March Book Haul

Hey guys! 
I've already shared my Birthday Book Haul with you all, so now it's time for the standard Book Haul! 
I was very lucky this month, and I'm so grateful to the various publishers who where nice enough to let me review their books! I was also super lucky in that...I actually won something! I rarely ever win anything and here I won twice! 

Books Bought:

Prudence

Prudence is a book I've been meaning to get for a while because it's the first book in a  spin off series from The Parasol Protectorate series that I love! It's all steampunk and supernatural, and they're so much fun! So I'm excited to finally get to read this! God bless Waterstones stamp reward cards! 

Firefight

This is a sequel, and I still haven't actually read the first one but I needed to get a second book for the Waterstones thing and I thought...why not, then when I do read the first book I can get straight in to the second one! I'm actually planning on reading them soon, I swear! 

A Gathering of Shadows

Do I need to say anything? I totally pre-ordered this because I wanted the really awesome pre-order cards that the author was doing! I can't wait to read what happens next, A Darker Shade of Magic was one of my favourite books of 2015, and AGOS has been one of my most anticipated! I think I'm gonna try and get to it this month! 

The Novice

I actually still need to get this in hardcover because the hardcover is gorgeous, this is Waterstones fault again, because I had points and the paperback has a really cool demonology bit in the back and some of the drawings are kind of cute, not going to lie! This book is so much fun, and it's so original, I got to review it and it was such a fantastic read! 

Firstlife

I actually broke the book buying ban for this first because I freaking love Gena Showalter, and Book Depository had signed editions for sale and the chances of me ever meeting the author and getting her to sign a copy are really slim so I thought why not! I'm so intrigued by this as it's a different direction to her usual Teen!

Books Received: 

Little Black Classics

I was sent five of these to review and I'm so grateful because these are fantastic little editions! There's not just the writings but there's information in the book about the author and the story as well as a quote page. I'm definitely going to have to collect these. 

The Shadow Queen

This is a fairy tale retelling, Snow White in particular and you all need to read this, especially if you love OUAT! It's original, the twists on the original tale are brilliant, it's funny, the romance is perfect and there's plenty of action and plot twists as well as fantastic characters! It's a genuine "can't put down" book! 

Shaken

The third book in a series by one of my favourite authors, I've literally just started it after re-reading the first two! I love all of Joss's books, and these ones are thrillers, there's a detective agency for teens, there's mystery and romance, and Joss writes perfect romance that brings the warm and fuzzies! 

The Immorality Engine

Another third book! This is a steampunk series that's full of brilliantly complex mysteries and plots, as well as a very Sherlock/Watson duo in the form of Newbury and Hobbes. I'm always surprised and kept on my toes and the writing is gorgeous! 

A Study in Brimstone

In this we have Warlock Holmes who's a bit of a dimwit, lucky for him he has Dr Watson. This book has 6 Sherlock Holmes stories reimagined, and they sound completely awesome! I'm excited to review this! 

Trace Evidence

Novella bind up alert! This is a bind up of three of the Virals novellas plus a brand new one set after the last Virals novel, and these novellas are pure perfection! 

World Mythology 

Exactly what it says, World Mythology, concisely written to give you the maximum information without having to spend pages and pages reading about it all. It's straight to the point and tells you exactly what you need to know! 

The Wicked Wit of Jane Austen

A collection of quotes from her works and her personal letters to other family members and acquaintances. It's a fantastic collection of quotes about all different kinds of things. 

Persuasion

The Alma Edition of an Austen classic, in this we have Anne who isn't treated too brilliantly by her family, and she ends up coming face to face with a lost love. Luckily the feelings are still there, there's just a couple of bumps in the road to get out the way! 

The Woman in White 

Drawing master Walter winds up at the home of Laura and Marian after an eerie encounter with a woman in white. Falling for Laura would have been okay...if Laura wasn't engaged to be married to Percival who is as shady as they come. Percival has a friend, equally as shady, in the form of Count Fosco, and they're definitely up to no good! 

Books Won: 

I basically never get to do this category! But a miracle happened and I won a couple things! 

Rebel of The Sands

I totally won a signed copy from Maximum Pop Books and I've been so excited for this book, it's one of my most anticipated and it sounds so awesome! Excited as I am to read this, I'm a bit wary because like...it's signed and I don't want to damage it! 

Emma

I won this lovely edition from a lovely lady called Emma! I collect the Penguin English Library editions, and I'm going to be reading this for this months classics challenge! I'm excited to read another Austen, I've already read two and I'm working my through her entire works! 

So that is my March Book Haul and I'm so ridiculously grateful! Let me know what you hauled in March, down below! 

The Novice

The Novice
Rating: 5/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy won from the publisher!

When blacksmith apprentice Fletcher comes across a special book courtesy of a passing soldier, he doesn't yet realise that his life is about to change. He soon discovers he has the ability to Summon and an after an accident, he and his new demon flee as far from Fletcher's home as they can. Chance has him finding a place at Adept Military Academy. There he finds new friends, and finds himself studying the art of Summoning and everything to do with demons. Fletcher and his fellow commoners not only have to put up with the nobles treatment of them, but also have to undergo the gruelling training to take part in a competition an entire year early, putting them a year closer to being battlemage's fighting in the Hominum Emire's war against Orcs.

