Can't Wait for Ninth House

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Ninth House (Alex Stern, # 1)

By: Leigh Bardugo

Expected Publication: October 1st 2019 by Flatiron Books

448 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

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Goodreads description--The mesmerizing adult debut from #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo

Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?

Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Can't Wait for King of Scars

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

King of Scars (King of Scars, # 1)

By: Leigh Bardugo

Expected Publication:January 29th 2019 by Imprint

528 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

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*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.

Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried—and some wounds aren’t meant to heal.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Waiting on Six of Crows

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Six of Crows (The Dregs, # 1)

By: Leigh Bardugo

Expected Publication: September 29th 2015 by Henry Holt and Company

320 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

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*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Game of Thrones meets Ocean's Eleven in this brand-book in the world of the Grisha by New York Times-bestselling author Leigh Bardugo.

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

I really enjoyed The Grisha series by Leigh Bardugo, and I love the description of Game of Thrones meets Ocean's Eleven. I just hope it lives up to it. What are you waiting on this week? Let me know!

Siege and Storm - Review

Siege and Storm (The Grisha, # 2)

By: Leigh Bardugo

Published: June 4th 2013 by Henry Holt and Co.

435 pages

Genre: YA, Fanstasy

Source: Borrowed from my SNL, Holly @ Words Fueled by Love

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*Note: The above links to Amazon, The Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.

You guys. I'm just going to put it out there that I didn't love Siege and Storm overall. I suppose it fits into the typical niche of book 2 in a trilogy. I don't know. This is going to be one that I have trouble putting into words.

For some reason, I just haven't been a fan of Mal or at least Alina and Mal's relationship. It's just always had this feeling to me like it's an impossible relationship. In Shadow and Bone, the Darkling completely had me under his spell and I was ready to hand Alina over to him. Even when I found out he was evil, I was all like "maybe he's not as evil as we think he is and they can still work something out." HA! That's pretty much impossible and becoming more and more impossible as the books go by, but her relationship with Mal doesn't seem any more plausible to me.

I did love the addition of some new characters. Sturmhond for one! LOVED him! I wouldn't be so upset to see something work out in his favor when it comes to Alina. I also really enjoyed Tolya and Tamar. But Nikolai was probably the most intriguing addition to the story.

The writing had some humorous parts which was needed considering how heavy this book felt with the weight of all of Ravka being on Alina's shoulders. The pacing was a bit slow for my taste but built up to a rather hasty climax and resolution leaving off at an unstable place that felt eerily familiar to where Shadow and Bone left off, yet different.

I don't know guys. All in all, I just didn't love it. I am interested to see how the final book wraps everything up and how the story will end. Siege and Storm gets 3.5 stars from me. Have you read Siege and Storm? What do you think? Let me know!

Shadow and Bone - Review

Shadow and Bone (The Grisha, # 1)

By: Leigh Bardugo

Published: June 5th 2012 by Henry Holt and Co

356 pages

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Source: Borrowed from my SNL, Holly @ Words Fueled by Love

( Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depository | Booksamillion.com )

*Note: The above links to Amazon, The Book Depository, and Booksamillion.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--The Shadow Fold, a swathe of impenetrable darkness, crawling with monsters that feast on human flesh, is slowly destroying the once-great nation of Ravka.

Alina, a pale, lonely orphan, discovers a unique power that thrusts her into the lavish world of the kingdom’s magical elite—the Grisha. Could she be the key to unravelling the dark fabric of the Shadow Fold and setting Ravka free?

The Darkling, a creature of seductive charm and terrifying power, leader of the Grisha. If Alina is to fulfill her destiny, she must discover how to unlock her gift and face up to her dangerous attraction to him.

But what of Mal, Alina’s childhood best friend? As Alina contemplates her dazzling new future, why can’t she ever quite forget him?

Glorious. Epic. Irresistible. Romance.

First thing I have to say is that I completely agree with Holly when she said that this book needed a glossary. I don't mind when books have words that are unfamiliar to me in the mix, but Shadow and Bone has such a large amount of these types of words that it's a bit annoying not to have any clue what they're talking about or the pronunciations for each. You do pick up on some meanings here and there, but a glossary would have been helpful.

Despite my frustrations with the terminology, the world that Leigh Bardugo has created is both terrifying and beautiful. The Grisha are the same way. Most people are in awe of them yet utterly terrified and despise them at the same time. The entire world and the entire book has a love/hate theme going on. I just dare you to try not to get captivated in this unique creation.

Guys...sometimes I like to trick myself into thinking that I can predict the future. It's really quite hilarious. A lot of times I'm spot on in my predictions for books--what's to come and all of that jazz. Not really because I'm anything special, but just because I try to keep my eyes out for foreshadowing placed strategically by the author. But Shadow and Bone through me for an absolute loop and pretty much made a fool out of me. I was all taking notes, writing down page numbers and quotes because I had a prediction about what was going to happen...and um yeah....not even close. Leigh Bardugo totally played me. But if anything, it makes me like this book even more.

Alina is a character I couldn't help but get wrapped up in. Every aspect of her life. From being orphaned, to being in love with her best friend who she doesn't think even sees her. Not fitting in anywhere. Being only mildly talented at her job of mapmaking. Finding out that she has this ability that she can't control. Falling for the charm of someone she's not sure she can trust. All of it. Her entire package was easy to connect to, to feel her pain, longing, and desires. To understand her thoughts and feelings.

The Darkling had me wrapped up in the process as well. I was charmed and intoxicated with his power. Of course there was the battle with me from the beginning about where Alina's feelings truly lie--with Mal or with The Darkling. But I picked a side and then had to jump ship. Mal was another character that I couldn't help but get wrapped up in, and I'm pretty sure that there is much more to come from him--can't wait to see that unfold.

I'm not sure what else to say without spoiling the entire experience for someone who hasn't read it. Shadow and Bone is not a book you're likely to forget. Fans of world building, fantasy, and villains will love Shadow and Bone. I'm giving it 4 Stars. Have you read Shadow and Bone? What did you think? Let me know!