Book Reviews, Book Tours, ireadya, yalit, ya

The FFBC Thorn Blog Tour Stop & Giveaway

Welcome to ƓաҽղժąӀվղ’ʂ βօօҟʂ, and my stop on the FFBC blog tour for the fantasy/fairytale retelling Thorn by Intisar Khanani! Originally self-published, this book has been updated and just released from HarperTeen/Hot Key Books

Thorn

by Intisar Khanani
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Release Date: March 24th 2020 Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Retellings, Romance, Fairy Tales

@theffbc @booksbyintisar

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A princess with two futures. A destiny all her own

Between her cruel family and the contempt she faces at court, Princess Alyrra has always longed to escape the confines of her royal life. But when she’s betrothed to the powerful prince Kestrin, Alyrra embarks on a journey to his land with little hope for a better future.

When a mysterious and terrifying sorceress robs Alyrra of both her identity and her role as princess, Alyrra seizes the opportunity to start a new life for herself as a goose girl.

But Alyrra soon finds that Kestrin is not what she expected. The more Alyrra learns of this new kingdom, the pain and suffering its people endure, as well as the danger facing Kestrin from the sorceress herself, the more she knows she can’t remain the goose girl forever.

With the fate of the kingdom at stake, Alyrra is caught between two worlds and ultimately must decide who she is, and what she stands for.

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

A wonderful magical retelling of one of my favorite Brothers Grimm fairy tales,

The Goose Girl. Thorn, by Intisar Khanani Is a mesmerizing book that takes a beloved fairytale to a whole new level.

Like in the classical tale a lovely princess is on her way to meet her betrothed, and is betrayed by her maid, who uses magic to force the two to change places.

Intisar Khanani, is an incredible writer, who has taken this classic a transformed into a stunning tale.

Princess Alyrra, is a one of the most realistic characters I have come across in Ya fantasy. A young girl who has suffered under the hand of cruel and vicious brother. A neglectant mother who despises her, she finds safety in solitude and friendship of the less fortunate.

When King of larger kingdom arrives seeking a betrothal for his son, Prince Kestrin. The marriage will elevate her family’s status. The princess is dutiful and excepts this arrangement.

The princess isn’t allowed to bring her own lady in waiting Lady, instead her mother insists that she bring the petty selfish Valka, who she has history with and a falling out with.

Traveling on the way the the prince’s kingdom, Valka lures Allyra to the river, where the sorceress is waiting for them. A dark haired sorceress switches the girls’s souls and puts an invisible chain around Allyra’s throat: if she tries to tell anyone that she is the princess in Valka’s body, the chain tightness and strangles her.

Once at court, Alyrra is a the mercy of Valka, who assumes her place as princess with Alyrra body. Valka takes no chances of being discovered as not being the true princess, she quickly cast her form the castle. Making Alyrra a mere peasant, she is assigned the duties as a goose girl. Instead of being devastated from the decline of station, she accepts her position wholeheartedly. Escaping the intrigue and conniving court of the nobility is something the the true princess has longed for all her life.

As the storyline unfolds, she is brought back to the castle on several occasions to do the bidding of Valka. When her paths cross with Prince Kestrin, her secret true identity puts her at risk of being found out. Knowing the sorceress real threat is toward the Prince’s life she must make the ultimate decision to settle in the the Life of a goose girl. Or except the the roll of her true destiny and become a princess once more.

This exceptional book is incredible character driven, as well being richly atmospheric.

Elegant prose and seamless pacing, elevates this book far above the rest in it’s genre.

The depicted themes and moral message of ones strength, kindness and empathy is something that will stay with you long after you close the book.

A captivating rewarding read that is by far one the best Ya Fantasies I have across in along time .

Reviews Published

Intisar Khanani grew up a nomad and world traveler. Born in Wisconsin, she has lived in five different states as well as in Jeddah on the coast of the Red Sea. She first remembers seeing snow on a wintry street in Zurich, Switzerland, and vaguely recollects having breakfast with the orangutans at the Singapore Zoo when she was five. She currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband and two young daughters. 
Until recently, Intisar wrote grants and developed projects to address community health with the Cincinnati Health Department, which was as close as she could get to saving the world. Now she focuses her time on her two passions: raising her family and writing fantasy. Intisar’s debut novel, Thorn, was picked up by HarperTeen and will be re-released in Winter 2020. In the meantime, she’s hard at work on the remaining books of The Sunbolt Chronicles.

