Top Ten Tuesday|| Most Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of 2016

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish that other bloggers are welcome to join in, to create Top Ten lists on varying topics. This week it's Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of 2016!

I love this topic because I can share all the books I want to have right now. And I'm sure some of you have these on your lists. 

 

1 The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson

Lia and Rafe have escaped Venda and the path before them is winding and dangerous - what will happen now? This third and final book in The Remnant Chronicles is not to be missed.

Bestselling author Mary E. Pearson's combination of intrigue, suspense, romance and action make this a riveting page turner for teens.

I am so excited to read this book. It releases on August 2, 2016 and I am so excited. I was lucky enough to get a copy from NetGalley so I am reading it right now and it is amazing! I can not wait for a physical copy of the book to be in my hands. 

2 Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland — the infamous Queen of Hearts — she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the yet-unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend and supply the Kingdom of Hearts with delectable pastries and confections. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next Queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the king's marriage proposal, she meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship.

Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

This releases on November 8, 2016.  I feel like I have been waiting for this book for forever. This is a book by one of my favorite YA authors and I can not wait to read this. I am so jealous of people who have gotten ARCs of this. 

3 Never Ever by Sara Saedi

Wylie Dalton didn’t believe in fairy tales or love at first sight. 

Then she met a real-life Peter Pan.

When Wylie encounters Phinn—confident, mature, and devastatingly handsome—at a party the night before her brother goes to juvie, she can’t believe how fast she falls for him. And that’s before he shows her how to fly.

Soon Wylie and her brothers find themselves whisked away to a mysterious tropical island off the coast of New York City where nobody ages beyond seventeen and life is a constant party. Wylie’s in heaven: now her brother won’t go to jail and she can escape her over-scheduled life with all its woes and responsibilities—permanently.

But the deeper Wylie falls for Phinn, the more she begins to discover has been kept from her and her brothers. Somebody on the island has been lying to her, but the truth can’t stay hidden forever.

This book releases on June 21, 2016. I love Peter Pan and I love anything that is a retelling of it. I can't wait for this book which I will probably end up picking up this month. 

4  The Midnight Star by Marie Lu

The thrilling finale to the New York Times bestselling Young Elites series from “hit factory” Marie Lu.

There was once a time when darkness shrouded the world, and the darkness had a queen.

Adelina Amouteru is done suffering. She’s turned her back on those who have betrayed her and achieved the ultimate revenge: victory. Her reign as the White Wolf has been a triumphant one, but with each conquest her cruelty only grows. The darkness within her has begun to spiral out of control, threatening to destroy all that she’s achieved.

Adelina’s forced to revisit old wounds when a new danger appears, putting not only Adelina at risk, but every Elite and the very world they live in. In order to save herself and preserve her empire, Adelina and her Roses must join the Daggers on a perilous quest—though this uneasy alliance may prove to be the real danger.

I love this series though I have only read the first book. This book releases on October 11, 2016.  I can't wait for this book. 

5 Lodestar by Shannon Messenger 

Dark schemes unfold--and Sophie's loyalty is pushed to the limit--in this thrilling fifth book in the best-selling KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES SERIES. 

Sophie Foster is back in the Lost Cities--but the Lost Cities have changed. The threat of war hangs heavy over her glittering world, and the Neverseen are wreaking havoc. 

The lines between friend and enemy have blurred, and Sophie is unsure whom to trust. But when she's warned that the people she loves most will be the next victims, she knows she has to act. 

A mysterious symbol could be the key--if only she knew how to translate it. Every new clue seems to lead deeper into her world's underbelly and the Black Swan aren't the only ones who have plans. The Neverseen have their own Initiative, and if Sophie doesn't stop it, they might finally have the ultimate means to control her.

This series is one of my favorite Middle Grade series, it has so many exciting moments and I'm surprised it isn't more popular. It is so amazing. This releases on November 1, 2016.

6 Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill

Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, the legendary bounty hunter for the King of Malam—that is, until her father is murdered. Now outcast and alone and having no rights to her father’s land or inheritance, she seeks refuge where she feels most safe: the Ever Woods. When Britta is caught poaching by the royal guard, instead of facing the noose she is offered a deal: her freedom in exchange for her father’s killer.

However, it’s not so simple.

The alleged killer is none other than Cohen McKay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a daunting and dangerous force.

This new series sounds amazing and I'm sure it will be a great one. This releases on December 27, 2016.

7 Zenith by Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings

Most know her as the Bloody Baroness, the captain of a fearsome glass starship called The Marauder. Androma and her crew strike terror in the hearts of those who cross them amongst the many corners of the Mirabel Galaxy.

When a routine mission goes rogue, the all-female crew is captured by a bounty hunter from Andi’s past and forced into a job that could, quite literally, start a war that will devour worlds.

