Book Review :: THE STORM CROW

Book: THE STORM CROW by Kalyn Josephson
Genre: Fantasy
Series: The Storm Crow #1
Publisher: Sourcebooks / Sourcebooks Fire
Source: ARC via NetGalley!

Where to Buy: Shop local! Find your local independent bookstore at IndieBound!

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Eragon meets And I Darken in this thrilling new fantasy debut that follows a fallen princess as she ignites a rebellion to bring back the magical elemental crows that were taken from her people.

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Goodreads Summary:

In the tropical kingdom of Rhodaire, magical, elemental Crows are part of every aspect of life...until the Illucian empire invades, destroying everything.

That terrible night has thrown Princess Anthia into a deep depression. Her sister Caliza is busy running the kingdom after their mother's death, but all Thia can do is think of all she has lost.

But when Caliza is forced to agree to a marriage between Thia and the crown prince of Illucia, Thia is finally spurred into action. And after stumbling upon a hidden Crow egg in the rubble of a rookery, she and her sister devise a dangerous plan to hatch the egg in secret and get back what was taken from them.

My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ .5!
Check out my full review after the jump! Click "Read More" below to continue!

UPDATE :: Moving to FL, Etc.

Life update:

Hi readers, or to those who stumble upon this lovely reading blog of mine, I just wanted to give everyone a quick update.

For those who don't know already, I have officially picked up my entire life and moved across the country to Orlando, FL. My husband and I wanted to move somewhere for a fresh start, and we both mutually agreed that because we both love the Disney and Universal theme parks, and both love the beach and longed for warmer weather, that Orlando was the place to be! My dad also lives just 20 minutes north of where we ended up finding a house, so that was an additional plus.

Now, because of this huge life change- I am EXTREMELY behind on my reviews and will continue to be for at least the remainder of the summer. I have 9 past-due books on Netgalley I need to read and review, as well as an additional 6 I just got approved for. So I'm going to have to be going on a reading binge to play catch up! PLUS, I have all sorts of books that I've read that aren't even from netgalley so I need to write up some reviews for those as well.

Now I have all that on top of all of my life stuff like finding a job, driving for Uber to make some extra cash, playing video games (Why has no one told me about Overwatch?? It's so fun!) and preparing for the upcoming school year, that this will likely mean I am going to be updating even slower than usual. But I just wanted everyone to know what's going on!

On the Horizon:

So you can expect some reviews on some of the books I've read in the past few months such as:

• Daisy Jones and the Six
• Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
• STAR WARS: Queens Shadow
• RED, WHITE, and ROYAL BLUE (With a possible giveaway!)

And on my TBR pile that I'm picking up soon are:

• The Storm Crow (almost done!)
• There Will Come a Darkness
• Reverie
• The Merciful Crow
• and 1,000,000 more! 

Anyway, thanks for reading! Just wanted to update the small amount of people who read my reviews on what's going on! Happy reading!

Book Review :: WARRIOR OF THE WILD

Book: Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller
Genre: Fantasy
Series: N/A
Publisher: Feiwell & Friends / Macmillan
Source: ARC via NetGalley!

Where to Buy: Shop local! Find your local independent bookstore at IndieBound!

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"Levenseller presents a fully rounded portrait of a girl whose strength in battle is tempered by her very human anxieties. Rasmira's quest is thrilling, her emotional journey compelling; this adventure sings." --Booklist

"Levenseller... presents a female warrior who refuses to believe that crying makes one weak and that strength is not feminine. Through Rasmira’s inner monologue, teens will learn that teamwork and friendship are important and that failure makes one strong. This high-octane novel is filled with mythical creatures and showcases a heroine who wants to be a warrior, a woman, and a leader." --School Library Journal

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Goodreads Summary:

An eighteen-year-old chieftain's daughter must find a way to kill her village’s oppressive deity if she ever wants to return home in Warrior of the Wild, the Viking-inspired YA standalone fantasy from Tricia Levenseller, author of Daughter of the Pirate King.

How do you kill a god?

As her father's chosen heir, eighteen-year-old Rasmira has trained her whole life to become a warrior and lead her village. But when her coming-of-age trial is sabotaged and she fails the test, her father banishes her to the monster-filled wilderness with an impossible quest: To win back her honor, she must kill the oppressive god who claims tribute from the villages each year or die trying.

