Waiting on Wednesday #7

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blog occurrence hosted by Breaking the Spine and showcases anticipated releases.

I haven't done one of these in FOREVER so it's about time I liven up the blog and do WoW more often.

This week's WoW is from an author whose 2012 debut basically took the YA reading/blogging sphere by storm and added Jase Garrett to every girl's list of amazing book boyfriends. You guessed it (well I hope you did)...

What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Release Date: April 15th 2014

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

Synopsis: "From the author of My Life Next Door comes a swoony summertime romance full of expectation and regret, humor and hard questions.

Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her Nantucket-esque island this summer. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fishermen and housecleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past—or the island—Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true—about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself—with what really is.

A magnetic, push-me-pull-me romance with depth, this is for fans of Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, and Deb Caletti."

I am so excited for WITWW because Huntley's writing is lovely and her contemporary style and plots are so well thought out - also, this sounds like another perfect summer read!

Top Ten Tuesday #3

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where, each week, a Top Ten list is posted based on a particular topic.

This week's: Top Ten All Time Favorite Books in Fantasy Genre

Fantasy is probably my favourite genre but I don't manage to read as much of it as I do contemporary or paranormal I know it's weird; how can this be my favourite genre when I don't read a lot of it? Since I only read YA, I've found that there are very few pure fantasy YAs - as in set completely in a fantasy world rather than someone in reality who steps into a fantasy world, so I'm going to include some that have paranormal crossovers.

I'm most likely going to name the series because it's the whole series that makes it fantastic and my favourite - although the ability of book 1 to draw me in is really important.

1. Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

But more specifically CROWN OF MIDNIGHT OMG <3 I cannot wait for Heir of Fire I need more Celaena and Chaol!!!
Maas has created an amazing world that glitters and shines but is also full of darkness and bloodshed. From a castle made of glass with a tyrannical king to the 18-yo assassin that is reputed to be the deadliest assassin in Adarlan comes a beautifully woven tale full of intrigue, mystery and heartache.

2. The Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

Oho the DARKLING <3 Shadow & Bone, the first book in the series definitely stands as my favourite of the series yet. I can't believe this series finishes this year!
Set in a world that is similar to Russia, those born with a magical affinity are taken in to be trained under the Darkling's Second Army - a privilege that puts them above commoners. Our protagonist possesses the ability to open the Fold, a place of darkness filled with horror that is constantly growing. Under the direction of the seductive Darkling she ventures into the world of the Grisha and ohhhhh the story that unfolds is just glorious.

3. Covenant series by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I know this one is more paranormal/mythology but I think the combination of the two makes this fantasy too!
I adore, adore, adore this series. Aiden St Delphi and Chaol Westfall (from Throne of Glass) are tied as my #1 book boyfriends and Covenant stands as one of my favourite series of all time. I can re-read this forever and not get sick of it.

4. The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa

Best. Faery. Series. EVER. Ash <33333333333
The series just kept getting better and better!
Half-mortal, half royal Summer fey, Meghan Chase starts of as a bit of a flaky character but I love her change and growth after she ventures into the Nevernever to save her brother.

5. Fire and Thorns series by Rae Carson

Can't believe I waited this long to read this series. I was really hesitant as book 1 got really mixed/negative reviews but everybody said the series really picked up. I finished book 1 in 1 day and book 2 in 1 day as well! I should have bought them all in one go. Waiting on my book 3 to arrive now! Hectorrrr.

6. The Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta


I've actually only read the first book in this series but I do own them all. I LOVED book 1, I don't think it's possible for Marchetta to write a book that I don't like.

7. The Lotus War by Jay Kristoff

GIVE. ME. ENDSINGER.

8. The Fever series by Karen Marie Moning

This series is more UF/paranormal but it IS abour faeries and the protagonist does at times venture into other-worldy realms. This is my favourite adult paranormal series and Barrons is my ultimate alpha!

9. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

I'm not sure why so many people don't like this because this has been one of my favourite books of all time. I'll admit however that I wasn't able to read the rest of the series - I really didn't like those and couldn't get into them. But yes book 1 is lovely and Marr's writing is so eloquent.

10. Deltora Quest by Emily Rodda

Ahhhh my first ever foray into the world of fantasy. As a child I hated the covers (actually, I still do) but adored the stories - don't judge a book by its cover really applies here lol. One of the best fantasy series of all time.