Meanwhile, on the far side of the galaxy, the ruthless ruler Nor waits in the shadows of the planet Xen Ptera, biding her time. The final pieces are about to fall into place, liberating a plan that will tear Mirabel in two.

As the Marauder hurtles toward the unknown, there is one lesson that proves to be true: No one can be trusted in a galaxy that runs on lies and illusion.

From internet sensation Sasha Alsberg and multi-genre author Lindsay Cummings comes a new serialized space opera, full of action, intrigue, and steamy star-crossed romance

Sasha Alsberg is like my favorite booktuber ever so I want to read this book so badly and will probably purchase it the day it comes out.  This releases on June 21, 2016. 

8 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband, and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes darkness comes from unexpected places. 

When I first heard that there was another Harry Potter book, I fangirled so much. Harry Potter is what got me into real reading. This releases on July 31, 2016. I'll be in California and there will probably be a mad rush to get this so I'll have to ask for it for my birthday...

9 Bright Smoke, Cold Fire by Rosamund Hodge

When the mysterious fog of the Ruining crept over the world, the living died and the dead rose. Only the walled city of Viyara was left untouched.

The heirs of the city’s most powerful—and warring—families, Mahyanai Romeo and Juliet Catresou share a love deeper than duty, honor, even life itself. But the magic laid on Juliet at birth compels her to punish the enemies of her clan—and Romeo has just killed her cousin Tybalt. Which means he must die.

Paris Catresou has always wanted to serve his family by guarding Juliet. But when his ward tries to escape her fate, magic goes terribly wrong—killing her and leaving Paris bound to Romeo. If he wants to discover the truth of what happened, Paris must delve deep into the city, ally with his worst enemy . . . and perhaps turn against his own clan.

Mahyanai Runajo just wants to protect her city—but she’s the only one who believes it’s in peril. In her desperate hunt for information, she accidentally pulls Juliet from the mouth of death—and finds herself bound to the bitter, angry girl. Runajo quickly discovers Juliet might be the one person who can help her recover the secret to saving Viyara.

Both pairs will find friendship where they least expect it. Both will find that Viyara holds more secrets and dangers than anyone ever expected. And outside the walls, death is waiting. . . 

I wasn't going to put this book on the list but seriously, it is a Romeo and Juliet retelling and it sounds so freaking good. This releases on September 27, 2016.

10 The Shadow Hour by Melissa Grey

Everything in Echo's life changed in a blinding flash when she learned the startling truth: she is the firebird, the creature of light that is said to bring peace.

The firebird has come into the world, but it has not come alone. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and Echo can feel a great and terrible darkness rising in the distance. Cosmic forces threaten to tear the world apart.

Echo has already lost her home, her family, and her boyfriend. Now, as the firebird, her path is filled with even greater dangers than the ones she's already overcome.

She knows the Dragon Prince will not fall without a fight.

Echo must decide: can she wield the power of her true nature--or will it prove too strong for her, and burn what's left of her world to the ground?

Welcome to the shadow hour.

I am so so excited for this book. I loved The Girl at Midnight so I will obviously love this one. I can't wait to have this in my hands. It releases on July 12, 2016. 

SOME HONORABLE MENTIONS...

 

Top Ten Tuesday|| Top Ten Reasons I Love Once Upon A Time

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish that other bloggers are welcome to join in, to create Top Ten lists on varying topics. This week it's Top Ten Reasons I Like X

I loved the thought of kind of having a freebee. That is until I actually sat down to think about what I would do. This topic was actually really hard because I have so many things that I would love to rant about to you. Like reasons why I like a particular book series. I finally decided to do this on Top Ten Reasons I Love Once Upon A Time because this is my all-time favorite TV show. 

1 The Characters

The characters that make up this show are all wonderful. They all have strengths and they all have flaws. They are so expertly crafted and depicted. Of course, this is a TV show where the characters are all from fairytales but they have such amazing twists to their personalities which makes them so original. The bad guys, aren't always totally bad or incapable of redemption. They also aren't ugly or depicted as such. In fact, some of the bad characters are the loveliest and they are all so complex. Our evil characters all have things that make them completely human--Mr. Gold loves Belle so much, Regina loves her adopted son and Maleficent loves her daughter and hopes that she will have a better life and be a better person. The good characters have flaws--Snow couldn't keep a secret, and Emma has a horrible trust issue. 

I became so invested in these characters and I feel what they feel and cry if something happens to them. You learn that some of the bad characters just do what they do because of their childhood and they want redemption. And then you have the bad characters who are just plain evil and nothing will change their mind even though you terribly want them too.  I've gone to hell and back with these characters and I love them so so much!

