#balzar and bray

[meganwhalenturner]

Cinda! Cunning Deviser!

Happy Birthday to your battle-brave, barrow burster of a book! Your glory-wrought, fair-written, shining eyebalm!

#children of ragnarok #cinda williams chima #harpercollins #balzar and bray

[quirkycatsfatstacks]

Review: Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Review: Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Author: Ibi ZoboiPublisher: Balzar + BrayReleased: September 18, 2018Received: Own (OwlCrate) Let me preface this review by saying that I adore retellings. I’ll read almost any that I come across, especially if it follows a favorite story of mine. Such as Pride and Prejudice. Enter: Pride by Ibi Zoboi. Pride is a modern remix of Pride and Prejudice that provides many unique takes on such a…

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#Balzar + Bray #Book #Book Review #Books #Fiction #Fiction Review #Ibi Zoboi #Literary #Literature #OwlCrate #Pride #Pride by Ibi Zoboi #Review #Romance

[elliepassmore]

The Blood Years review

4.5 stars/5 stars Recommended if you like: historical fiction, WWII, non-German/Britain/US WWII, Jewish characters, younger teen MC Big thanks to Netgalley, Balzar + Bray, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review! TW: Holocaust, rape I always enjoy reading historical fiction books set outside the traditional countries we see historical fiction set in (i.e., USA, Britain, France, Germany...maybe Russia, but not many of those). This book is set in Romania and starts slightly before their occupation and ends almost immediately after liberation ('liberation'). It was interesting to get a different view of that era of history, especially since Romania had to deal with both Soviet and German occupation. It was interesting to read about the recent history of Romania leading up to WWII since it isn't really a country I know too much about. The parts about the Soviet and German occupation were also interesting, but at least I know what to expect from that (and I also actually read a nonfiction book about Romania in WWII in 2022 or '21). Both occupations are horrifying in their own ways and have slightly different threats and rules. The juxtaposition between the two worked well to highlight both the similarities and the differences between the Soviets and Germans. Frederieke, Rieke, starts the story around age 12/13 (except for the prologue, where she's 6), when things are tense in Europe but still relatively calm in Romania. At the time, her life largely revolves around school, ballet, her sister, and Opa. Over the course of the story Rieke has multiple points where the world shifts under her feet, both in small ways, like her father leaving, and in big ways, like occupation. Each time her world shifts, Rieke must reorient and make a decision about how she is going to move forward. This next part is slightly spoilery, but I'm not putting a spoiler warning since it relates to one of the TWs: There is a part toward the end where Rieke is raped by an older man, though the scene isn't particularly graphic, and it's mentioned as happening several more times before Rieke is hospitalized for an unrelated illness. It is also heavily implied that Astra was raped during Soviet occupation. Opa, Rieke and Astra's grandfather, has already lived through one world war and isn't looking forward to a second one. He tries to protect the girls and his family as long as he can, but the hate of others isn't so easy to hide, and their hardships only become worse when the Germans take over the country. Despite everything going on, Opa continues to put his family first and continues to strive to uphold the morals he holds close. Astra is a hard character to fully like. At the beginning of the book, she's relatively okay, but the more Rieke remembers her younger childhood and the more we see Astra falling in love, it's clear she's not a very nice person to her sister. Since Rieke is the narrating character, that makes it kind of hard to like Astra even if Rieke loves her older sister dearly. That being said, Astra becomes much better toward the middle/later parts of the book, though she still has her moments (and I'm not super thrilled that she allowed what was going on with Rieke toward the end). I will say though, by the end of the book it's very, very clear that Astra loves Rieke dearly, even if it isn't always expressed. Marcel does fit with Astra, though he's largely flighty only with her. Rieke doesn't like him at first, and so I didn't like him at first either, but he really does come through for the family he becomes a part of. I won't comment on his romantic flightiness, but he definitely isn't a bad person. I think the author did a good job capturing the wider picture of what was going on in Romania while also keeping the focus on Rieke and her family. She also does a good job of shifting between the two, with Rieke being able to note the larger changes occurring around her by noticing the ones that impact her and the daily lives of those around her. The historical part of the book was done very, very well in my opinion. Overall, this was a good book. Obviously I am not a fan of the second TW, and on the one hand I'm glad it was kind of brushed over but on the other hand I do feel like more attention should've been called to what was happening. Unrelated to that, I liked that Astra, Rieke, and their friends were dancers. There really aren't enough books where people are just casually ballet dancers.