Fletcher is surrounded by the power hungry, those seeking alliances and the constant fear of betrayal. Sylva needs to do what's going to be best for her fellow elves, even if it means buddying up with the nobles. Othello and his fellow dwarves are fighting for equality. Fletcher just wants to know who he is. Fletcher and Ignatius need to decide where their loyalties lie, and they need to win. But will his past come back to haunt him?

Oh my god guys! GUYS! This book is SO AWESOME. I can't even. I won a proof of this book in a Twitter competition from the publisher, but this book just came out not too long ago, so I thought I'd review it because I loved it so much to be honest! This is one of those books I'll re-read because it's the start of what's going to be one of my favourite series, and it's the start of an imaginative and original new series.

I was sucked in from the first page, and unable to put the book down, I've honestly been glued to the book the entire time. I devoured this book. Seriously. And then right at the end? The ending of the book? I am one of those people who talks to book and I shouted at it. Right at the end. Shouted. I couldn't help myself because of the freaking ending and then having to wait for the next book that I don't even know when it's out. I was literally just like "SERIOUSLY YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME GOD DAMMIT". Seriously. It's going to be a horrible wait for the next book and I don't know how I'll cope to be honest. I really don't.

While The Novice is easy to read, and I whizzed through it, it has a very complex plot with complex politics going on. I'm not going to get too political in this post, but the equality issue the dwarves are dealing with is one that I feel is echoed in the real world. Anyway, the background, history, peoples, stories, and politics of the world of the Novice are all very rich and complex, and this comes across in the book without smothering you with information, over the course of the book you gain an intense understanding of the world of the book and how it works.

I love all things original and a little bit different so it's no surprise I love this book, sure it has echoes of other books, but the book is original. I loved all the different demons, with the classification at the back. There where so many, and we only met some in this book. The Novice stretches your imagination and gives it a workout, and I loved reading about all the different types of demons and the magic used in the book and the rules for it, I've not read demons or magic quite like this, with the summoning. It felt a bit like Pokemon at one point when they where talking about capturing new demons. It's new and original and different, and I loved it. Especially Fletcher's idea for his tattoo!

The world building was vivid and cinematic, it sucked me in to the world and I felt like I was there with the characters. Everything was described in such a way that you could picture what was going on or picture the setting, without overly done descriptions. And what a world. It's clearly extensive, I'm hoping we get to see some more of it, and it's imaginative, with the elves, and the dwarves and the orcs and the the different types of people, nobles and commoners and so on. It's a world you can get lost in and forget about whatever's going on in your life, and that's the best kind of world really!

Fletcher, my poor, poor Fletcher. I liked Fletcher, he was easy to connect with and understand, and like Fletcher, you want to know who he is, clearly he's not who Arcturus thinks he is, but I can't quite work out the answer. I have a suspicion but I think I'm wrong, because it's too obvious. Fletcher is the kind of character you can root for, and who isn't entirely perfect so seems all the more realistic.

There's an entire cast of rich, likeable characters, and those you like to hate. Tarquin. In particular. I really don't like Tarquin. Anyway. Each secondary character is brought to life with as much as detail and care as Fletcher and the demons. Sylva, I want to know more about, I really liked her, she's a total badass, and another character I connected with, she has her duty but she's also got her friends who she's going to back, and she's a fighter, not a pushover. Othello, I wasn't sure about his character in the beginning but he's awesome, and I'm intrigued to see what's going to happen with him and his brother and his people after the incident in the cave, and after the end of this book as well. Seraph, I felt like we didn't get to know Seraph well enough and I'm hoping the next book will change that! Arcturus, where did he go!? Come back! Lovett, please can she come back in the second book? Although I do love her way of keeping an eye on the gang, can we have her back please!? So many well written characters to get to know and love! Dammit Didric. Ruining everything though.

I just really loved this book guys. The Novice is original, it's fun, it's complex, it's got action and magic and demons and a whole load of characters you can root for, as well as a colourful and imaginative world to get lost in. The Novice perfectly sets up the next book without sacrificing the plot of this book, almost as an after thought, and leaves you with a cliffhanger that's going to have you shouting "NOOOOO". The Novice is an utterly fantastic start to a promising trilogy and I can't wait for the next book!

The Month In Books: April

So, I finally decided to start doing the monthly wrap up post that everyone else seems to be doing, this is not going to be in any way pretty looking nor will it be accurate, as I didn't really plan on doing this and now I can't locate some of the books and yeah. But hopefully this won't look too crappy!

SO! This month's been kinda meh for me to be honest, applied for a lot of acting gigs, haven't heard back, but I did apply for a really cool job that everyone will freak over if I get it but I'm not allowed to say what it is! HOPING SO BADLY THAT I GET THIS I CAN'T EVEN.