March 24th

March 25th

My Bookish Escapades – Guest Post
Mythical Books – Review
Moonlight Rendezvous – Review + Favourite Quotes
Marzie’s Reads – Review
MaBookYard – Review + Favourite Quotes

March 26th

L.M. Durand – Review
The Everlasting Library – Review
Book-Keeping – Review
Foals, Fiction & Filigree – Review + Favourite Quotes
& She Reads – Review
Elisabeth Wheatley – Review + Playlist + Dream Cast

March 27th

Kait Plus Books – Guest Post
Utopia State of Mind – Review + Favourite Quotes
Here’s to Happy Endings – Review
The Laughing Listener – Review
Bookishly Nerdy – Review + Favourite Quotes
Books_n_sunshine – Review + Favourite Quotes + Dream Cast

March 28th

A Book Addict’s Bookshelves – Interview
Books.Bags.Burgers – Review + Favourite Quotes
Gwendalyn’s Books – Review
The Layaway Dragon – Review + Favourite Quotes
Fanna Wants The World To Read – Review

March 29th

Fangirl Pixie Blog – Review + Playlist + Favourite Quotes
Sometimes Leelynn Reads – Review + Dream Cast
La La in the Library – Review
Hauntedbybooks – Review + Favourite Quotes
Biblioxytocin – Review + Favourite Quotes

March 30th

To All The Books I’ve Read Before – Interview
A Dream Within A Dream – Review
Happily, Hedy – Review

Dazzled by Books – Review + Favourite Quotes
inkstains.and.dust – Review

theanxiousbookworm_ – Review + Favourite Quotes

100 Book Reviews

80%

Reviews Published

Reviews Published

Book Blogging, book giveaway, Book Review, Book Reviews, fantasy, GiGi’s Bookish Toughts 📖📚, ireadya, yalit, ya

Book Review Spin The Dawn

Hello Lovelies,

Welcome to my Book Review of Spin The Dawn

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
Series: The Blood of Stars
Published July 9th 2019 by Knopf
Genre: young adult, fantasy, asian representation,

rating: ★★★★1/2

。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆ 。★ 。☆ 。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆ 。・:*:・゚★,。・:*: 。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆

“Sendo used to tell me fairy tales. How he’d love mine if he were still alive: the tale of a girl who’d sewn the sun, the moon, and the stars into three dresses.”

Maia Tamarin dreams of becoming the greatest tailor in the land, but as a girl, the best she can hope for is to marry well. When a royal messenger summons her ailing father, once a tailor of renown, to court, Maia poses as a boy and takes his place. She knows her life is forfeit if her secret is discovered, but she’ll take that risk to achieve her dream and save her family from ruin. There’s just one catch: Maia is one of twelve tailors vying for the job.

Backstabbing and lies run rampant as the tailors compete in challenges to prove their artistry and skill. Maia’s task is further complicated when she draws the attention of the court magician, Edan, whose piercing eyes seem to see straight through her disguise.
And nothing could have prepared her for the final challenge: to sew three magic gowns for the emperor’s reluctant bride-to-be, from the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of stars. 

Sendo used to tell me fairy tales. How he’d love mine if he were still alive: the tale of a girl who’d sewn the sun, the moon, and the stars into three dresses.”

His gaze bored into mine, deep and penetrating. Melting my resistance. “I know one thing, Maia Tamarin–being with you makes me happier than I have ever been.”

This book was received as an ARC from NetGalley,in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own 

This story follows Maia Tamarin, a girl with aspirations to be a tailor, but because she was born female all she can hope for is to make a good match in marriage. However, when her father, a renowned tailor in his own right is summoned by the royal court, Maia decides to pose as a boy to save her father from becoming even more ill on the journey. Aware that the penalty of death is imposed for her actions, she’s determined to overcome the hardships to become the best tailor. Except she’s one of twelve tailors eyeing the coveted position. Despite her skills, she becomes caught up in the schemes of saboteur tailors and is saved by the royal court magician Edan, who has seen through her disguise; his motives unclear. Her final challenge is the most difficult: crafting three dresses for the king’s bride-to-be using the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of the stars. Her journey will set her on a path that she never imagined, 

Maia Tamarin, has aspirations to be a tailor, in world where women are subservient. Born the only girl in a family of three older brothers, with a Father as Tailor. She sacrifices everything to protect her family. In a turn of events she seizes the opportunity for a one in life time chance to become a Court Tailor. Maia decides to pose as a boy and Travel to court In disguise as her brother .while there she must avoid court intrigue and schemes of saboteur tailors .She must face her final challenge crafting three dresses for the king’s bride-to-be using the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of the stars. 

Her journey will set her on a path that she never imagined.. 

