October Wrap-Up

How is October over already??

I have some exciting news! I will now be co-hosting the December #ReadIndie event with Tracy at Cornerfolds in collaboration with Indiemas, hosted by Emily at Emily Reads Everything. More info on this and how you can participate to come. Hopefully this week!

But seriously. I feel like I got nothing done! So let's examine this past month...

Even big bloggers don't get a break apparently

I only just woke up to the shit show that happened during the day.

And by shit show, I mean news about BEA seriously limiting the amount of bloggers they accept and Harper no longer sending arcs to bloggers. At all.

So let's start with the easier to digest news. The fact that BEA is seriously changing. Want to know what I mean? Look here. It is disheartening that a trade show that previously embraced bloggers now tells us how little we mean.

And not only that, I keep seeing things like this:

Review: Scythe

Title: Scythe
Author: Neal Shusterman
Publisher: Simon and Schuster BFYR
Release Date: November 22, 2016

In a world where disease has been eliminated, the only way to die is to be randomly killed (“gleaned”) by professional reapers (“scythes”). Citra and Rowan are teenagers who have been selected to be scythe’s apprentices, and—despite wanting nothing to do with the vocation—they must learn the art of killing and come to understand the necessity of what they do.

Only one of them will be chosen as a scythe’s apprentice. And when it becomes clear that the winning apprentice’s first task will be to glean the loser, Citra and Rowan are pitted against one another in a fight for their lives.

SST Interview with Becky Allen

Title: Bound by Blood and Sand
Author: Becky Allen
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: October 11, 2016

Jae is a slave in a dying desert world.

Once verdant with water from a magical Well, the land is drying up, and no one remembers the magic needed to keep the water flowing. If a new source isn’t found soon, the people will perish. Jae doesn’t mind, in a way. By law, she is bound by a curse to obey every order given her, no matter how vile. At least in death, she’ll be free.

Lord Elan’s family rules the fading realm. He comes to the estate where Jae works, searching for the hidden magic needed to replenish the Well, but it’s Jae who finds it, and she who must wield it. Desperate to save his realm, Elan begs her to use it to locate the Well.

But why would a slave—abused, beaten, and treated as less than human—want to save the system that shackles her? Jae would rather see the world burn.

Though revenge clouds her vision, she agrees to help if the kingdom’s slaves are freed. Then Elan’s father arrives. The ruler’s cruelty knows no limits. He is determined that the class system will not change—and that Jae will remain a slave forever.

Amazon|B&N|Goodreads|Kobo|TBD|Waterstones

Getting Overwhelmed by your TBR

I have a confession: My TBR is effing huge.

By my last count, I own 154 physical finished copies of books, 22 physical arcs, 3 earcs, and an unknown number of ebooks that I have not read. I have to be honest, I was expecting this number to be higher, but I've refrained from buying a lot of books lately, simply because I have so many arcs and so little time. I want to get them read and reviewed to help the authors. But sometimes I just want to read what I want to read.

Monthly Giveaway Reminder

October is almost over, and with that the end of another Monthly Giveaway. Don't forget to enter! The prize is three random books from my shelves. Whoever wins, I will ask you a few questions to get an idea of your tastes so I can send you something you will hopefully enjoy. You can either go to the original post here, or you can enter the rafflecopter form below.

Remember, the rules are -

1) You must follow my blog.
2) You must tell me the name of the monthly book.
3) This month's giveaway is USA, Canada, and Mexico only (yes it includes PR).

Review: The Diabolic

Title: The Diabolic
Author: S. J. Kincaid
Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR
Release Date: November 1, 2016

A Diabolic is ruthless. A Diabolic is powerful. A Diabolic has a single task: Kill in order to protect the person you’ve been created for.

Nemesis is a Diabolic, a humanoid teenager created to protect a galactic senator’s daughter, Sidonia. The two have grown up side by side, but are in no way sisters. Nemesis is expected to give her life for Sidonia, and she would do so gladly. She would also take as many lives as necessary to keep Sidonia safe.

When the power-mad Emperor learns Sidonia’s father is participating in a rebellion, he summons Sidonia to the Galactic court. She is to serve as a hostage. Now, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia. She must become her. Nemesis travels to the court disguised as Sidonia—a killing machine masquerading in a world of corrupt politicians and two-faced senators’ children. It’s a nest of vipers with threats on every side, but Nemesis must keep her true abilities a secret or risk everything.

As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns there is something more to her than just deadly force. She finds a humanity truer than what she encounters from most humans. Amidst all the danger, action, and intrigue, her humanity just might be the thing that saves her life—and the empire.

Amazon|B&N|Goodreads|Kobo|TBD|Waterstones

I'm back!

Yes, it took me a little while to get back.

If I'm being honest, the hurricane was not the only reason I took so long. I did have my laptop with me, but I just couldn't really bring myself to do anything.

Real quick, for those of who have been asking how I fared in the hurricane, thank you! My house sustained minimal damage that I can see. I need about $10,000 of tree removal (dear god), but that should be covered by the insurance company.

Updates oh no!

so this is just a quick update to let you guys know my weekly review will be a few days late because of Hurricane Matthew.

If you were not aware, I'm in a mandatory evacuation zone in Florida. So I'm currently out of town with minimal computer access.

I hope to have my review of The Diabolic up on Monday.

And those of you also in the storm's path... Stay safe!

Review: No Holding Back

Title: No Holding Back
Author: Kate Evangelista
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Release Date: October 18, 2016

Everyone knows that Nathan is in love with his best friend, Preston…Everyone except Preston. Nathan has always accepted that Preston was too focused on his swim training to worry about love. But Preston is heading off to train for the Olympics soon, so if Nathan wants his chance at love, he has to speak up now. But saying “I love you” is surprisingly difficult, even for someone as confident as Nathan. Maybe a whirlwind vacation in Europe could help? But… what if it doesn’t work out and he loses the best friend he’s ever had?

Amazon|B&N|Goodreads|Kobo|TBD

Monthly Giveaway - October

It's October, and the September giveaway as ended. My September quote was, "My history is hospitals," which is the first line from Magonia!

Congrats to Caroline from Just Another Bookish Blog for winning. I've emailed you.

So last month, there weren't as many entries as I'd hoped. For that reason, I'm going to make this an easier quote (at least I think it's easier lol).