Waiting on Wednesday: Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell

Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell

Expected Publication: July 18th by Simon Pulse

YA Fantasy

Stop the Magician.

Steal the book.
Save the future.

In modern day New York, magic is all but extinct. The remaining few who have an affinity for magic—the Mageus—live in the shadows, hiding who they are. Any Mageus who enters Manhattan becomes trapped by the Brink, a dark energy barrier that confines them to the island. Crossing it means losing their power—and often their lives.

Esta is a talented thief, and she's been raised to steal magical artifacts from the sinister Order that created the Brink. With her innate ability to manipulate time, Esta can pilfer from the past, collecting these artifacts before the Order even realizes she’s there. And all of Esta's training has been for one final job: traveling back to 1902 to steal an ancient book containing the secrets of the Order—and the Brink—before the Magician can destroy it and doom the Mageus to a hopeless future.

But Old New York is a dangerous world ruled by ruthless gangs and secret societies, a world where the very air crackles with magic. Nothing is as it seems, including the Magician himself. And for Esta to save her future, she may have to betray everyone in the past.

Goodreads

Amazon

Why I Am Waiting:

I have been for some time now, wanting to read a Lisa Maxwell book, but none caught my attention as much as The Last Magician. This book mixes magic, history, and time travel together - three aspects that I think would all mash very well together to create an interesting story. I also feel that the cast of characters in this story will be wonderful to get to know - and let's face it, a thief who time travels sounds amazing.

Beautiful book covers TAG

I saw this over at Spines and Covers. I think this tag is interesting because the tag focuses on what the book looks like, and it sounds fun! If you want to do it, consider yourself tagged!

1. CHOOSE 5 OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOKS IN YOUR COLLECTION.
I am going to go with Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco, Lovely Reckless by Kami Garcia, Live Through This by Mindi Scott, Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber, and Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen. I loved Stalking Jack the Ripper (5 stars), Lovely Reckless (4 stars), and Darker Still (5 stars). You can find my reviews for Stalking Jack the Ripper here and Lovely Reckless here.

2. CHOOSE A BEAUTIFUL BOOK THAT FEATURES YOUR MOST FAVORITE COLOR.
This was kind of hard. My favorite color is teal, and there aren't a lot of books that I know of with this color. So I chose three books that I felt fit this question for different reasons. Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson - I think the cover is gorgeous and I love how the wording is. I gave Name of the Star 3 stars in case you are wondering about my thoughts on the book. Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray - I feel like I am the only person out there who loved when the cover for the first book was switched. I just think the new cover is very simple, but intriguing. Passenger by Alexandra Bracken might be a stretch to call teal, but it's in that range of color that I love - I just love the cover, I love the design of what's in the bottle to the ship upside down underneath the bottle.

3. CHOOSE A BEAUTIFUL BOOK THAT FEATURES YOUR LEAST FAVORITE COLOR.

This was also hard for me, because I don't pick up a lot of orange books because I'm usually not interested because of the color of the cover. It just doesn't draw my attention, but there is one book that did. And it's really not a shock if you know me. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. It's very simple, but I think it is absolutely gorgeous.

4. CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITE COVER OF A CLASSIC.

I picked a series/companions instead of just a book because I think they are all absolutely gorgeous and they are matching. Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien, Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien, and Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien. I own the Lord of the Rings series with these covers, and the 2nd and 3rd books with the movie tie-in covers.

5. CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITE COVER OF A CHILDREN’S BOOK.
This is my favorite cover of a Children's Book. I love the color, and just think it looks absolutely beautiful. It's Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi.

6. DO YOU OFTEN BUY BOOKS BASED SOLELY ON A BEAUTIFUL COVER?
I don't know if I would say I buy books based solely on a beautiful cover, but I have in the past. One book that I know of for sure, that I have not read yet and know absolutely nothing about is Shades of Darkness by A.R. Kahler. I have mentioned this book a few time in regards to similar questions, just because it's one I absolutely know I bought solely on the cover.

7. OUT OF EVERY BOOK THAT YOU OWN, WHICH BOOK BEST EXEMPLIFIES YOUR IDEA OF A BEAUTIFUL BOOK.
I think that out of all of my books that Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout is the book that I think best exemplifies my idea of a beautiful book.