My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Check out my full review after the jump! Click "Read More" below to continue!

Book Review :: THE WAKING FOREST

Book: The Waking Forest by Alyssa Wees
Genre: Fantasy
Series: N/A
Publisher: Delacorte Press / Penguin USA
Source: ARC via NetGalley!

Where to Buy: Shop local! Find your local independent bookstore at IndieBound!

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Pan's Labyrinth meets The Hazel Wood in this novel about a girl with terrifying visions and a wish-granting witch whose lives collide in the most unexpected of ways.

"Bewitching, sensuous, and spiked with the unexpected--The Waking Forest is a fever dream you won't ever want to leave."-Joan He, author of The Descendent of the Crane

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Goodreads Summary:

The waking forest has secrets. To Rhea, it appears like a mirage, dark and dense, at the very edge of her backyard. But when she reaches out to touch it, the forest vanishes. She’s desperate to know more—until she finds a peculiar boy who offers to reveal its secrets. If she plays a game.

To the Witch, the forest is her home, where she sits on her throne of carved bone, waiting for dreaming children to beg her to grant their wishes. One night, a mysterious visitor arrives and asks her what she wishes for, but the Witch sends him away. And then the uninvited guest returns.

The strangers are just the beginning. Something is stirring in the forest, and when Rhea’s and the Witch’s paths collide, a truth more treacherous and deadly than either could ever imagine surfaces. But how much are they willing to risk to survive?

My Review: ⭐⭐

Check out my full review after the jump! Click "Read More" below to continue!

Book Review :: WICKED SAINTS

Book: Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Something Dark and Holy Trilogy #1
Publisher: Wednesday Books / Macmillan
Source: ARC via NetGalley!

Where to Buy: Shop local! Find your local independent bookstore at IndieBound!

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“Prepare for a snow-frosted, blood-drenched fairy tale where the monsters steal your heart and love ends up being the nightmare.” - Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen

“This book destroyed me and I adored it.”- Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval

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Goodreads Summary:

A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself.

A prince in danger must decide who to trust.

A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings.

Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war.

In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light. Wicked Saints is the thrilling start to Emily A. Duncan’s devastatingly Gothic Something Dark and Holy trilogy.

My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Check out my full review after the jump! Click "Read More" below to continue!

Book Review :: Mirage

Book: Mirage by Somaiya Daud
Genre: Sci-Fi / Space Opera
Series: Mirage Book 1
Publisher: Flatiron Books / Macmillan
Source: Audio book via Libby


“A refreshing and unique coming-of-age story...a beautiful and necessary meditation on finding strength in one’s culture.” ―Entertainment Weekly, Top Pick of the Month

“A YA marvel that will shock breath into your lungs. If you loved The Wrath and the Dawn and Children of Blood and Bone, Mirage will captivate you.” ―The Christian Science Monitor

“This debut fantasy has what it takes to be the next big thing in sci-fi/fantasy.” ―SLJ, starred review

“Immersive, captivating.” ―ALA Booklist, starred review
Where to Buy: Shop local! Find your local independent bookstore at IndieBound!

Goodreads Summary:

In a world dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated home.

But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place.

As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty―and her time with the princess’ fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection...because one wrong move could lead to her death

My Review: ⭐⭐⭐ .5!

Check out my full review after the jump! Click "Read More" below to continue!

Book Review :: Lord of the Butterflies

Book: Lord of the Butterflies by Andrea Gibson
Series: N/A
Genre: Spoken Word Poetry
Publisher: Button Poetry
Source: NetGalley.com (Review copy)


“[Andrea Gibson’s poetry] will change the way you think about gender.” —Buzzfeed

“They seamlessly spin hopelessness into hope, fire back at social norms, and challenge what it means to be alive and to be human.” —THEM

“Andrea Gibson is an amazing queer, spoken-word poet who can make you weep with a heart-wrenching love poem and then swiftly inspire you to action with a powerful political poem.” —Seventeen

Where to Buy: Shop local! Available at your closest Barnes and Noble and BN.com

Goodreads Summary: 
Andrea Gibson’s latest collection is a masterful showcase from the poet whose writing and performances have captured the hearts of millions. With artful and nuanced looks at gender, romance, loss, and family, Lord of the Butterflies is a new peak in Gibson’s career. Each emotion here is deft and delicate, resting inside of imagery heavy enough to sink the heart, while giving the body wings to soar.

My Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Check out my full review after the jump! Click "Read More" below to continue!

Skincare Review :: GLAMGLOW :: SUPERCLEANSE

Brand: GLAMGLOW
Product: SUPERCLEANSE Clearing Cream to Foam Cleanser
Price: $32.00
Available at: Sephora, Nordstrom. GLAMGLOW.com

From the website: Formulated with powerful actives for super-clean, glowing skin, this must-have creamy cleanser transforms into a luxurious foam to blast away impurities and remove pore-clogging debris. The pore refining triple charcoal complex contains three charcoals—coconut, ubame white oak, and gray bamboo—to detox skin, while botanical ingredients like TEAOXI® eucalyptus leaf, licorice root, and cumin seed purify. Skin-refining, powerful AHAs support natural cell turnover and renewal, while K17 and Mediterranean clays absorb oils to mattify skin and restore balance to your complexion. Skin is visibly improved after each cleanse, with a diminished appearance of pores and a refined texture and tone.

Which skin type is it good for?
✔ Normal
✔ Oily
✔ Combination
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

To see my review on this product, click "read more" below!

Book Review (Reread) :: SHADOW AND BONE

Book: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Series: GrishaVerse #1
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Harper Teen // Harper Collins
Source: Owned, AudioBook via Audible


Enter the Grishaverse with Book One of the Shadow and Bone Trilogy by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom.

Where to Buy: Shop local! Find your local independent book store at IndieBound!

Goodreads Summary: 
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.
My Review: 4 out of 5 stars!

Check out my full review after the jump! Click "Read More" below to continue!

Book Review:: The Caged Queen

Book: The Caged Queen by Kristen Ciccarelli
Series: Iskari #2
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Harper Teen // Harper Collins
Source: Aurora Public Library


Kristen Ciccarelli’s distinct brand of lyrical, haunting fantasy continues in the companion to her bestselling debut, The Last Namsara. Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and Renee Ahdieh.

Where to Buy: Shop local! Find your local independent book store at IndieBound!

Goodreads Summary: 
Once there were two sisters born with a bond so strong that it forged them together forever. Roa and Essie called it the hum. It was a magic they cherished—until the day a terrible accident took Essie’s life and trapped her soul in this world.

Dax—the heir to Firgaard’s throne—was responsible for the accident. Roa swore to hate him forever. But eight years later he returned, begging for her help. He was determined to dethrone his cruel father, under whose oppressive reign Roa’s people had suffered.

Roa made him a deal: she’d give him the army he needed if he made her queen. Only as queen could she save her people from Firgaard’s rule.

Then a chance arises to right every wrong—an opportunity for Roa to rid herself of this enemy king and rescue her beloved sister. During the Relinquishing, when the spirits of the dead are said to return, Roa discovers she can reclaim her sister for good.

All she has to do is kill the king.
My Review: 5 out of 5 stars!

Check out my full review after the jump! Click "Read More" below to continue!

Book Review:: Wildcard

Book: Wildcard by Marie Lu
Series: Warcross #2
Publisher: GP Putnam Sons // Penguin
Source: Audiobook via Libby

Return to the immersive, action-packed world of Warcross in this thrilling sequel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu

Where to Buy: Shop local! Find your local independent book store at IndieBound!

Goodreads Summary: 
Emika Chen barely made it out of the Warcross Championships alive. Now that she knows the truth behind Hideo's new NeuroLink algorithm, she can no longer trust the one person she's always looked up to, who she once thought was on her side.

Determined to put a stop to Hideo's grim plans, Emika and the Phoenix Riders band together, only to find a new threat lurking on the neon-lit streets of Tokyo. Someone's put a bounty on Emika's head, and her sole chance for survival lies with Zero and the Blackcoats, his ruthless crew. But Emika soon learns that Zero isn't all that he seems--and his protection comes at a price.

Caught in a web of betrayal, with the future of free will at risk, just how far will Emika go to take down the man she loves?

In this explosive sequel to the New York Times bestselling Warcross, Marie Lu delivers an addictive finale that will hold you captive till the very last page.

My Review: 4 out of 5 stars!

Check out my full review after the jump! Click "Read More" below to continue!