#book #bookshelf #bookworm #books #bookaddict #bookaholic #booksarelife #bookstagram #booklr #bookblr #historical fiction #ya historical fiction #wwii #wwii romania #jewish characters #jewish heritage month #holocaust #tw shoah #tw rape #netgalley #netgalley review #netgalley read

[readingwithwrin]

The Madman's Daughter (The Madman's Daughter #1) by Megan Sheperd | Book Review

The Madman’s Daughter (The Madman’s Daughter #1) by Megan Sheperd | Book Review

Title: The Madman’s Daughter Author: Megan Shepherd Publisher: Balzar & Bray Published Date: January 29th, 2013 Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Horror, YA Source: Library Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ Goodreads Summary: Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life.…

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#balzar and bray #book review #historical fiction #horror #library #megan shepherd #mystery #the madman&039;s daughter #thriller #YA

[sincerelykarenjo]

Goodreads Monday

Hello lovelies! Time for another Goodreads Monday which is a weekly meme by Lauren’s Page Turners’ blog! To participate, just choose a random book from your Goodreads TBR and show it off. For this meme, I’ll be focusing on a random book that I don’t own (hardcopy or ebooks) on my Goodreads “want-to-read” page.   Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge   Published by Balzar + Bray May 5, 2015 Genre(s):…

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#blogger #blogging #booknerd #books #goodreadsmonday #reading

[tgbreviews]

The survivalist “utopia” of Summerland fell to a horde. Jane McKeene and Katherine Deveraux, along with six other survivors, escaped the death and destruction with one immediate goal: to get somewhere safe. But where can safety be found in a world where the dead walk the earth? For Jane, wherever they go is just a stop along the way. Now that she knows where her mother is, she plans to find her. Plans tend to go awry, however, and the small group of survivors will face calamities resulting in devastating losses that test the bonds of friendship—leaving one combatant questioning everything she thought she knew about the world,  and struggling to find her place within it.

Deathless Divide is a magnificent follow-up to Dread Nation. I had great expectations for this book, and high hopes for where the story might lead. Even so, my wildest imaginings weren’t sufficient in preparing me for what actually happened, and that turned out to be a very good thing.

As noted in the book summary, their first stop is Nicodemus, described in the book as “a Negro settlement founded by Freedman and runaways from the Five Civilized Tribes.” Several familiar characters reappear in Nicodemus, but there is little time for readers to get reacquainted with them before the first bit of trouble strikes.

The story is told in two parts, the first dealing with the journey to Nicodemus, and the events that take place there. This is the setting for THE most unexpected twist of the story. While it wasn’t unique for a zombie apocalypse story, the way it was handled left me reeling in shock and feeling completely devastated. And that was it… just like that, I knew what was going to happen next.

Except, I didn’t.

The story took a major turn from there, leading in directions I would never have guessed it would go. My imagination spun with all the possibilities, and I went into the second half of the story with an even greater sense of excitement.

I won’t mention anything beyond what I’ve already stated or alluded to above. Let’s just say that the journey taken in this novel was more intense than I expected it to be, and veered off into directions I wouldn’t have expected it to. New characters are introduced, and many of them were every bit as intriguing to me, in their own ways, as Jane and Katherine. The ultimate payoff I expected when I began reading didn’t materialize in quite the way I thought it would, but it was just as compelling to read… if not more so.

The ending of Deathless Divide leaves open the possibility of a third book in the series, something I hope will come to fruition. While I’m completely satisfied with the way the story ended, there is clearly more to be told in this story—and I, for one, can’t wait to find out what happens next. If there is a next. (Please, let there be a next… I want to know more!)