The Author has creatively weaved One Thousand and One Nights into a Chinese-themed adventure story, with just enough sweet romance to make it a perfect read!
This is one of those books that you just have to read to know what feeling I’m getting at. It sucks you in and keeps you hungry for more until you reach the mind-blowing ending. It’s a unique and unforgettable magical storyline. Masterfully created spellbinding world. I devoured this one as fast as I could and was completely drawn into the lives of these characters.  I turned those pages as fast as I could and then slowly took in this beautifully written page turner. 
What I especially liked is Elizabeth Lim imaginative writing style. I feel in love with the overall premise of the novel, and the quick pace it kept me engaged. 

I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the next installment in this series.

I am having a give away on my IG Account

Clink On The pic below, to take you there

Elizabeth Lim grew up on a hearty staple of fairy tales, myths, and songs. Her passion for storytelling began around age 10, when she started writing fanfics for Sailor Moon, Sweet Valley, and Star Wars, and posted them online to discover, “Wow, people actually read my stuff. And that’s kinda cool!” But after one of her teachers told her she had “too much voice” in her essays, Elizabeth took a break from creative writing to focus on not flunking English.

Over the years, Elizabeth became a film and video game composer, and even went so far as to get a doctorate in music composition. But she always missed writing, and turned to penning stories when she needed a breather from grad school. One day, she decided to write and finish a novel — for kicks, at first, then things became serious — and she hasn’t looked back since.

Elizabeth loves classic film scores, books with a good romance, food (she currently has a soft spot for arepas and Ethiopian food), the color turquoise, overcast skies, English muffins, cycling, and baking. She lives in New York City with her husband.

Blog, Bloggers, Book, Book Giveaway, Bookish, Bookish Giveaway, Booknerd, Books, Bookworm, Fantasy, Fantasy Books, Fantasy Reads, Fiction, Giveaway, Magic, New Book Release, New Books, New Release, Ne, Blogging, Book Blogging, book giveaway, Book love, ireadya, yalit, ya, New Release

Book Tour and Giveaway.

Welcomed To The

Someday We Will Fly Book Tour

@RachelDeWoskin

Grade Level: 7 – 9
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher:
Viking Books for Young Readers (January 22, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0670014966
ISBN-13: 978-0670014965

Praise for SOMEDAY WE WILL FLY “DeWoskin explores a rarely depicted topic. . .A beautifully nuanced exploration of culture and people.” ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review “An unusual portrait of what war does to families in general and children in particular . . . affirms the human need for art and beauty in hard times.” ―Booklist, starred review

“A provocative exploration of what resilience means when you’re pushed to the edge.” ―BCCB

“With pathos and a fine eye for historical detail, DeWoskin (Blind) relates the story of Shanghai’s Jewish refugees during WWII, when Shanghai was under Japanese occupation. DeWoskin captures the crushing destruction of war and occupation, the unfathomable resilience communities can muster through cross-cultural friendships and acts of kindness, and the power of the performing arts to foster hope in times of struggle and desperation.” —Publishers Weekly

“A provocative exploration of what resilience means when you’re pushed to the edge.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

DeWoskin vividly captures this fraught time of dislocation and turmoil, and deftly connects the anguish of Jewish refugees and the agony of the Japanese occupation, elevating this beautiful novel into a clarion call for peace. —The National Book Review

“Rachel DeWoskin’s storytelling features an extraordinary combination of curiosity and kindness, on top of a belief that everyone can have an impact on the world they find themselves in. Someday We Will Fly is powerful, adventurous story of a teenager who confronts the brutal history with courage, love, and imagination. I could not put it down.” —Aleksandar Hemon, author of Nowhere Man and The Lazarus Project 