What are your favorite beautiful covers?

Review: Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

If you want something done right . . .

When the ruthless pirate king learns of a legendary treasure map hidden on an enemy ship, his daughter, Alosa, knows there's only one pirate for the job—herself. Leaving behind her beloved ship and crew, Alosa deliberately facilitates her own kidnapping to ensure her passage on the ship, confident in her ability to overcome any obstacle. After all, who's going to suspect a seventeen-year-old girl locked in a cell? Then she meets the (surprisingly perceptive and unfairly attractive) first mate, Riden, who is charged with finding out all her secrets. Now it's down to a battle of wits and will . . . . Can Alosa find the map and escape before Riden figures out her plan?

Pages: 320

Format: Hardback

Published By: Feiwel & Friends

Genre: YA - Fantasy, Romance

Rating:
✮✮✮✮✮

Review:

The book, Daughter of the Pirate King, was as thrilling as I had anticipated when I read the blurb on the cover from Anna Banks. Although I was anticipating reading this book so much, I was also slightly wary because it was comparing Alosa to a Lady Captain Jack Sparrow, and Pirates of the Caribbean is a favorite movie series of mine. But the wariness was for naught because this book was absolutely exciting and adventurous. This book was initially hard for me to get into - it took a few chapters but I pushed through because I really wanted to read this book. I am so glad I did. This book was full of well-written characters that you love and love to hate at times. It was funny, with Kearan and Enwen, who are a constant source of amusement, but at the same time so endearing. I really liked getting to know Alosa through this story. She was feisty, stubborn, and determined - qualities that I like in female characters. I also loved the relationship between her and Riden. They are perfect for each other, but at the same time, there developing feelings (not love) were not a huge focus of the story. I would to see it develop more in the next novel though. I loved the world building and the concept of sirens in this story. Yes, sirens are dark and scary creatures in this novel but I love how Tricia Levenseller also added that additional touch with her the concept of sirens. I cannot wait to continue with this series and get to see how Alosa and Riden grow within the next book.

Reivew: Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerrie Maniscalco

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

Pages: 326

Format: Hardback

Published By: Jimmy Patterson

Genre: YA - Historical, Mystery

Cover Review:

I absolutely love the cover of Stalking Jack the Ripper. I love that the cover is an overlapping image of the Whitechapel district and Audrey Rose. I think it sums up how dark the story is, and really gives you an insight into what Audrey is like throughout the story.

Rating:
✮✮✮✮✮

Review:

Stalking Jack the Ripper was an exciting read which had me hooked right from the beginning. Jack the Ripper retellings are some of my favorite stories, and this one did not disappoint at all. The pacing of the story was great, the characters were very well-written, and the plot was exciting. I found Audrey Rose to be very relatable. She was very similar in personality: stubborn, driven, and curious. She doesn't let anything hold her back from what she is passionate about. I also like her challenging the view that women are weak and incapable of handling what men can handle. I loved Thomas. He did annoy and frustrate me at times but I still loved him. I loved the relationship that developed between Audrey Rose and Thomas, and I was glad that it was an insta-love romance, although the chemistry was there from the beginning. I loved Audrey Rose’s eccentric uncle, and I thought he was a nice addition to the story. I liked the story that Karri developed. I was going back and forth the entire story of who I thought Jack the Ripper was and why. My final guess was accurate although my reasoning was wrong. Interestingly, I feel that the author gave a few clues to why throughout the story. All in all, I thought this was a great read. I cannot wait to read the continue this series with Hunting Prince Dracula.

Top Ten Tuesday: Summer Contemporary Reads

I don't read many contemporaries during the year, and so this year, I want to try to read more throughout the summer. Summer is usually the only time I really have a desire to read contemporaries. I read some here and there throughout the year, but summer I'm usually in a constant mood for contemporaries. These books are in order of how I want to read them, but depending on when I am able to get the book might change the order in which I actually do end up reading them.

Let me know some of the books that you want to read during the summer or some of the contemporary books that you want to read.