Highly recommended for readers who enjoy reading a mixture of young adult historical fiction with a big slice of horror (courtesy of a zombie apocalypse). With strong characters who face seemingly insurmountable odds at every turn (from both the living and the dead), this book will leave you on the edge of your seat in breathless anticipation—and dread—of what will happen next.

Click here to read an exclusive excerpt of Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland.

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Indie Bound

I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Balzar+Bray via Edelweiss.

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Author: Justina Ireland Title: Deathless Divide Series: Dread Nation #2 Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Horror Publication Date: February 4, 2020 by Balzer+Bray Rating: 5 stars

Books in this series:

About the Book

The sequel to Dread Nation is a journey of revenge and salvation across a divided America.

After the fall of Summerland, Jane McKeene hoped her life would get simpler: Get out of town, stay alive, and head west to California to find her mother.

But nothing is easy when you’re a girl trained in putting down the restless dead, and a devastating loss on the road to a protected village called Nicodermus has Jane questioning everything she thought she knew about surviving in 1880’s America.

What’s more, this safe haven is not what it appears – as Jane discovers when she sees familiar faces from Summerland amid this new society. Caught between mysteries and lies, the undead, and her own inner demons, Jane soon finds herself on a dark path of blood and violence that threatens to consume her.

But she won’t be in it alone.

Katherine Deveraux never expected to be allied with Jane McKeene. But after the hell she has endured, she knows friends are hard to come by – and that Jane needs her, too, whether Jane wants to admit it or not.

Watching Jane’s back, however, is more than she bargained for, and when they both reach a breaking point, it’s up to Katherine to keep hope alive – even as she begins to fear that there is no happily-ever-after for girls like her.

About the Author

JUSTINA IRELAND is the author of Dread Nation, Deathless Divide, Vengeance Bound, Promise of Shadows, and the Star Wars novel Lando’s Luck. She enjoys dark chocolate and dark humor and is not too proud to admit that she’s still afraid of the dark. She lives with her husband, kid, and dog in Pennsylvania. You can visit her online at http://www.justinaireland.com.

Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland #Review @justinaireland @BalzerandBray The survivalist "utopia" of Summerland fell to a horde. Jane McKeene and Katherine Deveraux, along with six other survivors, escaped the death and destruction with one immediate goal: to get somewhere safe.

#5 Stars #ARC #Balzer + Bray #Dread Nation series #Highly Recommended #Historical Fiction #Horror #Justina Ireland #Young Adult #Zombie Apocalypse

[taylorfennersbookishworld]

