Am Reading - Of Princes and Promises

Of Princes and Promises - St. Rosetta's Academy #2

by Sandhya Menon

What they say: From the New York Times bestselling author of When Dimple Met Rishi comes the second installment in a brand-new series set an elite boarding school that’s a contemporary spin on fairy tales, this one a delightful, romantic twist on The Frog Prince.

Caterina LaValle is determined to show she’s still the queen of St. Rosetta’s Academy. Sure, her crown may be slightly askew after her ex-boyfriend, Alaric, cheated on her, but she’s a LaValle. She’ll find a way to march right back in there, her hands clutching the strings to the whole puppet show. This time, she’s going to be untouchable.

Rahul Chopra knows that moment he shared with Caterina LaValle at the winter formal meant something. Surely she feels it, too. He’s a little uncertain how someone like him (socially inept to a point way past “adorkable”) could fit into her world, but he’s loved Caterina for years. He knows they’ll find a way.

When Caterina finds out Alaric is taking a supermodel to the upcoming gala, she knows she cannot arrive without the perfect date. But the thought of taking another superficial St. R’s boy exhausts her. The solution? Sweet-but-clueless Rahul Chopra and a mysterious pot of hair gel with the power to alter the wearer into whatever his heart desires.

When Rahul tries it, he transforms instantly into RC—debonair, handsome, and charming. But transformation comes with a price: As Rahul enjoys his new social standing, the line between his two personas begins to blur. Will he give up everything, including Caterina, to remain RC? Or will this unlikely pair find their way back to each other? 

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Rumaysa: A Fairytale by Radiya Hafiza - Retelling

Rumaysa: A Fairytale

by Radiya Hafiza

What they say: This funny and empowering story weaves together three classic fairytales into one new adventure with an unusual structural twist: Rumaysa is a Muslim girl who lets her hijab down from a tall tower in order to escape. 

Set in a magical version of South Asia, Rumaysa explores enchanted forests and dragon lairs, teaming up with Cinderayla and Sleeping Sara along the way to create a strong sense of sisterhood. 

More info

Releasing this week - You Choose Fairy Tales

I loved this type of book as a child. There's something special about having your say...!

You Choose Fairy Tales

by Pippa Goodhart and illustrated by Nick Sharratt

What they say: Make up your very own fairy tale adventure where YOU CHOOSE what happens next!

Which fairy tale hero would you like to be today? Where will you go on your fairy tale quest? And what fairy tale baddy would you least like to meet?

The possibilities are infinite in this captivating creative toolkit which will inspire children from three up to make their own stories again and again.

A magical sequel to YOU CHOOSE, YOU CHOOSE YOUR DREAMS and YOU CHOOSE IN SPACE - it's spell-binding!

More info over at GR!

Spotlight - Paris By Starlight

Paris By Starlight

by Robert Dinsdale

What they say: Every city has its own magic...

Every night on their long journey to Paris from their troubled homeland, Levon’s grandmother has read to them from a very special book. Called The Nocturne, it is a book full of fairy stories and the heroic adventures of their people who generations before chose to live by starlight.

And with every story that Levon’s grandmother tells them in their new home, the desire to live as their ancestors did grows. And that is when the magic begins…

Nobody can explain why nocturnal water dogs start appearing at the heels of every citizen of Paris-by-Starlight like the loyal retainers they once were. There are suddenly night finches in the skies and the city is transforming: the Eiffel Tower lit up by strange ethereal flowers that drink in the light of the moon.

But not everyone in Paris is won over by the spectacle of Paris-by-Starlight. There are always those that fear the other, the unexplained, the strangers in our midst. How long can the magic of night rub up against the ordinariness of day? How long can two worlds occupy the same streets and squares before there is an outright war?

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Cover Love - Sea Witch Rising

Sea Witch Rising - Sea Witch #2

by Sarah Henning

How pretty is this cover?!

What they say: “The Little Mermaid” takes a twisted turn in this thrilling sequel to villainess origin story Sea Witch, as the forces of land and sea clash in an epic battle for freedom, redemption, and true love. 

Runa will not let her twin sister die. Alia traded her voice to the Sea Witch for a shot at happiness with a prince who doesn’t love her. And his rejection will literally kill her—unless Runa intervenes.

Under the sea, Evie craves her own freedom—but liberation from her role as Sea Witch will require an exchange she may not be willing to make. With their hearts’ desires at odds, what will Runa and Evie be willing to sacrifice to save their worlds? 

Told from alternating perspectives, this epic fairy tale retelling is a romantic and heart-wrenching story about the complications of sisterhood, the uncompromising nature of magic, and the cost of redemption.

More info

Whatcha Reading Wednesday - Gods of Jade and Shadow

This week I'm reading this new release (definitely not YA or MG btw)

Gods of Jade and Shadow

by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

What they say: The Mayan god of death sends a young woman on a harrowing, life-changing journey in this dark, one-of-a-kind fairy tale inspired by Mexican folklore.

