text messages. I couldn't wait for this book because uniquely formatted books are my favorite. 

The Futures by Anna Pitoniak

I'm trying to get back into reading more adult books. Not that I ever stopped reading them completely, but YA definitely makes up the bulk of my reading. I'm curious about this book that follows college sweethearts to NYC after they graduate from Yale.

History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

After the death of his ex-boyfriend, a boy starts to find himself growing closer to his ex's current boyfriend--even as he is struggling with his grief.

What I snagged from the library

   

 

Books:

The Book Jumper by Mechthild Glaser

I knew I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw this cover. About a girl who can "jump" into a book and interact with the characters and world. 

X-File Origins: Agent of Chaos by Kami Garcia and X-File Origins: Devil's Advocate by Jonathan Maberry

I'm excited for these YA books about how Mulder and Scully became Mulder and Scully.

Movies: 

Suicide Squad

Finally! I cannot wait to watch this.

Secret Life of Pets

I'm honestly not that into animated children's movies, but this looks pretty cute. 

Well that's it for me this week. Feel free to leave a link to whatever weekend post you do (Stacking the Shelves, The Sunday Post, etc). I love to see what books people have recently snagged and especially enjoy hearing about my fellow bloggers' weeks. I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend!

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