The Saturday Review is back! I know, I need to keep up better with this but my reviews keep piling up instead. What have you been reading lately bookdragons? These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling Publisher: Razorbill Release Date: May 28, 2019 Genre: Young adult, Paranormal, Witches, LGBTQ+ Blurb Hannah's a witch, but not the kind you're thinking of. She's the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she's ever caught using it in front of a Reg (read: non-witch), she could lose it. For good. So, Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly by Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans. But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah's concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire. Evidence of dark magic begins to appear all over Salem, and Hannah's sure it's the work of a deadly Blood Witch. The issue is, her coven is less than convinced, forcing Hannah to team up with the last person she wants to see: Veronica.While the pair attempt to smoke out the Blood Witch at a house party, Hannah meets Morgan, a cute new ballerina in town. But trying to date amid a supernatural crisis is easier said than done, and Hannah will have to test the limits of her power if she's going to save her coven and get the girl, especially when the attacks on Salem's witches become deadlier by the day. Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I really like the tarot card style theme of the cover. It looks like you placed objects on a purple table cloth and turned it into a book cover. I really like the simplicity. Summary/Tagline: n/a Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 One of the things that drew me to this book was the LGBTQ+ rep during Pride month and I think the author executed it perfectly. The emphasis of the story isn't on the main character being a lesbian, just that she's a witch who also happens to be a lesbian. Hannah's struggles with her feelings for her ex-girlfriend and her crush on the new girl are relatable to all readers. Overall, the characters are all well developed with distinct personalities. Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I felt like I had stepped onto the streets of Salem while reading this book. It's always been my dream to visit there during the fall and this book really encompassed the small, eclectic town vibe I get from looking at brochures and photos. Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Again, the theme of this story is not on the character finding out she's a lesbian, its about witches and family pressure, moving on from your exes and starting something new with someone new all while dealing with a witch hunter bent on the deaths of the local witch population. I thought the story was well balanced overall, but I did have to take a star away because I figured out who the witch hunter was about halfway through the book.  Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.75 of 5 Stars! My Rating: 🌟🌟 🌟🌟🌟 4.75 of 5 Stars! Like A Love Story by Abdi Nazemian Published by: Balzar + Bray On: June 4, 2019 Genre: Young Adult, "Historical Fiction," Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance Blurb: It's 1989 in New York City, and for three teens, the world is changing.Reza is an Iranian boy who has just moved to the city with his mother to live with his stepfather and stepbrother. He's terrified that someone will guess the truth he can barely acknowledge about himself. Reza knows he's gay, but all he knows of gay life are the media's images of men dying of AIDS.Judy is an aspiring fashion designer who worships her uncle Stephen, a gay man with AIDS who devotes his time to activism as a member of ACT UP. Judy has never imagined finding romance...until she falls for Reza and they start dating.Art is Judy's best friend, their school's only out and proud teen. He'll never be who his conservative parents want him to be, so he rebels by documenting the AIDS crisis through his photographs.As Reza and Art grow closer, Reza struggles to find a way out of his deception that won't break Judy's heart--and destroy the most meaningful friendship he's ever known. Review: Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 The cover is the initial thing that drew me to this book. It's gorgeous, it's colorful, and it's the kind of cover that if you saw it on a shelf at the bookstore you'd stop and take a closer look. Summary/Tagline: N/A Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Do I think each of the three main characters are well-developed, unique voices, and that their struggles were clearly displayed on the page? Yes, yes I do. Unfortunately I just couldn't connect with any of them. Reza was probably the most likable of the three, but his paranoia about getting AIDS just because he had thoughts about other boys was a little melodramatic for me to read. I know that perhaps during the time period people thought they could get the disease from the smallest thing but I just found the paranoia annoying. Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Again, the worldbuilding is well conveyed. You feel as if you have stepped back into the 1980s. Unfortunately for me there were just so many references that I couldn't understand being a 90s baby that I couldn't enjoy the setting and worldbuilding more. Story: 🌟🌟 I could rate this book higher, but I just couldn't connect with any of it. I went in wanting to get a YA take on the AIDS craze of the 1980s and while it did go into the fears each character had or the connection to people that had the disease, I could have done entirely without the romance between Reza and Art. This book will give you the feels and will tear at your heart, but if you weren't a teenager+ in the 80s you'll miss a lot of the references. Overall: 🌟🌟🌟 3.75 of 5 Stars! My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟 3.75 of 5 Stars! Bird Box  by Josh Malerman Published by: Ecco On: March 12, 2019 Genre: Fiction, Horror, Thriller, Apocalyptic, Post-Apocalyptic Blurb: Now a Netflix film starring Sandra Bullock, Sarah Paulson, Rosa Salazar and John Malkovich!Written with the narrative tension of The Road and the exquisite terror of classic Stephen King, Bird Box is a propulsive, edge-of-your-seat horror thriller, set in an apocalyptic near-future world—a masterpiece of suspense from the brilliantly imaginative Josh Malerman.Something is out there . . . Something terrifying that must not be seen. One glimpse and a person is driven to deadly violence. No one knows what it is or where it came from.Five years after it began, a handful of scattered survivors remain, including Malorie and her two young children. Living in an abandoned house near the river, she has dreamed of fleeing to a place where they might be safe. Now, that the boy and girl are four, it is time to go. But the journey ahead will be terrifying: twenty miles downriver in a rowboat—blindfolded—with nothing to rely on but her wits and the children’s trained ears. One wrong choice and they will die. And something is following them. But is it man, animal, or monster?Engulfed in darkness, surrounded by sounds both familiar and frightening, Malorie embarks on a harrowing odyssey—a trip that takes her into an unseen world and back into the past, to the companions who once saved her. Under the guidance of the stalwart Tom, a motely group of strangers banded together against the unseen terror, creating order from the chaos. But when supplies ran low, they were forced to venture outside—and confront the ultimate question: in a world gone mad, who can really be trusted?Interweaving past and present, Josh Malerman’s breathtaking debut is a horrific and gripping snapshot of a world unraveled that will have you racing to the final page. Review: Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Yes, I had to have the media tie-in edition of Bird Box. I'm one of those people. Don't judge me. 🤣 Summary/Tagline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 “Something is out there..."  - I like it! It definitely gives you an eerie vibe of what's inside. Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 As a main character, Mallorie is definitely a survivor who has become strong because she had no other choice. But she lacks heart. She's so cold toward "Boy" and "Girl" - especially Girl - that you feel sorry for the children. The rest of the characters are a diverse cast of characters who have such differing personalities that you know they would have never crossed path if not for their need for survival.  Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Imagine a world in which sight in the outside world can drive you mad. Where survivors will hide behind covered windows and blindfolds. Where those driven crazy do terrible things to themselves and to others. It's this terrifying world that Malerman brings you in Bird Box. It's frightening, it's unexplainable, it's a living nightmare. Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 This book is as good as it is frightening. There's a scene when Tom goes looking for supplies and seeing eye dogs where he comes across a dead person who gauged their own eye out and plucked it into a bowl that is grotesquely but fantastically described that really got to me. And even though I saw the movie first, this book still took turns that gave me chills.  Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.6 of 5 Stars! My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.6 of 5 Stars! Paranoid by Lisa Jackson Published by: Kensington On: June 25, 2019 Genre: Fiction, Thriller Blurb: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson comes a new novel of nerve-jangling suspense as a woman haunted by guilt realizes that nothing can be trusted—not even her own memory …There are people in Edgewater, Oregon, who think that twenty years ago, Rachel Gaston got away with murder.Rachel still has no idea how a foolish teenaged game turned deadly—or who replaced her soft pellet air gun with a real weapon. When a figure leapt out at her from the darkness, she fired without thinking. Too late, she recognized her half-brother, Luke, and saw blood blooming around his chest.Despite counseling, Rachel’s horrifying dreams about that night continue. Her anxiety contributed to her divorce from Detective Cade Ryder, though he blames himself too. But as Rachel’s high school reunion nears, she feels her imagination playing tricks, convincing her that objects in her house have moved. That there’s a hint of unfamiliar cologne in the air. That someone is tailing her car. Watching her home.She’s right to be scared. And as connections surface between a new string of murders and Luke’s death, Rachel realizes there’s no escaping the past, and the truth may be darker than her worst fears … Review: Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 This cover is dark, and somewhat simplistic. A decaying set of stairs, faded typography of the title, and an overall creepy vibe. Summary/Tagline: n/a  Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Rachel is a character haunted by a past event that has forever changed her life, her ex-husband Cade is a detective who hates himself for giving into the affair that torpedoed his marriage to Rachel. On top of that, Cade's father is married to one of Rachel's high school friends, a girl whose son is the child of Rachel's late half-brother who died all those years ago. Oh what a tangled web we weave. Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 The beginning of this book reminded me of the setting of Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie's The Rules. I really enjoyed that book so I was hooked on the beginning of this book. Then we move forward twenty years and Rachel is still living in the same small Oregon town. You definitely get the small town feel and the small town mindset, gossip and grudges. Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 I liked this book, but after reading so many of Lisa Jackson's books you start to realize they all have similar themes; especially when it comes to dark family secrets and bombshell revelations.  Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 4 of 5 Stars! My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 4 of 5 Stars! Finale by Stephanie Garber Published by: Flatiron Books On: May 7, 2019 Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy Blurb: A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for.It’s been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn’t really exist.With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she’s going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time—only those who will win, and those who will lose everything.Welcome, welcome to Finale. All games must come to an end… Review: Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 All of the covers of the books in this trilogy are eye-catching. This one and Legendary are definitely tied for my favorites. Summary/Tagline: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 "A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for." - Such a perfect way to sum up this book. Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5 I really think Scarlet and Tella grow so much in this final book and I liked having chapters in both their perspectives. Julian was charming as always and I loved seeing more of Jacks (I only wish he would have his own spin off). The only character I wanted more of was Legend. It feels like we mostly encounter him in Tella's dreams. Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 As always, this book has fantastical worldbuilding where the strange and impossible become possible realities on the page. I love the clothing, the locations, and the Fates.  Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I loved Legendary, liked Caraval, but Finale is my favorite of the three. It was a great way for the trilogy to end, the only thing I was missing was the fantastical Caraval games played out in the previous two books.  Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.9 of 5 Stars! My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.9 of 5 Stars! Making Up by Helena Hunting Published by: St. Martin's Press On: July 16, 2019 Genre: Contemporary, Romance Blurb: A new standalone, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy by New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting.Cosy Felton is great at her job—she knows just how to handle the awkwardness that comes with working at an adult toy store. So when the hottest guy she’s ever seen walks into the shop looking completely overwhelmed, she’s more than happy to turn on the charm and help him purchase all of the items on his list.Griffin Mills is using his business trip in Las Vegas as a chance to escape the broken pieces of his life in New York City. The last thing he wants is to be put in charge of buying gag gifts for his friend’s bachelor party. Despite being totally out of his element, and mortified by the whole experience, Griffin is pleasantly surprised when he finds himself attracted to the sales girl that helped him.As skeptical as Cosy may be of Griffin’s motivations, there’s something about him that intrigues her. But sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas and when real life gets in the way, all bets are off. Filled with hilariously awkward situations and enough sexual chemistry to power Sin City, Making Up is the next standalone in the Shacking Up world. Review: Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Ah yes, give me all the sexy man candy!! 😍😍😍 Summary/Tagline: n/a Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 I really loved Cosy and Griffin. Griffin definitely fits into the sexy, mogul, billionaire trope and Cosy is this cool, sassy girl who is used to holding everything together. Together the pages scorch with their chemistry. And I also loved Cosy's sister! Is there any chance she will get her own book or novella someday? She so deserves to find love! Worldbuilding: 🌟🌟🌟.5 The clearest image we get in this book is of the adult store Cosy works in when she and Griffin initially meet. The rest of the book doesn't stand out too much with the fancy set-ups Griffin puts together for Cosy, the diner that Cosy loves, the Grand Canyon, and Cosy's apartment being all pretty standard. Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 This book is so funny and sexy I couldn't get enough of it! Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.4 of 5 Stars! My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.4 of 5 Stars!