The Jazz Age is in full swing, but Casiopea Tun is too busy cleaning the floors of her wealthy grandfather’s house to listen to any fast tunes. Nevertheless, she dreams of a life far from her dusty small town in southern Mexico. A life she can call her own.

Yet this new life seems as distant as the stars, until the day she finds a curious wooden box in her grandfather’s room. She opens it—and accidentally frees the spirit of the Mayan god of death, who requests her help in recovering his throne from his treacherous brother. Failure will mean Casiopea’s demise, but success could make her dreams come true.

In the company of the strangely alluring god and armed with her wits, Casiopea begins an adventure that will take her on a cross-country odyssey from the jungles of Yucatán to the bright lights of Mexico City—and deep into the darkness of the Mayan underworld. 

For more info!

Whatcha Reading Wednesday - Escape from the Isle of the Lost

This week I'm reading:

Escape from the Isle of the Lost - Descendants #4
by Melissa de la Cruz

What they say: Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos may have once been the baddest of the bad, but their wicked ways are (mostly) behind them-and now graduation is almost here! But before the seniors can don their custom-designed caps and gowns, courtesy of Evie, they've got an epic plan to put into action. There are tons of villain kids on the Isle of the Lost who are eager for their chance to come to Auradon Prep-even Celia, Dr. Facilier's trickster daughter, wants in on the deal!-and Mal's crew is using their upcoming visit to the Isle to help make it happen. But Auradon's biggest threat is still at large?

Trapped on the other side of the barrier, Uma is more desperate than ever to get her long-awaited revenge against Mal. When she discovers an underground lair belonging to Hades, god of the underworld, Uma realizes she's found the perfect partner in crime. Together, they can defeat Mal, bring down the barrier, and escape the Isle for good.

Mal and Uma have a score to settle, and they'll come face to face in an explosive underwater battle that could determine the fates of Auradon and the Isle of the Lost once and for all.

More info

Cover Reveal - Chasing Midnight

Chasing Midnight (Once Upon a Curse #3)

by Kaitlyn Davis

Genre: YA Fantasy Romance/Fairytale Retelling

Release Date: August 2019

**A USA Today Recommended Series!**

This faerie godmother has an agenda of her own... Don't miss CHASING MIDNIGHT, a
fantasy romance from bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis that reimagines the
classic fairy tale of Cinderella.

"I could redeem myself if I wanted to. I could help them. But I won't. I'm the
villain of their story, because it's the only way to be the hero of mine."

Hundreds of years ago, humans learned the secret to sealing magic beneath their skin and stole it from the world. Faeries reverted back to flowers. Shifters remained trapped in their animal forms. Mermaids turned to foam. And the magical creatures who survived vowed revenge.

Nymia is one of those survivors, a faerie brought back to life by the return of her magic. When she finds a human girl named Ella with her sister's power trapped beneath her skin, she'll do anything to get her back, including kill.

There's only one problem.

This isn't the world she remembers. Humans here have a power all their own--technology. And when a human prince sees her using magic, he'll use every invention at his disposal to track her down. The countdown is on, and time is running out. Nymia needs to find Ella, take back her sister's magic, and escape the determined prince before the clock strikes twelve, or she might not make it out of his city alive…

*This is the third book in Once Upon a Curse, a series of interconnected stand-alone novels all set in the same fantasy universe.

Pre-Order:

Amazon - > https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SD7D2DW/

Amazon * iBooks * B&N * Kobo * Google Play * Smashwords

Previous Books in the Series:

 

Gathering Frost (Once Upon a Curse #1): 

Amazon

Links for Withering Frost (Once Upon a Curse #2):  

Amazon

Author Spotlight:

Bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis writes young adult fantasy novels under the name Kaitlyn Davis and contemporary romance novels under the name Kay Marie. 

Always blessed with an overactive imagination, Kaitlyn has been writing ever since she picked up her first crayon and is overjoyed to share her work with the world. When she's not daydreaming, typing stories, or getting lost in fictional worlds, Kaitlyn can be found indulging in some puppy videos, watching a little too much television, or spending time with her family. If you have any questions for her--about her books, about scheduling an event, or just in general--you may contact her here!

To stay up-to-date with all of Kaitlyn's new releases, sign up for her new release newsletter here!

      

Cover Reveal Organized by:

All That We See or Seem - Tour

All That We See or Seem

by Kristina Mahr

Genre: YA Dark Fairy Tale

Release Date: May 2018

Uncommon Universes Press LLC

 

Every night, seventeen-year-old Reeve Lennox finds herself under a noose.

By day she is a lady of Acarsaid's royal house, daydreaming of adventure and love. But every night in sleep she wanders through a nightmarish city, an invisible witness to the screeches of monsters and the screams of their victims. Her only consolation is Bran, a battle-torn young man with a selfless heart and eyes that reflect the stars. 

Yet while Reeve falls deeper into her dreams, in truth she is engaged to Arden, a mercurial nobleman who has long been cured of his belief in love and breathes fire and flattery like other people breathe air.