“An engrossing and beautifully-rendered plunge into less-known Holocaust history, featuring the plight of Jewish World War II refugees in Japanese-occupied Shanghai.” —Julie Berry, Printz Honor-winning author of The Passion of Dolssa“Though I have written extensively about the Holocaust in novels, a picture book, poems, I had never before heard of the 23,000 Jews who fled to Shanghai for the duration of the war. Starvation, rough treatment by occupying Japanese troops, the teenagers turning to all kinds of difficult work (including gentlemen’s clubs as dancers and prostitution) to make money for their devastated families. Rampant disease, and early deaths were their daily lot. In Someday We Will Fly Rachel DeWoskin has taken the horrors and turned them into a YA novel that is terrifically moving and full of a kind of poetry in motion that is both terrifying and uplifting in equal measure.” —Jane Yolen, author of Mapping the Bones, The Stone Angel, Devil’s Arithmetic, Briar RoseFleeing Poland 1941, Lillia and her circus preforming family become split: her mother is left behind while the family travels to the last city that will take Jewish refugees: Shanghai. This unique view into a forgotten part of history is told with candid, yet lovely prose. While some aspects of the story are embellished, the book holds true to history. A great companion to Salt to the Sea. —Readers Books “Someday We Will Fly is an intense and immersive novel.” —TeenReadsOTHER HONORS
● Junior Library Guild selection
● Kirkus “Historical Fiction Gems” selection (January 2019)
● Bookish January 2019 Book Club PickWarsaw, Poland. The year is 1940 and Lillia is 15 when her mother, Alenka, disappears and her father flees with Lillia and her younger sister, Naomi, to Shanghai, one of the few places that will accept Jews without visas. There they struggle to make a life; they have no money, there is little work, no decent place to live, a culture that doesn’t understand them. And always the worry about Alenka. How will she find them? Is she still alive? Meanwhile Lillia is growing up, trying to care for Naomi, whose development is frighteningly slow, in part from malnourishment. Lillia finds an outlet for her artistic talent by making puppets, remembering the happy days in Warsaw when they were circus performers. She attends school sporadically, makes friends with Wei, a Chinese boy, and finds work as a performer at a “gentlemen’s club” without her father’s knowledge.But meanwhile the conflict grows more intense as the Americans declare war and the Japanese force the Americans in Shanghai into camps. More bombing, more death. Can they survive, caught in the crossfire?You can purchase Someday We Will Fly at the following Retailers: Photo Content from Rachel DeWoskin

Rachel DeWoskin has spent much of her life in China, including childhood summers with her parents and brothers, excavating ancient Chinese musical and medical instruments for her dad’s research. Rachel lived in Bejing for most of her twenties, where she became the unlikely star of a Chinese soap opera called Foreign Babes in Bejing. She spent the last six summers in Shanghai, where she researched and wrote Someday We Will Fly.
Rachel lives in Chicago with her husband, playwright Zayd Dohrn, and their two daughters. She is on the fiction faculty of the University of Chicago and is an affiliated faculty member in Jewish studies and East Asian Studies.

Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

3 Winners will receive a Copy of SOMEDAY WE WILL FLY By Rachel DeWoskin.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e849f7751655/


– 3 Winners will receive a Copy of SOMEDAY WE WILL FLY By Rachel DeWoskin.

        

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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Blog Tour TAKEOVER

I have teamed up with The Parliament House Press for the Takeover Tour and Release Day of, Wandering in Wonderland the first book in series! @pomme106

Book Title: Wandering in Wonderland

Author: Aislinn Honeycutt

Publisher: The Parliament House

~Click here to purchase a copy!~

https://amzn.to/2wrEmLy

@pomme106

@theparliamentpress

There is also a GIVEAWAY for a chance to win

Head over to my Bookstagram to enter!

@gwendalyn_books_

http://Instagram.com/gwendalyn_books_

http://Instagram.com/gwendalyn_books_

Lewis Carroll didn’t get it right?” 

“No, my dear. I don’t think anyone truly will.” 

 

Far away and down a rabbit hole sits the magical world known as Wonderland. A safe haven for the souls who lived less than ideal lives in the waking world get to experience peace in their afterlife. Jessica is the newest member of this enchanted land, but after eating a cookie that took away her memories of who she was, she doubts herself at every turn. 

 

Jessica participates in The Looking Glass Ceremony to find her new role in the afterlife, but fate has different plans. As the Queen of Hearts takes Jessica under her royal wing, plots of regicide bubble up from the depths of Wonderland. With the help of new and eccentric friends, Jessica might be able to stop the treasonous threats and bring true peace to Wonderland. But only if she heeds the cryptic words of the Caterpillar. 

 

Familiar faces take on new roles in this fantasy retelling with a dark and romantic LGBT twist This isn’t the Wonderland you’ve experienced before, and you definitely don’t want to be late for it.

“I know you cannot forget what Wonderland is, but the days will grow harsh, and it never hurts to have a reminder.
   Wonderland, as I see it, is different than most picture it to be. It’s not as dark, or haunted, or frightening as the movies make it seem. Wonderland is calm and quiet. If I were to give it a color palette, I would mark it down as pastel. Have you ever seen chalk paint? It looks dusty and old, yet somehow lovely and calming. That’s what Wonderland is like.

There are mountains to climb. Some with flowers and some with snow, and there are fields and forests to dance through. When I say it’s quiet, I mean there is nothing but silence. The feeling you get when you’re cold, and on the verge of crying, and there is nothing more you want to do than scream until your head falls on your pillow is the sound of Wonderland.

