December Book Haul

Hey guys! Merry Christmas Eve! 

I very rarely do Book Hauls, I usually just chuck it all in with my wrap up, but things got a bit out of control this month! There's the dregs that arrived that I ordered from Black Friday and then there's the books I got really cheap, like half price and then there's more books that I got because I was having a rubbish day and I'm still waiting for other books to arrive and I didn't want my wrap up to be a million miles long SO Book Haul time! 

Yes. As you can see the book buying ban worked out fabulously. Oops? I can't resist pretty books, you all know I can't! 

Jackaby by William Ritter

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Beastly Bones by William Ritter

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Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne

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Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

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The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson

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Dracula by Bram Stoker

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Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

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This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald

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Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

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The Adventures of Robin Hood by Roger Lancelyn Green

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King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Roger Lancelyn Green

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Tales of the Greek Heroes by Roger Lancelyn Green

Buy 

Add To TBR

And so concludes my December "I completely lost all control" book haul! This isn't including what I'm still waiting to arrive! Let me know YOUR December book hauls down in the comments! I hope you have a FANTASTIC Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! 

Wishing For Wednesday #70

Righto, this week's reads are intriguing! 
First up is the sequel to a book that is sitting on my TBR and I'm determined to get to it in January in honour of this release! The first book made it on my TBR because ya know....originality and general intrigue. The sequel sounds equally as exciting! 
Second is a book I discovered through Tumblr and someone's post on there! There was a gorgeous photo of it, so I checked it out on GoodReads and oh my GOD it sounds fantastic. It's a debut fantasy and I just completely love the sound of it!
Let me know what your WFW picks are in the comments! 

The Masquerading Magician

Deciphering an ancient alchemy book is more difficult than Zoe Faust bargained for. She'd much rather be gardening and exploring her new home of Portland, Oregon—but time is running out for living gargoyle Dorian Robert-Houdin. If Zoe isn t able to unlock the alchemy book's secrets soon, the French gargoyle will remain awake but trapped in stone forever.

When Zoe gives herself a rare night out to attend a classic magic show that reminds her of her youth, she realizes the stage magicians are much more than they seem. A murder at the theater leads back to a string of unsolved robberies and murders in Portland's past, and a mystery far more personal than Zoe and Dorian ever imagined.

The Masquerading Magician is out February 1st, pre-order your copy....here! 
Add it to your TBR....here!

Assassin's Heart

In the kingdom of Lovero, nine rival Families of assassins lawfully kill people for a price. As a highly skilled member of one of these powerful clans, seventeen-year-old Lea Saldana has always trusted in the strength of her Family. Until she awakens to find them murdered and her home in flames. The Da Vias, the Saldanas’ biggest enemy, must be responsible—and Lea should have seen it coming. But her secret relationship with the Da Vias’ son, Val, has clouded her otherwise killer instinct—and given the Da Vias more reason than ever to take her Family down.

Racked with guilt and shattered over Val’s probable betrayal, Lea sets out to even the score, with her heart set on retaliation and only one thought clear in her mind: make the Da Vias pay. 

Assassin's Heart is out February 2nd, pre-order your copy....here! 

Add it to your TBR.....here! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year

The question should be "What books DON'T I want Santa to leave under my tree". Seriously you have no idea how hard it was to narrow down just TEN. There's so many books I'm after, I collect all the leather and cloth bounds and the Word Cloud Classics so I tried to pick an interesting selection to intrigue you all that wasn't all classics in various forms! I restrained myself and only put down ONE leatherbound! 

1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Illustrated Edition
I STILL don't own this because I'm completely rubbish and behind the times! I need it in my life because Harry Potter is my favourite. Well. One of them! 

2. Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman 
This has been on my wishlist for a while, everything about it screams "hell yes!" I really do need to just finally get hold of it! 

3. These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly
This was a stumble upon find, thanks to GoodReads recommendations. It really appeals to me and everyones been raving about it so I figure...why wait! Hope for a Christmas miracle haha 

4. In The Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken
Do I even need to explain this? I stupidly read the first one without owning this one and the second one, so I've got the second one but I need to get this one and the novella bind up before I can finish the series! I refuse to live through the cliff hanger torture. 

