Review: Illusions of Fate

Illusions of Fate
Author: Kiersten White
Publication Date: September 9th 2014        
Publisher: HarperTeen
~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~

Downton Abbey meets Cassandra Clare in this lush, romantic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White.

“I did my best to keep you from crossing paths with this world. And I shall do my best to protect you now that you have.”

Jessamin has been an outcast since she moved from her island home of Melei to the dreary country of Albion. Everything changes when she meets Finn, a gorgeous, enigmatic young lord who introduces her to the secret world of Albion’s nobility, a world that has everything Jessamin doesn’t—power, money, status…and magic. But Finn has secrets of his own, dangerous secrets that the vicious Lord Downpike will do anything to possess. Unless Jessamin, armed only with her wits and her determination, can stop him.

Kiersten White captured readers’ hearts with her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy and its effortless mix of magic and real-world teenage humor. She returns to that winning combination of wit, charm, and enchantment in Illusions of Fate, a sparkling and romantic new novel perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, The Madman’s Daughter, and Libba Bray

You guys, Illusions of Fate is so freaking just as good as I thought it would be, and though I really enjoyed Kiersten White's Mind Games series, Illusions of Fate has taken the spot of my favourite of hers.  It's just so witty and fun and clever and whimsical.

There's no shortage of magical books being released this year, and don't get me wrong by saying that this is just one of them, but while it may not be the most unique one, it gives magic a different life and let's it breathe. We have feuding races and magical importance. It kind of reminds me of this one episode of Charmed in season six, episode five, Loves a Witch, but much more ingrained to the background of Illusions of Fate that set's the today of Illusions of Fate, if that makes sense. It's a huge part of the story and it takes in the actions of the characters.  The magic set-up here is a little different to what I usually find, Magic is based upon power in standards, it goes down into the line of Nobles of High Standards, it's in their blood and it depending on stature and position etc, it waters down, some have stronger power than others, and we see that mix with our supporting characters. The logistics of the magic can be learned but not obtained, power can't be taken, but stored in things (e.g books) that can be later used.

Stacking the Shelves (#62) & Recap: The Box-Set Edition

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

So, how was everybody's week? Mines been good, this is a months worth of book haul, all bought, except for one I won, but otherwise, all me. I went a little mad. A little Box-Set mad, and I'm not showing you all of them in this one because that would be long. And bad.

 

 

 

 

I already own these books. I own three of The Hunger Games now, which I'm going to do a post some time showing you all of them together because the Collectors Edition is freaking gorgeous. But yeah, three editions of The Hunger Games, and two of Catching Fire and Mockingjay. BUT I WANTED THE HARDBACKS. I don't care. They're all pretty and yeah, did I need more versions of the same book? No. Did I want them? Yes. You can see what side won.

Review: Kiss of Broken Glass

Kiss of Broken Glass
Author: Madeleine Kuderick
Publication Date: September 9th 2014        
Publisher: HarperTeen
~A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review~

Madeleine Kuderick’s gripping debut is a darkly beautiful and lyrical novel in verse, perfect for fans of Sonya Sones and Laurie Halse Anderson. Kiss of Broken Glass pulses with emotion and lingers long after the last page.
In the next seventy-two hours, Kenna may lose everything—her friends, her freedom, and maybe even herself. One kiss of the blade was all it took to get her sent to the psych ward for seventy-two hours. There she will face her addiction to cutting, though the outcome is far from certain.

When fifteen-year-old Kenna is found cutting herself in the school bathroom, she is sent to a facility for mandatory psychiatric watch. There, Kenna meets other kids like her—her roommate, Donya, who’s there for her fifth time; the birdlike Skylar; and Jag, a boy cute enough to make her forget her problems . . . for a moment

Kiss of Broken Glass is going to be one of those books you either love or hate- not because of the serious issues- cutting the main one, and meeting some other characters who have other addictions- but because of the format. I can't say I loved the format it was written in, but I did appreciate the lyrical side to it, it's quick to read and addicting in itself because it's beautiful.

Cover Reveal: Escape from Witchwood Hollow & Giveaway

                          How far into the hollow would you go? 

 

“After losing her parents in a terrorist attack on the Twin Towers, fifteen-year-old Honoria escapes New York City to Arnn—a farming town with more legends than residents, and a history of witchcraft and secrets best left buried.

 

Everyone in Arnn knows the story of Witchwood Hollow: if you venture into the whispering forest, the witch will trap your soul among the shadowed trees. In the lure of that perpetual darkness, Honoria finds hope when she should be afraid, and a past of missing children and broken promises.  To save the citizens of Arnn from becoming the witch’s next victims, she must find the truth behind the woman’s madness. How deep into Witchwood Hollow does Honoria dare venture?”

ESCAPE FROM WITCHWOOD HOLLOW is Jordan Elizabeth’s first novel.  This young adult fantasy will be published through Curiosity Quills Press on October 29, 2014. 

Cosplay Antics: Getting Ready for Halloween SCARdiff Edition

Another Cosplay Antics post this week due to lack of funds and baking ingredients. Last week's post was a Vengeance VS Wonderland mash up, which I am going to keep bouncing back and forth to Alice in Wonderland quite often in later posts- both Cosplay Antics and Edible Books, since I'm in love with everything Wonderland and there's a lot of things that can be used to tie to it.

Since Halloween's right around the corner (okay, over a month left but it goes quick- it's almost Christmas!) I was thinking about what I made last year, which was also another outfit I wore at the MCM London this year. I've planned to bring it back out of the closet for the event SCARdiff  this year. SCARdiff's an Halloween/Horror movie convention in Cardiff (S-CARdiff- get it?) in October, so it's never too early to get ready and plan, besides, it was one of my favourite Cosplay's I've made.

Waiting on Wednesday (#63)

 "Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

I Am Her Revenge by Meredith Moore

 

Expected publication: April 7th 2015 by Razorbill  

 

 

She can be anyone you want her to be.
Vivian was raised with one purpose in life: to exact revenge on behalf of her mother. Manipulative and cruel, Mother has deprived Vivian not only of a childhood, but of an original identity. With an endless arsenal of enticing personalities at her disposal, Vivian is a veritable weapon of deception.

And she can destroy anyone.
When it’s time to strike, she enrolls in a boarding school on the English moors, where she will zero in on her target: sweet and innocent Ben, the son of the man who broke Mother’s heart twenty years ago.

Anyone…except for the woman who created her.
With every secret she uncovers, Vivian comes one step closer to learning who she really is. But the more she learns about herself, the more dangerous this cat and mouse game becomes. Because Mother will stop at nothing to make sure the truth dies with her. 

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE be a good revenge story.

What're you waiting on? :)