http://taylorfenner.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-saturday-review-31-august-2019.html

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[meganwhalenturner]

And while we are admiring our friends’ beautiful books . . .

Cinda’s Children of Ragnorak is coming out in November, too.

#cinda williams chima #children of ragnarok #balzar and bray

[thelifeofmeabookworm]

Onyx & Ivory by Mindee Arnett 

Hardcover edition - 500 pages

Publishers - Balzar + Bray 

Rating - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Purchase Links - book depository   Amazon UK 

Synopsis

They call her Traitor Kate. It’s a title Kate Brighton inherited from her father after he tried to assassinate the high king years ago. Now Kate lives as an outcast, clinging to the fringes of society as a member of the Relay, the imperial courier service. Only those most skilled in riding and bow hunting ride for the Relay; and only the fastest survive, for when dark falls, the nightdrakes—deadly flightless dragons—come out to hunt. Fortunately, Kate has a secret edge: she is a wilder, born with magic that allows her to influence the minds of animals. But it’s this magic that she needs to keep hidden, as being a wilder is forbidden, punishable by death or exile. And it’s this magic that leads her to a caravan massacred by nightdrakes in broad daylight—the only survivor her childhood friend, her first love, the boy she swore to forget, the boy who broke her heart. The high king’s second son, Corwin Tormane, never asked to lead. Even as he waits for the uror—the once-in-a-generation ritual to decide which of the king’s children will succeed him—he knows it’s always been his brother who will assume the throne. And that’s fine by him. He’d rather spend his days away from the palace, away from the sight of his father, broken with sickness from the attempt on his life. But the peacekeeping tour Corwin is on has given him too much time to reflect upon the night he saved his father’s life—the night he condemned the would-be killer to death and lost the girl he loved. Which is why he takes it on himself to investigate rumors of unrest in one of the remote city-states, only for his caravan to be attacked—and for him to be saved by Kate. With their paths once more entangled, Kate and Corwin have to put the past behind them. The threat of drakes who attack in the daylight is only the beginning of a darker menace stirring in the kingdom—one whose origins have dire implications for Kate’s father’s attack upon the king and will thrust them into the middle of a brewing civil war in the kingdom of Rime.

REVIEW

Onyx and Ivory was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and if you've seen my reading of late you'll know I'm loving YA fantasy right now, half of my favourite books of the year are YA fantasy. So when I finally purchased this I sat down right away eager to devour it, and boy did I. This one did not disappoint, I was completely immersed from start to finish by everything the world building, the characters, the story, the magic system, the writing, it just had everything I look for in a YA fantasy. The story follows Kate known to most as Tratior Kate after her father tried to assassinate the high king of Rime. After her father is executed for his crime Kate is cast out of Rime and decides to becomes a relay rider. Only the fastest and most skilled riders survive as when night falls deadly flightless dragons come out to hunt and kill humans, but Kate has a secret edge, born a wilder a person who has forbidden magic she can communicate and control the minds of animals. On one of her relay journeys Kate stumbles on a group who have been attacked and killed during the day by a new threat daydrakes, one of the survivors just happens to be prince Corwin her first love and the boy who broke her heart after he condemned her father to death. Honestly this book was just such a thrilling ride, the world building was so immersive, the fight scenes so vivid, the magic system so compelling and the relationships/friendships were just so beautiful. All the characters in this add a certain dash of excitement to this book too, Bonner was a total sweetheart, Signe And Dal fierce and loyal friends, and Raith a master of magic who you don't want to cross. And that ending..... as I said what a ride, had me completely on the edge of my seat barely able to contain my excitement. Definitely a high contender for my favourite book of the year, this is YA fantasy at its best give it a read you honestly won't be disappointed!

About The Author

YA Author of THE NIGHTMARE AFFAIR, a contemporary fantasy coming March 5, 2013 from Tor Teen (Macmillan) and AVALON, a YA sci-fi thriller coming Winter 2014 from Balzer+Bray (HarperCollins). Represented by the fabulous Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary. Addicted to jumping horses and telling tales of magic, the macabre, and outer space.

#onyxandivory #mindeearnett #harper360 #balzer + bray #review #bookworm

[readingwithwrin]

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas | Book Review

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas | Book Review

Title: On The Come Up Author: Angie Thomas Publisher: Balzar & Bray Published Date: February 5th, 2019 Genre: Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, YA Source: Owned Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Goodreads Summary: Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of her neighborhood one day. As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit…

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#5 stars #angie thomas #balzar and bray #book review #contemporary #on the come up #realistic fiction #young adult

[booksarethenewblack11]

Review: A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

Review: A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

Title: A Song of Wraiths & Ruin

Author: Roseanne A. Brown

Publisher: Balzar + Bray

Published: June 2, 2020

Pages: 480

Format: Hardcover- my copy (finally, yay!!)