5. Obsession by Jennifer L Armentrout
I can hear the gasps of shock and betrayal. Yes guys. I have failed on an epic scale and I still do not own this book. Let's move swiftly on......

6. Frankenstein Clothbound
So like I said, I collect clothbounds as well as the English Library ones and ya know...the classics deluxe. Because I collect anything book shaped and pretty. This is one of the clothbounds that I DON'T have and Halloween increased my lust for this book. I also saw a Penguin leather-bound version of it that will make it's way on my list at some point! 

7. An Atlas of Tolkien
Hellooooooo Tolkien. It's not official, but it's pretty and it matches my Tolkien Dictionary! Gimme gimme.  

8. Assassin's Apprentice Special Edition
I freaking love Assassin's Apprentice, it's the first and only trilogy of Robin Hobb's that I've read and I really need to get round to grabbing and reading the others, but you all know how TBR's are! Anyway, I collect pretty books and one of my favourite books in a pretty edition....say no more! 

9. Bulfinch's Mythology Leather-bound
This is the one leather-bound I allowed myself to choose! It makes sense considering my fascination with all kinds of mythology doesn't it!? 

10. Heidi Puffin in Bloom
So I recently discovered these editions from Puffin, when they released the Alice in Wonderland edition. I will have to collect them all, because I can't resist, but I chose Heidi because I don't actually own an edition of it, but I have actually read it! 

SO those are my picks for this week! We've all learned that I collect everything under the sun that is book shaped and good looking, and we've also learned that I can, in actual fact, exercise some self restraint as evidenced by the fact I selected one, and only one leather-bound book and clothbound book! Go me! 

Link me to your TT Tuesdays in the comments! 

Dangerous Lies

Dangerous Lies 

Rating: 4/5 

Buy or Borrow: Buy 

Source: Copy courtesy of NetGalley 

Stella Gordon is not her real name. Thunder Basin, Nebraska, is not her real home. This is not her real life.

After witnessing a lethal crime, Stella Gordon is sent to the middle of nowhere for her own safety before she testifies against the man she saw kill her mother’s drug dealer.

But Stella was about to start her senior year with the boyfriend she loves. How can she be pulled away from the only life she knows and expected to start a new one in Nebraska? Stella chafes at her protection and is rude to everyone she meets. She’s not planning on staying long, so why be friendly? Then she meets Chet Falconer and it becomes harder to keep her guard up, even as her guilt about having to lie to him grows.

As Stella starts to feel safer, the real threat to her life increases—because her enemies are actually closer than she thinks…

I am a HUGE Becca Fitzpatrick fan, the Hush Hush series was one of my favourites, I have them all in hardback because I couldn't wait for them to come out in paperback and the wait between books was brutal! I don't particularly like contemporary, it rarely holds my interest to be honest, just for no particular reason! I prefer something with a fantasy element or something! ANYWAY. I completely loved Black Ice despite it being a contemporary and I had high hopes for Dangerous Lies. I was not disappointed! 

I found myself lost in the book, completely gripped by events. Especially towards the end when I could see the percentage read getting higher and higher, closer and closer to 100% and I'm thinking "okay....anytime now something's going to happen, something bad" and then BOOM! An edge of the seat finale to the book! 

Over the course of the book I became so attached to Stella and Chet. I was trying to work out what had really happened that night, and I kinda guessed but it didn't take away from the enjoyment of the book as the scene was written so vividly and horrifyingly you felt for Stella. Chet also had a heartbreaking story to him, and I enjoyed how realistic and believable he and Stella where, as well as Trigger unfortunately. I mean, it's probably no a surprise he's a douche with a name like Trigger, probably became a douche to negate all the bullying he endured for his name! 

ANYWAY! I loved that the characters weren't perfect, they'd both done things they regretted and they where so authentic and you just LOVE them! Especially the two of them together. They gave me feels all the way through, I loved watching their relationship develop and change and everything. I loved watching them work through their issues and come to terms with things and they where just perfectly written. You really got a feel for them and connected to them in just this one book. Sometimes in standalones I find myself struggling to know the character but that's not the case here! Stella goes from a complete brat to a character you come to care for so much, it's insane! 