But, the forests, oh the forests… They are everything you’d want to ask for. You cannot get lost unless you want to, and unlike most forests, you can walk barefoot if you please. The floor is covered in the softest moss, still cool with morning dew, and it protects your feet from harm. The air is warm and humid, making it the perfect weather for dancing. It you’re lost and wish to cry, there are places to hide away. Fairy ponds and cool lakes are scattered among the trees with fresh berries lining the shores. The water never stings your eyes, and you can dive for as long as you want, and the surface will only be an arm’s length away should you need air.

Deep within the trees, you’ll find long abandoned buildings ranging from Victorians to cottages. Some are down to their foundations with ivy and other greens taking over their structures. Trees grow from their hearts, and the ceilings reach down to the floorboards. Others are still in living order with soft beds ready for your weary heads.

You are alone for as long as you want in the forests, and at the lakes, and in the forgotten homes, but if you ever need companionship, the town is never far. Smiling faces and warm arms to fall into at every corner. There are cobblestones, wooden, and brick buildings along both sides of the streets. Alleys and alcoves, churches and spires, bookstores, bakeries, pubs, haberdasheries, dress shops, hat shops, tea shops, and anything else you could ever want line the streets. It you wander through the alleys long enough, you will find a hidden park tucked away in the corner along the brick wall guarding the townspeople from nothing for nothing can hurt you in Wonderland.

The park is simple with a tall tree for climbing or shade, the greenest and softest grass for picnics or late night rendezvous to stare at the stars, and benches for lovers to sit on. There is a long table sitting off to the left side of the park with many chairs of varying styles and sizes, usually sitting unattended. Attached to the tree and the buildings before the park is a string of lit paper lanterns. They have never flickered in all the history of Wonderland.

The rest of the world has more ruins for exploring, with castles made from pearl and crystal. Some have moonstone and opal, and others are made from cold stones without a glow. There are crashing oceans full of beasts thought to be mythical or extinct. There are places deep in the southern woods darker than the northern woods, yet not as dark as the ones in films.

In those woods, there are faeries, fauns, fawns, mermaids, pixies, and whispers where the cold sets in, and one can sleep to forget themselves and their troubles.

The faeries and pixies soothe your mind with dance and song while the mermaids invite you to swim and play in their icy cold waters while they caress your body.

But, they cannot hurt you.

Nothing can hurt you in Wonderland.

Wonderland is where you go to heal, forget, and feel at home again. This is what my Wonderland is. It changes for every soul who goes there, but it shall always be for you.”

This book was received as an ARC from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own

Honeycutt has created a riveting , and gripping tale, that totally sucked me in from the start. She transforms Wonderland into a type of heaven, and rather than follow Alice, we follow Jessica Smith while she works to uncover the secrets of the Looking Glass. Once I started reading this one it was hard not to get totally wrapped in this Alice In Wonderland Retelling. The author writes a deliciously fun, and a compelling all consuming page-turner. The author catapults you into a raw and darkish world with deceit and political deception. In this memorable, highly original read familiar faces take on new roles in this fantasy retelling with a dark and romantic LGBT twist

What I enjoyed was the how the author created a storyline where exploration and acceptance is everywhere. Great world building and character development. The novels premise and the writing definitely intrigued me and kept me entertained. The authors development of its supporting characters are definitely worth noting with interesting.

The book cover is creative and fitting for the storyline .

I can highly recommend this book and I will be waiting anxiously for the next book in this series!

The book cover is creative and fitting for the storyline .

I can highly recommend this book and I will be waiting anxiously for the next book in this series!

Aislinn Honeycutt was born and raised in Northern California. Throughout their early teens to young adulthood, Aislinn could often be found writing and creating characters. During college, they found themself more attracted to theater arts than any other study and was proud to be apart of several plays and film projects produced by their peers. Their love for writing came from creating deeper backgrounds for characters they played on the stage and from the constant encouragements from strangers on the Internet.
In 2015 they discovered their love for working with exotic animals in zoos and went back to school to earn certificates towards Zoo and Aquarium Sciences through the Animal Behavior Institute. When not writing or working, Aislinn can often be found playing video games and making digital art

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Book Tour ★・.☆ A Shifting of Stars

Hi Bookish Friends,

Today I Am Really Excited To Be Apart

Of a Shifty Of Stars Book Blitz

@kathykimbray @gwendalyn_books_

Continue reading “Book Tour ★・.☆ A Shifting of Stars”