But anyways, on with the interesting part.....

What I've Won:

So, I've been really lucky this month, like really really lucky as you can see! 
I won proofs of  The Novice and 13 Days Of Midnight from Books With Bite! 
Aaaanndd I also won a copy of Talon along with a cool dragon egg necklace, a poster and a sampler of Rogue! 

What I've Received:

This month I received some totally awesome books and I'm so grateful to the publishers for hooking me up with them! 

The Fatal Flame and The Silvered Heart courtesy of Headline!

Skin and The Art of Baking Blind courtesy of Hodder!

Rogue courtesy of Mira Ink!

The Dead House from Orion!

The Watchmaker of Filigree Street courtesy of Bloomsbury!

Dave VS The Monsters: Emergence courtesy of Titan!

The Invasion of the Tearling from Bantam Press!

Maximum Ride Forever from Arrow!

Books I've Read: 

Okay so I haven't managed to read all that many books that I'm just reading for myself, I've mostly read review books, the one book I did read myself was Dark Vision. Even then I've only read this because I won the second book and I fancy reviewing it ahaha

Books I've Reviewed:

This month I've reviewed loads! I'm just gonna link to the review this time round instead of GoodReads soooo....

Code & Exposure and Terminal by Kathy Reichs

Gemini Force One: Black Horizon by M.G. Harris

Angelfall by Susan Ee

Disclaimer by Renee Knight

Guns of the Dawn by Aidrian Tchaikovsky

Adamant by Emma L Adams

Havana Sleeping by Martin Davies

Spirits, Stilettos and a Silver Bustier by Deanna Chase

The Mage Winds by Mercedes Lackey

The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige

A Court of Thornes and Roses by Sarah J Maas

Rogue by Julie Kagawa

What I'm Currently Reading:

So right now, I'm reading Dark Touch which I won from Del Ray, I just started it last night and I haven't got far in to it yet, but it's just as hilarious as the first one! I think I'll most likely review this one as well! 

What I'm Planning To Read Next: 

I haven't quite decided what I'm going to read yet, I'm HOPING to read The Summoner this month, as well as re-read Queen of The Tearling and then read Invasion of the Tearling,  then Maximum Ride Forever and An Ember in the Ashes, but it depends how much time I have.  I kinda review in the order they arrive and by release date so I'll definitely get Summoner and Maximum Ride done, but the others aren't out until a few months and I have other review books, and I'm kind of including these ones as "reading for pleasure" because I'm super excited about them and eager to get started.  But most importantly, I'm really hoping to start FINALLY finishing Game of Thrones this month. It's been ages, seriously.  OH and I should get Day Four read this month too! 

Wishing For Wednesday #37

Helloooo!
This week I've got two books for you instead of one!
The first book is one that I'm really excited about, forget the retellings of all the standard fairy tales, beauty and the beast, cinderella and so on, this one is a retelling of Red Riding Hood, and I've not come across one before, and it sounds awesome! Like so awesome, there's magic and princes and yeah. Awesome.
The second book I've got for you is full of demons, orcs, mages and general coolness, it sounds different, it sounds interesting, and it sounds fascinating. It's the first in what's promising to be a fantastic and popular trilogy, and you should all take note of it!

Crimson Bound

When Rachelle was fifteen she was good—apprenticed to her aunt and in training to protect her village from dark magic. But she was also reckless— straying from the forest path in search of a way to free her world from the threat of eternal darkness. After an illicit meeting goes dreadfully wrong, Rachelle is forced to make a terrible choice that binds her to the very evil she had hoped to defeat.

Three years later, Rachelle has given her life to serving the realm, fighting deadly creatures in an effort to atone. When the king orders her to guard his son Armand—the man she hates most—Rachelle forces Armand to help her find the legendary sword that might save their world. As the two become unexpected allies, they uncover far-reaching conspiracies, hidden magic, and a love that may be their undoing. In a palace built on unbelievable wealth and dangerous secrets, can Rachelle discover the truth and stop the fall of endless night?

Inspired by the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, Crimson Bound is an exhilarating tale of darkness, love, and redemption.

Crimson Bound is out May 5th, pre-order your copy....here!
Add it to your TBR...here!

The Novice

When blacksmith apprentice Fletcher discovers that he has the ability to summon demons from another world, he travels to Adept Military Academy. There the gifted are trained in the art of summoning. Fletcher is put through grueling training as a battlemage to fight in the Hominum Empire’s war against orcs. He must tread carefully while training alongside children of powerful nobles. The power hungry, those seeking alliances, and the fear of betrayal surround him. Fletcher finds himself caught in the middle of powerful forces, with only his demon Ignatius for help.

As the pieces on the board maneuver for supremacy, Fletcher must decide where his loyalties lie. The fate of an empire is in his hands. The Novice is the first in a trilogy about Fletcher, his demon Ignatius, and the war against the Orcs.

The Novice is out May 5th, pre-order your copy....here!

Add it to your TBR....here!