There where so many little mysteries in the book. What really happened that night? Where did Trigger recognise her from? What's the deal with Chet? and so on. I found myself pleasantly surprised, I mean I kinda guessed about the whole events of the night thing but not right away, but other things surprised me, like Reed and who he is. The book is written so compellingly that you lose yourself in the story and this tiny town. 

Don't get me wrong, there where still a few cheesy bits but I do love a bit of cheese every now and again! To be fair, it did start out kind of iffy and I was like "oh no...this may be the first book of hers that I don't like" as it took time for me to get in to it, but at the same time....I was still compelled in to reading to find out what happened, and then over the course of the book I got more and more addicted and more and more invested in the book. 

There's not all that much action, I wasn't sure what to expect because it was all "Witness protection" and then it was all proper American, I don't know what word I'm looking for, like deep American, there where cowboys and stuff. BUT despite the lack of action, there was tonnes of romance. TONNES. Love me some romance and at the time of reading it was just what I was after! All in all it started off weak and got better and better as the book went on, and I ended up completely obsessed with the book and the ending was SO INTENSE. Proper gripped to the page at that point! 

Wishing For Wednesday #69

Wednesdaaaaayyyyyyy! 
Are you excited to see my picks this week?! Are you!? You should be! 
First up is an exciting new historical novel from a brand new author! It sounds freaking awesome and the cover is gorgeous! I've been so excited for this for aaagggggeeesss! I keep hearing SUCH good things about it! 
Second is a fantasy book that sounds completely fantastic. I'm seriously on such a fantasy hype right now and this one sounds brilliant, I've not heard a bad word about it so far, and I'm incredibly intrigued by it! 

River of Ink

In thirteenth-century Sri Lanka, Asanka, poet to the king, lives a life of luxury, enjoying courtly life and a sweet, furtive love affair with a palace servant, a village girl he is teaching to write. But when Magha, a prince from the mainland, usurps the throne, Asanka's role as court poet dramatically alters. Magha is a cruel and calculating king--and yet, a lover of poetry--and he commissions Asanka to translate a holy Sanskrit epic into the Tamil language spoken by his recently acquired subjects. The poem will be an olive branch--a symbol of unity between the two cultures.

But in different languages, in different contexts, meaning can become slippery. First inadvertently, then deliberately and dangerously, Asanka's version of the epic, centered on the killing of an unjust ruler, inspires and arouses the oppressed people of the land. Asanka must juggle the capricious demands of a king with the growing demands of his own political consciousness--and his heart--if he wishes to survive and imagine a future with the woman he loves.

River of Ink is out January 28th, pre-order your copy....here!
Add it to your TBR....here! 

Darkhaven

Ayla Nightshade never wanted to rule Darkhaven. But her half-brother Myrren – true heir to the throne – hasn’t inherited their family gift, forcing her to take his place.

When this gift leads to Ayla being accused of killing her father, Myrren is the only one to believe her innocent. Does something more sinister than the power to shapeshift lie at the heart of the Nightshade family line?

Now on the run, Ayla must fight to clear her name if she is ever to wear the crown she never wanted and be allowed to return to the home she has always loved.

Darkhaven is out January 28th, pre-order your copy...here! 

Add it to your TBR....here! 

Book Talk: Witch Hunter

Hey guys, I'm back with another book talk! 
As I have more time now to read books off my TBR, and I have a strong need to fangirl after most of them, I'm thinking of making this a regular thing because then we can all fangirl together, even if I'm ya know....a bit late to the game with some of them! 

Today I'm going to be talking about Witch Hunter, because OH MY FREAKING GOD HOW DID I NOT READ IT SOONER?! I wanted to read it so badly, but I didn't get around to reading it until the other day. I bought it finally because I was like "Oh I may as well buy it because ya know...Halloween!" so I FINALLY bought it but it's taken me this long to read it and I kinda wanna smack myself for taking so long to read it but then at the same time....the wait until the next book is less I suppose?! 

I don't know how the hell I'm going to wait until June for the next book because I'm so eager to get back to the world of the book. I freaking love original and different books and this is one of those fo sho guys! 

This is the point when I should mention this won't be spoiler free because I can't avoid spoilers while freaking the hell out! 