 

2 The Sass and Dialogue

This book has a ton of sass. Regina is the master of sass and then you have Pan who was just reeking with it. The sass makes the show so much better, it just provides comic relief from some of the events that are happening around them. All dialogue is also beautifully done. As well as the timing of the dialogue. For instance, we can't have two characters say "I love you" to each other unless something horrible is about to happen to tear them apart. The timing of the dialogue is everything in this show. Plus, some of the dialogue is amazing and so wonderfully thought up. Some of my favorite lines of all time are in this show. 

3 It's Hilarious

Humor is a must for a angst filled show and that is exactly what happens with this show. This show has so many funny lines and funny tidbits that help you get through the angst filled episodes. Trust me, there's a ton of those. 

4  It Tears Your Heart Out

I know this might seem horrible to you but sadness and angst is what makes a show addicting.  If nothing happened, would you want to watch TV shows? I wouldn't. We live for these moments whether we'd like to admit it or not. This show has a lot of heartbreaking moments and they are what keeps the story/show going. They are all positively tear-jerking and you just want the show to resolve already but you keep watching because you just can't stop.

5 The Costumes

The costumes that these characters/actors wear are gorgeous. I love the girls costumes but Hook's outfit is pretty nice too. Regina Mills has some of the best outfits ever. I shall put a couple up above because they are all so amazing and nice to look at.  I feel like the costume a character wears show a bit of their personality which is the case with this show so I naturally love the costumes. 

6 The Friendships/Family Relationships

I love the friendships in this show. Friendships are so important in shows and a good strong friendship, makes me so happy. There are a couple strong friendships in this show such as Emma and Regina. They didn't use to be friends. In fact, they used to hate each other but now they have a strong friendship and I don't know what would happen if this didn't exist. The show would probably be a mess. There are also friendships that aren't just two people. Basically the six or so main characters all have a strong 'friendship' and are very good at teamwork which helps a lot. 

The family relationships are also super strong. There is the bond between Emma and her parents as well as the bond between Henry and his adopted mother and actual mother. These relationships didn't just happen. Emma didn't know her parents until she was twenty-eight years old so it took a little while for her to get used to all of it. Henry also didn't know his real mother until he was around eleven. But the relationships between family members are a huge part of this show and help move it forward. 

 

7 The Ships/Romance

Ahh...romance.  This show has a lot of it. And it also has you wanting two characters to get together for seasons on end and when they finally get together, it's heaven.  *cough cough Captain Swan cough cough* Basically, my OTP is in this show. Well besides Stydia because, let's face it, I have like twenty OTPs. It's a thing. 

The romance is cute, angst filled and beautiful. Most of the relationships in this show are beautiful and you just want them to be together forever and ever but that isn't always the case. The last season had a ton of angst and sadness for certain couples and ships were crashing and burning everywhere. It was a nightmare though the season was amazing!  

8 They incorporate fairytales/fairytale characters into the real world, perfectly.

When This show is basically a twist on all the fairytales you know and love. They introduce new fairytales and fairytale characters/villains every season. We've had amazing, unique stories for them. This show incorporates the characters into the modern/real world so well, that it's almost like they've been here their entire existance. This is one of the reasons this show is amazing. They also have a few characters from the modern/real world and they have relationships with fairytale characters and it's all so beautiful

 

9 Strong Female Characters

The amount of strong female characters in this show is endless. There are so so many, that is hard to count.  We have Emma Swan who is such a badass, Regina Mills aka The Evil Queen and her skills with magic are amazing, Red from Little Red Riding Hood who is actually a wolf, Snow White who is badass with a bow and arrow, and many many more. I love the female characters in this show because they are all strong, both in mind and body. The girls literally rule this show. 

10 The Level of Hotness

When Most of the characters are generally good-looking but let's talk about some of the guys here. For example, Killian Jones aka Captain Hook. He is so attractive and he's a pirate. Come on guys. Don't you feel me here. Then we have Peter Pan. Peter Pan is supposed to be a young kid right? Well, in this show he is a very attractive teenager and I'm sorry, if you don't find him attractive, I don't know why I'm talking to you. JK, you can think whatever you want. And we also have Sheriff Graham who is also super attractive but he was sadly only in the first season. Lastly, we have Jefferson aka The Mad Hatter. Okay, Jefferson is played by Sebastian Stan who also plays Bucky Barnes, and everyone likes him. I loved Jefferson. He was creepy but so good-looking and sweet. 

That is it. This is technically last week's post but I had to post it today because I didn't finish it last week. And can you tell, I have an obsession with this show?

Music Monday #17

I got this idea from the blog Trust in the Words. 

Mustang Kids by Zella Day ft. Baby E

It was such a struggle, trying to figure out what song to use for this post. I have so many songs I could have featured but then I remembered that this song's video came out this week and I am obsessed with the song. I love Zella Day. Her song: Hypnotic is one of my favorites. 

