Can't-Wait Wednesday - Thorn

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a feature hosted at Wishful Endings where people showcase an upcoming book they are looking forward to. 

This week I am anticipating . . .

 

Title: Thorn (Dauntless Path, #1)

Author: Intisar Khanani

Pages: 458

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Release Date: 24th March 2020

Blurb from Goodreads:

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. 

 

 Why I'm Anticipating This Book:

 This is a retelling of The Goose Girl and sounds so good!

Review - The Beautiful (The Beautiful, #1) by Renée Ahdieh

Title: The Beautiful (The Beautiful, #1)

Author: Renée Ahdieh

Pages: 448

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Release Date: 8th October 2019

Blurb from Goodreads:  

In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans provides her a refuge after she's forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent along with six other girls, Celine quickly becomes enamored with the vibrant city from the music to the food to the soirées and—especially—to the danger. She soon becomes embroiled in the city's glitzy underworld, known as Le Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group's leader, the enigmatic Sèbastien Saint Germain. When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in the lair of Le Cour des Lions, Celine battles her attraction to him and suspicions about Sèbastien's guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret.

When more bodies are discovered, each crime more gruesome than the last, Celine and New Orleans become gripped by the terror of a serial killer on the loose—one Celine is sure has set her in his sights . . . and who may even be the young man who has stolen her heart. As the murders continue to go unsolved, Celine takes matters into her own hands and soon uncovers something even more shocking: an age-old feud from the darkest creatures of the underworld reveals a truth about Celine she always suspected simmered just beneath the surface.

At once a sultry romance and a thrilling murder mystery, master storyteller Renée Ahdieh embarks on her most potent fantasy series yet: The Beautiful.

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US

My Review:

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley*

When seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau escapes to New Orleans leaving her life as a seamstress in Paris behind, she finds herself alongside several other girls at a convent.

Convent life doesn't suit Celine, but the city of New Orleans does, and she soon becomes involved with the mysterious La Cour des Lions, and their leader, Sébastien 'Bastien' Saint Germain. Bastien is dangerous and the last thing Celine needs in her life given her own dark secret, but Celine can't help being attracted to him.

Then one of the convent girls is found dead at the lair of La Cour des Lions. More bodies turn up and the killer seems to be stalking Celine.

Has the killer set their sights on Celine?

Will Celine's past come back to haunt her?

When I heard the author talk about The Beautiful at a panel last year it made me really excited to read it, but having seen a lot of mixed reviews, I wasn't sure I would end up enjoying The Beautiful. Unfortunately, I didn't.

Celine was an okay protagonist, but I don't feel like I really connected with her. I liked that she was determined and knew what she wanted.

Pippa and Odette were my favourite characters and the friendships were my favourite part of the book.

The setting of 1872 New Orleans was interesting and the historical connotations that applied to the story.

The plot held my attention to begin with, but after a while I found myself becoming bored and struggling to connect with the storyline. The pacing was a bit off for me at times and I felt like not much happened.

The romance took a while to grow on me, but in the end I did feel the connection between the characters.

I feel that The Beautiful had a lot of potential, but it didn't reach that potential for me.

I'm disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more as the concept really intrigued me.

Overall, this was an okay read.

Blog Tour + Official Dream Cast + Giveaway - Bone Crier’s Moon (Bone Grace, #1) by Kathryn Purdie

Find the tour schedule here.

Bone Crier’s Moon (Bone Grace, #1) by Kathryn Purdie

Publisher: HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen

Release Date: March 10th 2020

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis:

Bone Criers have a sacred duty. They alone can keep the dead from preying on the living. But their power to ferry the spirits of the dead into goddess Elara’s Night Heavens or Tyrus’s Underworld comes from sacrifice. The gods demand a promise of dedication. And that promise comes at the cost of the Bone Criers’ one true love.

Ailesse has been prepared since birth to become the matriarch of the Bone Criers, a mysterious famille of womenwho use strengths drawn from animal bones to ferry dead souls. But first she must complete her rite of passage and kill the boy she’s also destined to love.

Bastien’s father was slain by a Bone Crier and he’s been seeking revenge ever since. Yet when he finally captures one, his vengeance will have to wait. Ailesse’s ritual has begun and now their fates are entwined—in life and in death.

Sabine has never had the stomach for the Bone Criers’ work. But when her best friend Ailesse is taken captive, Sabine will do whatever it takes to save her, even if it means defying their traditions—and their matriarch—to break the bond between Ailesse and Bastien. Before they all die.

 Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iTunes

The Book Depository | Kobo | Google Books

Read an excerpt here.