I'm reading and I'm reading and I'm like "yep, yep, loving this" I wasn't too sold on shipping her with Caleb because I was like "dude you're being a douche" with the whole leaving her in prison thing and everything. I wasn't sure if it was gonna be a love triangle or what and it wasn't and I'm kinda glad the book went that way because it ended up SO AWESOME and the romance was SO CUTE. Although with what went down with Caleb, my heart freaking broke for Elizabeth! BUT BUT BUT, like.....he can't be dead right?! I'm feeling like Caleb is alive because Blackwell probably saved him but then maybe that's what the author wants us to think and really he is actually did or I don't even know! 

I got so completely sucked in to the world and attached to all the characters it was insane, Elizabeth is my new fave, not gonna lie. Badass, strong, freaking awesome. Not to mention funny! Completely my fave, her narrative gave me life and I miss her already, I got way too attached to her considering she's a fictional character not gonna lie. 

I shipped her and John to another level, like in the beginning I wasn't sure who the romance was gonna be with because for a while there was always a chance it could be Caleb but then that got nipped in the bud. But like once I saw her and John together I was like "yaaaaaaaasssss!" because like he so obviously liked her from the beginning and it was SO CUTE! There where so many warm and fuzzies all up in the book guys. Seriously. PERFECT FREAKING ROMANCE AND I WANT THEM BACK TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THEM NEXT. 

OH OH OH and Schuyler and Fifer....ARE YOU A THING?! YOU'RE A THING RIGHT?! YOU ARE YOU ARE I SWEAR! Like I wasn't sure for ages. They where all kind of coupley and bantering with each other and I was like "you two had better be together" and then I wasn't sure and he was all flirty with the nymphs. But then as the book went on I was like "YOU TOTALLY ARE A COUPLE OH MY GOD YOU'RE ALL CONNECTED AND HE CAN HEAR YOU FROM AGES AWAY OMG CUUUUUTTTEE" damn am I hoping for more of those two in the next book! 

I freaking loved Fifer as well, I was waiting for her to warm up to Elizabeth and when she saved Fifer's life, I freaking loved the friendship that started forming. Fifer defending her, comforting her when she was all upset, being all buddy buddy the next morning and then insisting on going with her along with John and George. I freaking LOVED IT. Not to mention Elizabeth's friendship with George. Like, perfect friendships, perfect group. I love all of them together guys, so much. 

I loved the dark twists to this book and I was so surprised by the thing with the King, I didn't see that coming, honestly I didn't. That was the last thing I was expecting when reading the blurb. Although I'm kind of intrigued, like not in a weird way, but like it just seems like the two of them had a lot of little conversations. I'm SO not here for him being one part of a triangle between her and John in the second book, like the thought did cross my mind when Blackwell was like "he likes you" or whatever, like it's not out of the realm of possibility that he could be but I'm hoping not! ANYWAY. Many surprises guys. 

This book was freaking full OF INTRIGUE AND FEELS. SO MANY FEELS. Couldn't stop reading and I finished it at like 3am, kinda feels. Especially the saying bye to Caleb and then being on the bad guys side and then getting slashed by the sword. LOVED the legend to the sword by the way. 

We need to talk about page 397 though guys. That bit DESTROYED ME. Like Elizabeth I still thought she was in the illusion and then the leg stabby bit happened and like all of that was going down and I was still half thinking she was in the illusion and none of it was real, and then when the thing with Caleb happened, I realised it was all real and I genuinely had to throw the book down on the bed and sit and have a breather before carrying on. I can't even with that bit of the book, seriously. I CAN'T EVEN. Genuinely couldn't handle it! 

I can't even with the next book either and I've only read the freaking synopsis for it because clearly Elizabeth is going to be sent to assassinate Blackwell and like clearly there's going to be danger to her and probably John and everyone else. Then there'll be a showdown with Caleb if he isn't dead and I can't even. I loved how Witch Hunter ended it was kind of wrapped up but with threads for the next book and the possibilities for the next book are endless and I just can't even wait. GIVE IT TO ME NOW OH MY GOD PLEAAAASEEE! 

SO, I am once again calm, please, for the love of GOD.....let me know in the comments what you thought of the book and what your theories for book two are! I need to fangirl and I need you guys to fangirl with!