Review: Kinslayer (The Lotus War #2) by Jay Kristoff

Firstly, thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for this review copy <3

This review contains mild spoilers for Stormdancer but not for Kinslayer

Date Read: August 20 - 27 2013
Release Date: September 1st 2013
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Source: ARC via publisher
Genre: Fantasy
My rating: 

Synopsis:

"A SHATTERED EMPIRE
The mad Shōgun Yoritomo has been assassinated by the Stormdancer Yukiko, and the threat of
civil war looms over the Shima Imperium. The Lotus Guild conspires to renew the nation’s broken
dynasty and crush the growing rebellion simultaneously – by endorsing a new Shōgun who desires
nothing more than to see Yukiko dead.

A DARK LEGACY
Yukiko and the mighty thunder tiger Buruu have been cast in the role of heroes by the Kagé
rebellion. But Yukiko herself is blinded by rage over her father’s death, and her ability to hear the
thoughts of beasts is swelling beyond her power to control. Along with Buruu, Yukiko’s anchor is Kin,
the rebel Guildsman who helped her escape from Yoritomo’s clutches. But Kin has his own secrets,
and is haunted by visions of a future he’d rather die than see realized.

A GATHERING STORM
Kagé assassins lurk within the Shōgun’s palace, plotting to end the new dynasty before it begins.
A waif from Kigen’s gutters begins a friendship that could undo the entire empire. A new enemy
gathers its strength, readying to push the fracturing Shima imperium into a war it cannot hope to
survive. And across raging oceans, amongst islands of black glass, Yukiko and Buruu will face foes no
katana or talon can defeat.

The ghosts of a blood-stained past."

---

“We will all turn the waters red when we bathe once this is finished.”

Why is this book called Kinslayer? Seriously Kristoff named it wrong. Heartslayer would be more accurate. Because he did just that. Took my heart and slayed it. Slashed it to pieces. Slowly and torturously. And I loved every moment of it. I’ve mentioned I’m a book masochist right?

As the sequel to his stunning 2012 fantasy debut, Kristoff had a lot to live up to. I absolutely adored Stormdancer and I’d never read a fantasy quite like it! So you can imagine my absolute fear when I received Kinslayer in the mail. I mean I was debating whether I should even request a review copy because I was so SCARED. But you know what? Kristoff blew me away. IZANAGI’S BALLS Kinslayer was even better than Stormdancer, how is that possible? My feels were an infinite amount more heightened, my swearing increased exponentially, my laughing progressed to cackling and I 100% mastered my “WTF” face.

Let’s start with our protagonist. Yukiko. Damn this girl is kick-ass! She is so strong, resilient, selfless, brave and at the core just a 16-year-old girl who had her heart broken so WHYYYYY would you put her through so much Kristoff? She took on a LOT in Stormdancer. But Kinslayer? Yukiko goes above and beyond what any heroine needs to face. In the bleakest of times, she doesn’t stop fighting, she keeps persevering and pushing forward despite fates worse than death just a hair breadth away. I loved her growth from Stormdancer, and her continuous growth in Kinslayer.

When Buruu was first introduced in Stormdancer, he was limited to nouns and growls. His growth throughout and into Kinslayer has been amazing. He is now an arashitora that speaks in eloquent sentences, but the most amazing thing is his humanity. There is no denying his care and devotion to Yukiko and their cause. What I adore most about Buruu is his humour. Kristoff has interwoven Kinslayer with Buruu’s humour and sarcasm, giving the book the balance it needs to its sometimes depressing content.

“TELL THEM IT IS RUDE TO STARE. EVEN AT MAGNIFICENCE.”

Kristoff introduces some new characters to the story line and also puts more emphasis on the secondary characters as a mechanism to show the events around Shima. There’s Michi, the girl from the Kage who continues the work of the rebellion; there’s Kin who plays a very integral part in this story as he struggles with his Guildsman teachings and wanting to be part of the Kage but always an outcast; and new additions Hana, her brother Yuri and his boyfriend Jurou are three people who completely moved me with their plot lines from the slums of Shima.

“Be it made of scales or brass, a snake who sheds his skin is still a snake.”

One of the things I didn’t like about Stormdancer was the over-flowery language style that I felt went right over my head. Either Kristoff downplayed it in Kinslayer or I’ve grown accustomed to it because I adored the writing in Kinslayer – sophisticated, powerful and so much imagery that accentuated the stunning world-building.

So a rebellion is rising, there’s apparently a new Shogun and rumour has it it’s someone familiar – oh dear – and while all this is happening in a crumbling Shima, Yukiko and Buruu are flying across oceans trying to understand a mystery of their own. Phew, that’s a lot happening in one book; it certainly kept me on the edge of my seat. Wait til you get to the bombshell *cackles* I fell off my seat. I will say no more about the complex and delectable plot!

If you haven’t read Kinslayer yet, READ IT. If you haven’t even heard of Stormdancer… Well, I don’t know you.

“The lotus must burn.”