OFFICIAL DREAM CAST

My Pinterest board for BONE CRIER’S MOON is filled with pictures of actors and models that remind me of my three main characters. Here are my favorites for each!

 

 
I love the idea of Mackenzie Foy playing Ailesse. She even has auburn hair and umber eyes, just like her. She’s also captivatingly beautiful in a siren-like way, also perfect for Ailesse. To top that off, Mackenzie is a fantastic actress. You may have recently seen her play Clara in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. I can easily see her capturing Ailesse’s fierceness and passion.

(Photo credit: Mitchell McCormack)

 

My favorite male actor at the moment is the incredible Timothée Chamalet. I especially loved watching him play Henry V in The King and Laurie in Little Women. I have no doubt Timothée would nail Bastien. He’s up for any challenge, just like my male main character, and he’d tackle Bastien’s single-mindedness, humor, and toughness with precision. All Timothée needs are some sea-blue contacts, and he’s set!

(Photo credit: Andrew H Walker)

 
Sabine represents the moral heart of BONE CRIER’S MOON, so the actress playing her needs to convey great sensitivity and wisdom. I think Maia Mitchell would be fantastic. Her large and beautiful eyes are soul-searching, and she’s got that best friend down-to-earth quality that Sabine has in strides. Her hair just needs to be dyed black and curled for the part. No sweat for the makeup and hair department!

(Photo credit: InStyle Magazine Australia May 2015)

About the Author

 

Kathryn is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the BURNING GLASS series. Her love of storytelling began as a young girl when her dad told her about someone named Boo Radley while they listened to the film score of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. Kathryn is a trained classical actress who studied at the Oxford School of Drama. She also writes songs on her guitar for each of her stories and shares them on her website. Kathryn lives in the Rocky Mountains with her husband and three children.

Author Links:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter

Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr

Tour-wide giveaway

Open to US only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Review - The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

Title: The Ten Thousand Doors of January

Author: Alix E. Harrow

Pages: 384

Publisher: Orbit

Release Date: 10th September 2019

Blurb from Goodreads:

EVERY STORY OPENS A DOOR

In a sprawling mansion filled with exotic treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place.

But her quiet existence is shattered when she stumbles across a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure and danger. As each page reveals more impossible truths about the world, January discovers a story that might just be the key to unlocking the secrets of her past.

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US

My Review:

 *I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley*

January Scaller is the ward of Mr. Locke, the man who pays her father to travel the world and find unique treasures for his collection. January could be part of the collection herself because of the colour of her skin and the way she is expected to be a good girl and behave herself.

One day, January finds a book that tells the story of doors that can be used to travel to different worlds.

As January reads the book, she discovers that there is more to her life and her world than there seems, and she uncovers secrets that will change her life.

Are the Doors real?

Going into The Ten Thousand Doors of January I was really excited as it sounded like something I would love. While it ended up being different to what I expected (which is not necessarily a bad thing), I did enjoy it.

January was a very likeable and relatable protagonist. It was easy to connect with her and root for her. I felt sorry for January having grown up with her father absent most of the time and with Mr. Locke trying to mould her into an obedient girl, more like a doll than an actual young woman.

I loved January's relationship with Sinbad 'Bad', her pet dog, who was one of my favourite characters alongside January herself, Jane and Samuel. Jane in particular was a character who I found to be very interesting and intriguing because of her past and her actions.

The plot was interesting and held my attention. There were a couple of things that I didn't see coming.

I liked the themes of friendship and family.

Part of the story followed the book that January finds and reads, and I found it interesting to read those parts and to see how they fit into January's story.

I really liked the idea of the Doors and how they affected the numerous worlds.

The writing was engaging and easy to follow. I would definitely read another book by the author.

While The Ten Thousand Doors of January didn't blow me away or have me on the edge of my seat, I did enjoy it.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I would recommend.

Review - Havenfall (Havenfall, #1) by Sara Holland

Title: Havenfall (Havenfall, #1)

Author: Sara Holland

Pages: 320

Publisher: Bloomsbury YA

Release Date: 3rd March 2020

Blurb from Goodreads:  

Hidden deep in the mountains of Colorado lies the Inn at Havenfall, a sanctuary that connects ancient worlds--each with their own magic--together. For generations, the inn has protected all who seek refuge within its walls, and any who disrupt the peace can never return.

For Maddie Morrow, summers at the inn are more than a chance to experience this magic first-hand. Havenfall is an escape from reality, where her mother sits on death row accused of murdering Maddie's brother. It's where Maddie fell in love with handsome Fiorden soldier Brekken. And it's where one day she hopes to inherit the role of Innkeeper from her beloved uncle.