Right from the start I was really into this story. It is told in two POV’s- Malik and Karina. I really had no idea how this was going to turn out. Malik is trying to get into the city with his sisters to make a better…

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#amreading #A Song of Wraiths and Ruin #blogger #book addict #Book blog #book blogger #book bloggers #book love #book lover #Book Review #book reviewer #Book Talk #book worm #bookaholic #bookish #bookish blog #debut #Fantasy #review #reviewer #young adult

[thebookwars]

If you are a book lover of tremendous proportions, you follow book news. You have some idea of what book deals have been announced, which authors have signed on with new agents, what stories are cooking. If you are a book lover, you take your reading and the finite time you have in which to do said reading very seriously. You plan ahead, mark down release dates, pre-order books. To help you out, below is a list of upcoming 2018 books that are on my list. You may find that you need them to be on yours too.

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland Comes out April3rd, 2018 from Balzar and Bray.

#PrettyBoy Must Die by Kimberley Reid Comes out February 13th, 2018 from Tor Teen

The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson  Comes out March March 27th, Arthur A. Levine Books.

Not the Girls You Are Looking For by Aminah Mae Safi June 19th, Feiwel and Friends

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani March 6th, Dial Books

Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring by Angela Cervantes Sometime in 2018 from Scholastic

Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callender March 2017 from Scholastic

Escape from Aleppo by N. H. Senzai January 2nd, Simon & Schuster

A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena February 27th, FSG

Love, Hate, and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed January 16th, Soho Teen

Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabaaz and Renee Watson January 18th, FSG

Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword by Henry Lien April 3rd, Henry Holt

My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma May 15th, Crown BFYR

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton February 6th, Disney Hyperion

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang February 13th, First Second

From Twinkle with Love by Sandhya Menon June 5th, Simon Pulse

  2018 Books You Need On Your TBR Lists: Part 1 If you are a book lover of tremendous proportions, you follow book news. You have some idea of what book deals have been announced, which authors have signed on with new agents, what stories are cooking.

#2018 kidlit releases #aminah mae safi #angela cervantes #dhonielle clayton #henry lien #ilyasah shabaaz #Jen Wang #Justina Ireland #kheryn callender #kimberley reid #n h sensai #nisha sharma #Renee Watson #samira ahmed #sandhya menon #tanaz bhathena #varian johnson #veera hiranandani

[readingwithwrin]

Blogmas Day 27 | Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepherd | Book Review

Blogmas Day 27 | Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepherd | Book Review

Title: Her Dark Curiosity Author: Megan Shepard Publisher: Balzar + Bray Published Date: January 28th, 2014 Genre: Historical Fiction, Retelling, Mystery, YA Source: Library Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ Goodreads Summary: To defeat the darkness, she must first embrace it.Months have passed since Juliet Moreau returned to civilization after escaping her father’s island—and the secrets she left behind.…

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#4 stars #book review #her dark curiosity #historical fiction #megan shepherd #mystery #retelling #the madmans daughter #YA

[taylorfennersbookishworld]

Hey Bookdragons! Today I'm helping Evelyn Skye reveal the cover of the second book in her Circle of Shadows series, CLOAK OF NIGHT! Title: Cloak of Night Author: Evelyn Skye Genre: YA Fantasy Release Date: Feb. 11, 2020 by Balzar & Bray Add to Goodreads | Amazon 

http://taylorfenner.blogspot.com/2019/06/cover-reveal-cloak-of-night-by-evelyn.html

#SEO #Local SEO training http://taylorfenner.blogspot.com/2019/06/cover-reveal-cloak-of-night-by-evel

[moonlightreading]

Stacking the Shelves (156)

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and Reading Reality. It’s all about sharing the books we’ve picked up for the week, whether they are bought, borrowed, gifted, galleys, physical or virtual. Share your shelves and remember to visit Tynga’s Reviews where it all started to find more great books! For Review Thanks to Balzar + Bray on Edelweiss for approving my request…

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[moonlightreading]

Waiting on Dread Nation

Waiting on Dread Nation

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking The Spine. It’s all about spotlighting upcoming releases we’re eagerly anticipating. Share your books and remember to visit Breaking The Spine for more great books! This week I’m eagerly waiting on: Dread Nation by Justina Ireland Expected publication:  3rd April 2018 Publisher: Balzar + Bray From Goodreads: Jane McKeene was born two days…

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