What's in your headphones?

Happy reading everybody! <3

JUNE BOOKS ON MY SHELF!

June Books on my Shelf!

I got this idea to call it Books on my Shelf from http://cornucopiaofreviews.blogspot.com/

Today I am going to be doing my June To Be Read (TBR). This TBR is actually much longer than I intended but I figured since exams are next week and then I'm done, I can get a lot of reading done. I have already read two books on this list and I am going to see if I can get another two done this week. Now, let's get into my TBR.

The first book I have on this list is Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. I finished this book last week and let me say, it was one of the saddest books I've ever read. So many people have been reading this lately, so I knew I had to read it as well. 

Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

The second book I have on this list is The Winner's Crime by Marie Rukoski. I loved the first book which I read last month, so I am going to be reading the second book this month. I am already almost halfway through this book so I hope to finish it asap.

Book two of the dazzling Winner's Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love.

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement... if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

The third book I have on this list is Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi. I read the first book a couple of months ago and it was amazing. I finished this book already this month and it was so good. I will put a review up after exams. 

tick
tick
tick
tick
tick
it's almost
time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

The fourth book I have on this list is The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey which I am about halfway through and hope to finish it this weekend. It is amazing so far and I really like this series. 

How do you rid the Earth of seven billion humans? Rid the humans of their humanity.

Surviving the first four waves was nearly impossible. Now Cassie Sullivan finds herself in a new world, a world in which the fundamental trust that binds us together is gone. As the 5th Wave rolls across the landscape, Cassie, Ben, and Ringer are forced to confront the Others’ ultimate goal: the extermination of the human race.

Cassie and her friends haven’t seen the depths to which the Others will sink, nor have the Others seen the heights to which humanity will rise, in the ultimate battle between life and death, hope and despair, love and hate.

The fifth book I have on this list is The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken. People have said such good things about this book so I am so tempted to read it. 

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something frightening enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that got her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that had killed most of America’s children, but she and the others emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they could not control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones. When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. She is on the run, desperate to find the only safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who have escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents. When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at having a life worth living.' to 

The sixth book I have on this list is The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson. I decided to put this book on this list because it is a Contemporary and who doesn't love reading contemporaries in the summer?

Andie had it all planned out. 

When you are a politician’s daughter who’s pretty much raised yourself, you learn everything can be planned or spun, or both. Especially your future.

Important internship? Check.

Amazing friends? Check.

Guys? Check (as long as we’re talking no more than three weeks).

But that was before the scandal. Before having to be in the same house with her dad. Before walking an insane number of dogs. That was before Clark and those few months that might change her whole life.

Because here’s the thing—if everything’s planned out, you can never find the unexpected. 

And where’s the fun in that?

The seventh book I have is Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout.  Onyx is the second book in the Lux series. I read Obsidian last month (I think) and it was amazing so I am going to be reading this one this month and so far it is pretty good. 

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…

The eighth book I have on this list is The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa. I have wanted to read this for almost six months and I am finally going to try it. 

To survive in a ruined world, she must embrace the darkness…

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them—the vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself dies and becomes one of the monsters.

Forced to flee her city, Allie must pass for human as she joins a ragged group of pilgrims seeking a legend—a place that might have a cure for the disease that killed off most of civilization and created the rabids, the bloodthirsty creatures who threaten human and vampire alike. And soon Allie will have to decide what and who is worth dying for… again.

The ninth book I have is The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book from NetGalley and I am so excited and it is amazing so far. Can't wait to finish it. 

Lia and Rafe have escaped Venda and the path before them is winding and dangerous - what will happen now? This third and final book in The Remnant Chronicles is not to be missed.

Bestselling author Mary E. Pearson's combination of intrigue, suspense, romance and action make this a riveting page turner for teens.

The last book I have on this list is the Persutopia Book of the Month. It is Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton. I am actually really excited for this book and hope to read it soon. But I have to buy it soon. 

She’s more gunpowder than girl—and the fate of the desert lies in her hands.

Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mystical beasts still roam the wild and barren wastes, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinni still practice their magic. But there's nothing mystical or magical about Dustwalk, the dead-end town that Amani can't wait to escape from. 

Destined to wind up "wed or dead," Amani’s counting on her sharpshooting skills to get her out of Dustwalk. When she meets Jin, a mysterious and devastatingly handsome foreigner, in a shooting contest, she figures he’s the perfect escape route. But in all her years spent dreaming of leaving home, she never imagined she'd gallop away on a mythical horse, fleeing the murderous Sultan's army, with a fugitive who's wanted for treason. And she'd never have predicted she'd fall in love with him...or that he'd help her unlock the powerful truth of who she really is.