#1: By Your Side by Kasie West

Kasie West is one of my all-time favorite contemporary authors. I have only read your contemporary books, and I have absolutely loved every single one of them. I am currently reading this one right now - already getting started on my Summer Contemporary Reads.

By Your Side is basically about a girl and a boy who get locked in a library together over a weekend, and so far I think it's really adorable and such a cute read.

I also love Kasie West's covers for all of her books, and this one is just as cute as the rest.

#2: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

If you haven't heard of Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon yet that would be a major shocker. The movie adaptation recently came to theaters, and I am hoping to have read it before I either go to the theater to watch it or watch it when it comes out on DVD.

This seems like a real heart-wrenching tale about a young girl who can't leave her house, and it feels like it's going to have it's moments where I am bawling my eyes out. So tissues must be kept handy just in case.

I have, so far, only heard positive reviews about this book, and so I cannot wait to read it myself.

This will be my first book that I read by Nicola Yoon, although I do also want to read The Sun is Also a Star.

#3: Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall

I have already also started reading Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall, but I didn't get very far into it so I was able to put it on hold until I finish the first two books on my top ten list. I really don't know much about this book, I chose not to read the synopsis and to just start it, and since I am only a chapter in, I don't really know much.

What I do know about this book is that it focuses on a mental health concern, and next week's top ten list will once more feature this book on the list.

Since this is Lousie Gornall's debut book, obviously I have not read another book by her.

#4: Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan

I really enjoyed reading Sarah Crossan's book, One, and so I really want to try another one of her books. I have high expectations for Weight of Water, and hope that those expectations are held up when I read the book.

The Weight of Water is a coming of age story about immigrants set in England that is told in verse. It is not like any other book that I have attempted to read before and so I am excited about the originality of the story.

#5: Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis

This will be my first book that I read by Mindy McGinnis, and I don't really have much idea of what it is about. Female of the Species is a mystery contemporary read about a girl, Alex, who's sister was murdered, another girl, Peekay, and a guy, Jack, who someone played a role in the discovery of  Alex's sister's body.

I haven't really heard much about the book, so I don't really know what to expect when I finally get around to reading it.

#6: After the Fall by Kate Hart

After the Fall is Kate Hart's debut book, which I am planning to read for the 2017 Debut Author Challenge. It's about a girl who deals with some serious problems and the rumors that come along with them, and her relationships with two brothers. One relationship is a friendship and the other is a secret relationship.

This is another book that I know absolutely nothing about, and since this is Kate Hart's debut book, I have no idea what to expect from her writing.

#7: Sad Perfect by Stephanie Elliot

Sad Perfect is another book that I am looking forward to reading that is also going to appear on my Mental Health Top Ten List, and it happens to be Stephanie Elliot's YA debut novel, so again I plan to read it for the 2017 Debut Challenge.

I am not going into details about what this book is about, but it is about serious mental health concerns. Personally, I have received mixed reviews regarding this book, and I want to read it myself to see how I feel about it, but because it is a serious topic, I will be including to links regarding a negative review and a positive review about the book.

TRIGGER WARNING: SELF-HARM, DEPRESSION, EATING DISORDER

POSTIVE REVIEW

NEGATIVE REVIEW

#8: Seven Ways We Lie by Riley Redgate

Seven Ways We Lie by Riley Redgate is about seven students who I believe represent the seven deadly sins, but I have only seen this book and heard a little about it, and personally decided I didn't want to really know what the book was about before I picked it up to read.

This will be the first book I read by Riley Redgate since it's her debut novel. I think it would interesting to see how this story plays out.

#9: Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout

This is another book that I really don't know much about. At this point, I will read any YA book that Jennifer L. Armentrout writes without even reading to find out what it's about because she is one of my favorite authors.

This is a YA contemporary romance. I haven't yet read any of her contemporary romances yet, and I cannot wait to read it.

I also absolutely love the cover, and the color scheme that makes up the cover.

AND FINALLY...

#10: It Started with Goodbye by Christina June

It Started with Goodbye is a contemporary Cinderella story. I'm typically not a fan of contemporary fairytale retellings, but I do want to read this book and give it a chance because it sounds really interesting. This also happens to be another debut book that I am reading for the challenge.