Torn between two lives, Reeve struggles to remember what's real, until night and day collide, with a revelation that threatens all of Acarsaid.

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For the tour I'm reviewing book one!

What I say: Reeve lives a double life, one where she's awake and faces certain expectations and another at night where she has terrifying dreams of a dark world full of monstrous creatures, oh and a mysterious dream guy (who can't see or hear her)...

As the niece of the King, Reeve never leaves the castle and is surrounded by protectors, who are hilarious btw! She's lived a pretty sheltered life and so is a bit removed from reality at times. With so many moody or mean characters out there in similar stories, I found Reeve's almost scatterbrained confusion really charming.

Reeve is always entertaining, especially whenever she's around Arden. She becomes kinda even more bumbling, but I'm still not sure what to make of him.

Now on to Bran. I loved their meet-cute or meet-terror. He's super sweet and I really enjoyed watching things develop. Bring on the swoon!

Can Florian get his act together please!

Holy ending Batman!!! Go read the next one, like now!

4.5 Stars in my Sky!

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review!

A Dream Within a Dream

by Kristina Mahr

Genre: YA Dark Fairy Tale

Release Date: March 2019

Uncommon Universes Press LLC

Invisible to the man she loves, Reeve Lennox fights to reclaim him from a dark world. 

As her wedding day nears in Acarsaid, her betrothed Arden offers only his wayward soul and saucy tongue. At night she desperately tries to reach Bran, the young soldier of nightmarish Tenebris who holds her heart. However, her king insists that the realms of Tenebris and Acarsaid must remain separate, lest the evil wizard Rancore brutally conquer all.

But the dark magic of Tenebris defies mere distance. A war is coming, one only Reeve may be able to prevent, if she can reunite her family on opposing sides.

With two kingdoms at stake, Reeve must discover her strength and her family’s legacy before all is lost. Yet righting the wrongs of the past may require the sacrifice of her truest love.

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Author Spotlight:

Kristina Mahr devotes her days to numbers and her nights to words. She works full-time as an accountant in the suburbs of Chicago, where she lives with her two dogs and two cats, but her true passion is writing. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and waking up at the crack of dawn every weekend to watch the Premier League.

Website * Twitter * Instagram

Blog Tour Organized By:

YA Bound Book Tours

 

Team Elsa - A Frozen Heart

A Frozen Heart - Disney

by Elizabeth Rudnick

What they say: Love is an open door...

Be careful who steps inside.

Anna is a princess of Arendelle. Locked away from the outside world for years, she is desperate to leave her lonely life behind. Her parents are gone and her sister, Elsa - the only person who might show her love - is cold and distant.

Hans is a prince of the Southern Isles. Thirteenth in line to the throne, Hans is desperate to escape the tyranny of his father and older brothers and find a kingdom of his own to rule.

Their worlds collide at Elsa's coronation. At first, it seems as if all Anna's dreams have come true. At last she has found someone to love! But as Hans's true motives are revealed, their fairy-tale romance begins to melt away and Anna discovers that love is a more mysterious - and powerful - force than she ever could have imagined.

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Maybe a Mermaid - Coming Soon

Maybe a Mermaid

by Josephine Cameron

What they say: Eleven-year-old Anthoni Gillis is not the kind of kid who believes in fairies, unicorns, or even the word “maybe.” She’s more of a comic-books girl. So when her mom brings her to Thunder Lake for a summer at the Showboat Resort, she doesn’t believe the local rumors about the Boulay Mermaid.

Anthoni has bigger fish to fry. She’s always wanted a True Blue Friend. But it’s been hard to find one, since for the past five years she’s been bouncing from town to town, helping her mother sell Beauty & the Bee cosmetic products to keep them both afloat. This summer will be different, though. Anthoni has a plan―a foolproof checklist for making lifelong friends! There won’t be any maybes this time.

But as she grows entangled in local gossip, and her mother stretches the truth, Anthoni must decide if she’ll “stick to the plan,” like always, or dive into a summer full of extraordinary possibilities.

Josephine Cameron’s energetic and heartfelt debut raises timeless questions about truth, lies, and the hope that grows between them.

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Coming Soon - A Curse So Dark and Lonely

All the YES!!!

A Curse So Dark and Lonely

by Brigid Kemmerer

What they say: In a lush, contemporary fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Brigid Kemmerer gives readers another compulsively readable romance perfect for fans of Marissa Meyer.

Fall in love, break the curse. 

It once seemed so easy to Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall. Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, he knew he could be saved if a girl fell for him. But that was before he learned that at the end of each autumn, he would turn into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. That was before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper Lacy. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother barely holding their family together while constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, she learned to be tough enough to survive. But when she tries to save someone else on the streets of Washington, DC, she's instead somehow sucked into Rhen's cursed world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom. 

A prince? A monster? A curse? Harper doesn't know where she is or what to believe. But as she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what's at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin. 

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