But this summer, the impossible happens--a dead body is found, shattering everything the inn stands for. With Brekken missing, her uncle gravely injured, and a dangerous creature on the loose, Maddie suddenly finds herself responsible for the safety of everyone in Havenfall. She'll do anything to uncover the truth, even if it means working together with an alluring new staffer Taya, who seems to know more than she's letting on. As dark secrets are revealed about the inn itself, one thing becomes clear to Maddie--no one can be trusted, and no one is safe . . . 

Sara Holland takes the lush fantasy that captured readers in Everless and Evermore and weaves it into the real world to create a wholly captivating new series where power and peril lurk behind every door.

 Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US

My Review:

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Bloomsbury YA and the Fantastic Flying Book Club*

 

There’s more to the small town of Havenfall than there seems – the inn sits on tunnels that lead to different worlds, the doors to some of which are open, others have been sealed shut.

Maddie Morrow’s uncle runs the inn, and for Maddie the inn is a haven, somewhere she can forget her troubles and be herself.

Maddie hopes to take over from her uncle in the future and plans to use the summer as a chance to show her uncle that she is ready.

But Maddie soon finds herself in over her head when her uncle is injured, leaving her in charge, with a monster on the loose and her best friend missing.

Can Maddie keep everyone safe?

What secrets will she uncover?

Havenfall was one of my most anticipated 2020 reads, but, unfortunately, I ended up not enjoying it.

The premise of Havenfall was intriguing and interesting, but I felt like it didn’t reach its potential for me.

The setting was interesting and I would like to find out more about the different worlds.

Maddie was an okay protagonist and I felt sorry for her – she’d had a tough time of things and the inn was her safe place until suddenly it wasn’t.

None of the characters stood out for me and there were a few times when I thought a character said something odd and Maddie didn’t question it.

The plot was okay, but I felt like the pacing could have been better as it did drag for me in places.

I guessed several of the plot twists early on, so found Havenfall fairly predictable, but there were some things that surprised me. 

 

I found that I didn’t care what happened to the characters.

The writing was easy to follow most of the time, but I wasn’t gripped.

I’m really disappointed that I didn’t enjoy this more as Havenfall had a lot of potential and I was excited to read it.

Overall, this was an okay read.

March TBR

Here are the books I'm planning to read in March . . .

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

Kingdom of Souls (Kingdom of Souls, #1) by Rena Barron

 

 Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Ormsbee

Infinity Son (Infinity Cycle, #1) by Adam Silvera

What books are you planning to read in March?

 

Blog Tour - Havenfall (Havenfall, #1) by Sara Holland

Find the tour schedule here.

 Havenfall (Havenfall #1) by Sara Holland

Publisher: Bloomsbury YA

Release Date: March 3rd 2020

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis:

A safe haven between four realms. The girl sworn to protect it--at any cost. New York Times bestselling author Sara Holland crafts a breathtaking new contemporary fantasy perfect for fans of Melissa Albert and HollyBlack.

Hidden deep in the mountains of Colorado lies the Inn at Havenfall, a sanctuary that connects ancient worlds--each with their own magic--together. For generations, the inn has protected all who seek refuge within its walls, and any who disrupt thepeace can never return.

For Maddie Morrow, summers at the inn are more than a chance to experience this magic first-hand. Havenfall is an escape from reality, where her mother sits on death row accused of murdering Maddie's brother. It's where Maddie fell in love with handsome Fiorden soldier Brekken. And it's where one day she hopes to inherit the role of Innkeeper from her beloved uncle.

But this summer, the impossible happens--a dead body is found, shattering everything the inn stands for. With Brekken missing, her uncle gravely injured, and a dangerous creature on the loose, Maddie suddenly finds herself responsible for the safety of everyone in Havenfall. She'll do anything to uncover the truth, even if it means working together with an alluring new staffer Taya, who seems to know more than she's letting on. As dark secrets are revealed about the inn itself, one thing becomes clear to Maddie--no one can be trusted, and no one is safe . . .

Sara Holland takes the lush fantasy that captured readers in Everless and Evermore and weaves it into the real world to create a wholly captivating new series where power and peril lurk behind every door.

 

Book Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iTunes

The Book Depository | Google Books 

Read an excerpt here.

About the Author

Sara Holland grew up in small-town Minnesota among hundreds of books. She graduated from Wesleyan University and worked in a tea shop, a dentist’s office, and a state capitol building before heading to New York to work in publishing. These days, she can be found exploring the city’s bookstores or finding new ways to put caffeinein her bloodstream. EVERLESS is her debut novel. 

Author Links:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram