White Stag by Kara Barbieri Blog Tour and Review

Title: White Stag Series: Permafrost #1 Written by: Kara Barbieri Published: January 8, 2019 by Wednesday Books (Macmillan) (Buy Links / Goodreads) Synopsis: The first book in a brutally stunning series where a young girl finds herself becoming more monster than human and must uncover dangerous truths about who she is and the place that has become her home.  As the last child in a family of daughters, seventeen-year-old Janneke was raised to be the male heir. While her sisters were becoming wives and mothers, she was taught to hunt, track, and fight. On the day her village was burned to the ground, Janneke—as the only survivor—was taken captive by the malicious Lydian and eventually sent to work for his nephew Soren.  Janneke’s survival in the court of merciless monsters has come at the cost of her connection to the human world. And when the Goblin King’s death ignites an ancient hunt for the next king, Soren senses an opportunity for her to finally fully accept the ways of the brutal Permafrost. But every action he takes to bring her deeper into his world only shows him that a little humanity isn’t bad—especially when it comes to those you care about.  Through every battle they survive, Janneke’s loyalty to Soren deepens. After dangerous truths are revealed, Janneke must choose between holding on or letting go of her last connections to a world she no longer belongs to. She must make the right choice to save the only thing keeping both worlds from crumbling.

I love YA fantasy and I read a lot of it. So when I heard about White Stag it sounded like an interesting book and I was excited to read it. And while there were some good things about this book, I didn’t quite enjoy it in the way I was hoping.

One thing that I did really like about this book was the world. I’m not a huge fan about books with goblins, they are often too similar to fae for me, and I don’t always find them very interesting. But here, the author did a great job in creating goblins that were the perfect combination of dark, brutal, and compelling. There is a history and mythology to the world, complete with a frost-filled land of magic and a human world destroyed by the goblins. It pulled me in and captured my interested for what was today.

Unfortunately, what was to come was not very much. My biggest problem however is with the plot and pacing. Honestly, this felt like two different books. The first half of the book is a character-driven fantasy about a person trying to figure out their place and where they belong despite being torn between to two worlds who distrust here. While an interesting concept, that’s not often the kind of plot that I enjoy. Add to that romantic tension that I wanted nothing to do with and you have a book I think a lot of people will like, but I don’t. But then the last third of the book completely changed course and became more of an adventure. This was the part of the plot I enjoyed with a mission, and a goal, and daring escapes. But in terms of a cohesion, there really wasn’t much. It felt like two different stories, just with the same characters. Personally, I wish the plot lines from the second half were more detailed and took up the whole book. But I know this was originally written for Wattpad and so perhaps it is meant to be more serialized, which would explain this. But I just had to struggle through the exposition.

As far as the characters go, they were kind of hit or miss for me. One of the characters I did like was the main character of Janneke. She had some real strong Sansa Stark vibes as she is help captive in a court she doesn’t want to be in only to be abused by the the king. She was an easy character to empathize with and when she snapped and fought back you were completely on her side. But she was the only character whose side I was on. The main villain of the story was ruthless and terrible, the kind of character who you completely detest. But then there was Soren, who I know I was supposed to like but I didn’t. Even her kinder moments I felt myself not being very impressed. He just felt like a cliche fantasy live interest and I wasn’t interested.

Which about sums up my feelings on the romance in general. I am totally romancephobic and one of my biggest frustrations is when romance is shoehorned into the story without giving it enough build up. This book did exactly that. I knew going in that there was going to be this romance so it wasn’t a completely surprise but I still wasn’t shipping it at all. It just felt so sudden and like a complete flip for the character. I like a hate to love romance but it actually has to show me that there is mutual affection between the characters and not just a few moments where they talk casually and then suddenly they are deeply in love. Maybe people who are bigger fans of romance will enjoy this one but for me, it was a miss.

There were some good aspects of this book but it did not blow me away. It’s not the next great YA fantasy for me, just another okay read that wasn’t for me.

I give White Stag by Kara Barbieri 7 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow. I would recommend this book to fans of romance heavy fantasy like A Court of Thorns and Roses that is more character-driven. It wasn't my type of read but I feel like in the right hands this is going be a very loved book.

About the Author:

Kara Barbieri is a writer living in the tiny town of Hayward, Wisconsin. An avid fantasy fan, she began writing White Stag at eighteen and posting it to Wattpad soon after under the name of ‘Pandean’. When she’s not writing, you can find her marathoning Buffy the Vampire Slayer, reviving gothic fashion, and jamming to synthpop.


Have you read White Stag? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Waiting on Wednesday: Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: Bloodwitch Series: The Witchlands #3 Written by: Susan Dennard Published: February 12, 2019 by Tor Books (Macmillan) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Fans of Susan Dennard's New York Times bestselling Witchlands series have fallen in love with the Bloodwitch Aeduan. And now, finally, comes his story. High in a snowy mountain range, a monastery that holds more than just faith clings to the side of a cliff. Below, thwarted by a lake, a bloodthirsty horde of raiders await the coming of winter and the frozen path to destroy the sanctuary and its secrets. The Bloodwitch Aeduan has teamed up with the Threadwitch Iseult and the magical girl Owl to stop the destruction. But to do so, he must confront his own father, and his past.

 
Why I'm Waiting:

I loved the first three books in The Witchlands series and I am super excited for the next book to come out. I loved Susan's debut series and honestly this one is so much better. It is one of those series that has me thinking so much about every little thing that I have all these crazy theories about what will happen next. I know there will be some surprises in this book and I can't wait to find out what they are.

I also really love these characters. Susan is great with developing complex characters that you connect with and I have totally connected with all these characters. I am anxious to find out what happens to Isuelt, Safi, Merik, and of course Aeduan who I am hoping we will find more about in this book. SO PUMPED! Also, ships. The ships.

I am very excited to read this book. I can't wait to pick up a copy when it comes out next month. I should probably do a reread of the series because it's been awhile but I probably won't have time. But either way, I cannot wait to read this book!

What about you? What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Are you waiting on Bloodwitch along with me? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Books of the First Half of 2019

A weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

1.) The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi - January 15th by Wednesday Books
This is one of the Cassiest books to ever exist. I've been wanting books set in gilded age Paris for years and an author I love writing one that is also a fantasy heist novel. GIMME!

2.) King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo - January 29th by Imprint
I am a huge fan of Leigh Bardugo and the Grishaverse. But seriously, a duology about Nikolai. I have been wanting to read this since the second I learned it was coming out.

3.) Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard - February 12th by Tor
The Witchland series is really fantastic and I am super excited for the next book in the series. I shuld probably do a reread because it's been awhile and I know Susan is going t have some big surprises for us.

4.) Spectacle by Jodi Lynn Zdrok - February 12th by Tor
ANOTHER BOOK ABOUT GILDED AGE PARIS! And this one is a YA murder mystery. I mean come on! Someone has been reading my dream journal.

5.) Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte - February 26th by Putnam
A YA fantasy with strong political intrigue. I am always on board for that kind of book and this one sounds really good.

6.) Children of Virtue of Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi - March 5th by Henry Holt and Co
Children of Blood and Bone was one of my favorite books of last year and I am super excited for the sequel. I am super excited to find out what happens next.

7.) The Everlasting Rose by Dhonielle Clayton - March 5th by Freeform
The Belles totally blew me away and that ending was such a surprise. I am super pumped for the next book in the series and I am sure there are more surprises in store.

8.) The Devouring Gray by Christine Lynn Herman - April 2nd
This book is a fantasy thriller ala Stranger Things set in Upstate New York which is where I grew up. I am super excited for this one because of that and I know it's going to be dark and full of mystery.

9.) Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan - April 2nd by Wednesday Books
I love a YA fantasy inspired by Russian culture and folklore and that is what this book is. I am also assuming that it is going to be a dark fantasy and I am a fan of that.

10.) The Raven's Tale by Cat Winters - April 16th by Amulet Books
Cat WInters is writing a book inspired by Edgar Allen Poe and I am already on my way to the bookstore to buy a copy. No but seriously, this book sounds amazing.

11.) Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff - May 7th by Knopf Books for Young Readers
I love me some Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. Together or apart they are both great writers and write amazing science fiction novels. I am super pumped for their next series together.

12.) We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal - May 14th by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
I have been wanted to read this book for ages. I remember when Hafsah was writing it. I saw her talking about it on her Twitter and I am so happy that it is finally coming out!

There you have it, my most anticipated books for the first half of this year. Some really amazing books, including debuts, sequels, and new series from favorite authors. It's going to be a great year for books. What books made your list? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Review: Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rene Rossner

Title: Sisters of the Winter Wood Written by: Rene Rossner Published: September 2018 by Redhook (Hachette Books) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Raised in a small village surrounded by vast forests, Liba and Laya have lived a peaceful sheltered life - even if they've heard of troubling times for Jews elsewhere. When their parents travel to visit their dying grandfather, the sisters are left behind in their home in the woods.  But before they leave, Liba discovers the secret that their Tati can transform into a bear, and their Mami into a swan. Perhaps, Liba realizes, the old fairy tales are true. She must guard this secret carefully, even from her beloved sister.  Soon a troupe of mysterious men appear in town and Laya falls under their spell-despite their mother's warning to be wary of strangers. And these are not the only dangers lurking in the woods...  The sisters will need each other if they are to become the women they need to be - and save their people from the dark forces that draw closer.

I love new YA fantasies, unique retellings, and books about sisters so this one was right in my wheelhouse. And while this was an interesting read that finished really strong, I didn’t love it as much as I had hoped.

One thing I did love about this book was the world and setting. One of my favorite things is finding a modern book that reads like a classic fairy tale and that is exactly what this book was. It had so many elements that I have come to know and love with fairy tales including a dark wood full of secrets, magical transformations, and dubious characters. I particularly loved the setting. A dark and mysterious woods makes for such a great location for a story like this. The secrets lurking in the woods made for an atmospheric read. And the magic added to all of that. What I liked about the magic was that despite the fact that it was subtle, there clear rules and seeing the magic in action interested me. All of this worked together to craft an engaging setting for the book.

The other interesting thing about the setting for this book was the historical elements. It wasn’t really historical fiction but it did a great job of dealing with historical context and still making it feel topical. This is a book about Jewish culture and it explored what that was like from a historical standpoint. Jews were often distrusted by non-Jews and this book didn’t shy away from that. It showed some of the discrimination that Jewish people felt in Medieval times. But it also explored The Jewish religion on the whole. I can’t speak to the representation but I found it interesting to learn more about Judaism and I appreciated that aspect of this book.

The plot and pacing however, left me wanting more. It’s not that the plot was bad. In fact it did really finish strong by building to a really exciting conclusion. The thing is that the first half of this book took me a week to read and the second half took me a day. It just took so long for this book to capture my interest. I think perhaps that is because in the first half there was so much more of a focus on the romance. And you all probably know I am not typically a fan of romances. With this one I felt like one of them was a really good slowburn with a solid foundation and the other one was a ridiculous instalove that creeped me out. Luckily in the end everything shook out the way I was hoping but as the romance too center stage I felt like it was taking away from the part of the story I was actually enjoying including the relationship with the sisters.

I know this a retelling of the epic poem The Goblin Market, which I am not familiar with, and it made me curious about the poem which I think is the mark of a good retelling. But to me it had more Snow White and Rose Red vibes to it. That was one of my favorite fairy tales when I was a kid and I felt like from that standpoint I enjoyed the retelling. The reason I say that is because I felt like it had a good spin on the idea of the magical transformation and finding out that a character is royalty. It made for a good feminist story in that respect. But the best part of the retelling that I enjoyed was the relationship between the sisters. As an older sister myself I love reading books about sisters who are very different but still care so much about one another. It was a great aspect of the story added a lot of heart to the book I think.

This was definitely a good read with an atmospheric world that gave it a modern fairy tale vibes, a subtle historical setting, a retelling that had me interested in the original, and a good sisterly relationship. I just wish that it was a little shorter and the romance in the beginning didn’t take so much of the focus.

I give Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rene Rossner 8 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow. I would recommend this book to fans of modern fairy tales like Uprooted and The Bear and the Nightingale. It’s a good atmospheric read for people who look those book.

Have you read Sisters of Winter Wood? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Waiting on Wednesday: King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: King of Scars Series: Nikolai Duology #1 Written by: Leigh Bardugo Published: January 29, 2019 by Imprint (Macmillan) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: 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.

 
Why I'm Waiting:

Leigh Bardugo is an autobuy author. I have loved all her books in the world of the Grisha and honestly they have been getting better. I would be super excited about any new Leigh Bardugo book and therefore I am excited about this one.

Plus, IT'S A BOOK ABOUT NIKOLAI. If you didn't love Nikolai in the original series then I don't know who you are and I don't want to be your friend. He was definitely one of the more interesting characters in that series and had great development. I am excited to learn more about him and see what everything is like for him now.

I am also really excited to find out what things are like in  Ravka. There were some vague mentions in Six of Crows but I think there is a lot more going on and I assume plenty of political intrigue. And there are more characters I am excited to check back in with. Nina Zenik has perspectives you guys!

I am very excited to read this book. I might listen to the audio depending on who narrates it but I will definitely be getting a copy. I need to read this book so badly. MORE GRISHAVERSE!!! *flails*

What about you? What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Are you waiting on King of Scars along with me? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Top Ten Tuesday: Fantasy Reads for the Winter

A weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

For me, winter is the perfect time to read high fantasies. I like to escape into a world that is not my own. Plus many of these books have winter themes so they feel even more immersive during the cold weather. This list ended up being basically a "my all-time favorite fantasies" list but oh well.

1.) A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
I mean ice is in the title of this series. Plus I'm sure anyone who has seen Game of Thrones knows that "Winter is Coming." But honestly, this is a great fantasy and the books are so long that it's perfect to read on vacation.

2.) Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
While this series isn't quite so winter heavy there are definitely winter vibes. Plus it's a really good fantasy that I would recommend if you are fan of Game of Thrones.

3.) The Young Elites by Marie Lu
This is one of my all-time fantasies because it is super dark. It's kind of villain origin story but it's fully amazing. If you have not read it and you like dark fantasies or books with magic similar to superpowers you must read it.

4.) Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
The series is finally over so it's a perfect time to marathon the series if you haven't read it yet. I know Sarah is problematic and this series is far from perfect but it's a great fantasy series with crazy twists and surprises.

5.) In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan
EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS! It seriously is so good. I just finished it and it skyrocketed to my favorite of the year because it is inventive, engaging, and hilarious.

6.) A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
I am a huge fan of Victoria Schwab. I have read almost all of her books but I think maybe this series is my favorite. It's definitely an amazing fantasy series. I would also recommend City of Ghosts which is not technically fantasy but does have winter vibes.

7.) Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn is one of my all-time favorite fantasies and is a perfect example of Brandon Sanderson at his finest. If you haevn't read this series change that immediately.

8.) Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
I was late to the game on this series but I am so glad I read it recently. It's amazing and if you haven't read it yet you definitely need to.

9.) The Magicians by Lev Grossman
This is one of those fantasies that is kind of tongue and cheek because it plays with the tropes. It's not the kind of book for everyone but I loved it and think more people should read it.

10.) His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman
Another all-time favorite series that has serious winter vibes. I mean they do take you to the Northern Lights and there are armored bears. Definitely a winter fantasy read.

There you have it. All my favorite fantasies that I recommend reading or rereading this time of year. What books made your list? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

November Wrap Up and December TBR

Read in November:

It's been a really hectic month. I've been travelling a lot for work and then Thanksgiving added to that. When I travel so much it typically means a lot of time for reading but not much time for blogging which was definitely the case. But I have been consistently reading and had another good reading month. I read a total of 11 books this month.  But the bigger accomplishment is that I finished my Goodreads goal a month early!

For challenges, this year I'm low key doing challenges. I set a Goodreads goal of reading 120 books in a year. I am up to 122 books for the year which means, as I said, I finished it a month early! My original goal was 150 but I had to lower it. Finishing early feels really good and hopefully next year I can meet the 150 goal. For the rest of the challenges I only low key set them. I want to read 20 debuts this year and I read 3 this month which brings my total for the year to 15. I won't beat this goal but I did hit the lower goal of 15 a month early. I wanted to read 36 books from Netgalley and Edelweiss and I read 1 this month which means my total is at 17 for the year. I haven't really been reading e-books lately but I did read two this month so I might be able to do better with this next year. I also want to read 20 backlist books. This month I read 3 which brings my total to 24 for the year. I'm hoping to read one more so hopefully I will hit 25 for the year.

The Books

1.) Kingdom of Ash by Laini Taylor Rating: 9 out of 10 [My Review]
2.) The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Sellman Vol. 1: The Crucible 
by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa Rating: 9 out of 10
3.)  Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee Rating: 9.5 out of 10 [My Review]
4.) Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan Rating: 8.5 out of 10 [My Review]
5.) Silent Night 2 by R.L. Stine Rating 5 out of 10 [Podcast Website]
6.) Amber and Dusk by Shawn Serles Rating: 7.5 out of 10 stars [My Review]
7.) Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan Rating: 9 out of 10 [My Review]
8.) In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brenna Rating: 9.5 out of 10 [My Review]
9.) Pulp by Robin Talley Rating: 9 out of 10 stars [My Review]
 10.) Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Rating: 8 out of 10 [My Review]
11.) Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rene Rossner Rating: 8 out of 10 stars [Review to Come]

To Be Read in December: 

And here is hoping that I can continue the strong reading month. I have a ton of books I want to read before the end of the year which is why I am hoping I am able to read as much as possible especially over the holidays. There are some great books coming out in January so I hope I can get these finished.

Books for Review

Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean - Add to Goodreads
I had this book on my list last month but I didn't get the chance. But I started it yesterday and it has already hooked me. I'm travelling for work this week and this will be my airplane read.

The Assassin's Guide to Love and Treason by Virginia Boeckler - Add to Goodreads
Another book I hoped to read last month but I wasn't able to. I considered reading it next but I decided on Empress first.

Realm of Ruins by Hannah West - Add to Goodreads
I loved Kingdom of Ash and Briar so I was super pumped when I heard she was coming out with a sequel a century after the original book. I plan to devour this during Christmas.

The Curses by Lyra Selene - Add to Goodreads
I liked The Graces so when I saw there was a sequel coming out I grabbed it from Netgalley. I'm hoping to start this one pretty soon.

Black Wings Beating by Alex London - Add to Goodreads
I was looking through my ARCs from this year to see which ones I didn't get a chance to read and honestly this is probably the only one. I haven't read any Alex London and I have heard good things.

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand - Add to Goodreads
This book has been on my list for three months now but it is still one I want to read before the end of the year. I'm not sure if it will happen but we shall see.

When We Caught Fire by Anna Godbersen - Add to Goodreads

And another book that has been on my list for months that I want to read before the end of the year. I may see if I like the audio for this one.

New Releases

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson - Add to Goodreads

A Brandon Sanderson book came out and I did not read it immediately! But I did buy a signed copy on Black Friday so I plan to read it as soon as it gets delivered.

Dark Days Deceit by Alison Goodman - Add to Goodreads
I am listening to the audiobook for this one as we speak. I had hoped to finish before the end of the month but it's much longer than I expected. But with my travelling for work I should be done by the end of the week.

Anna and the Apocalypse by Katherine Turner and Barry Waldo - Add to Goodreads
Just in case I am in the mood for a Christmas read, this one is my kind of holiday read and is also a short audiobook which is narrated by Fiona Hardingham.

Backlist Books

Dark Triumph and Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers - Add to Goodreads

The new book in this series is coming out in February so I am taking the opportunity to listen to these audiobooks during my drives to visit my family for Christmas

There you have it. Some of the books I hope to read in December. As always, these are subject to change. I may read all of these or I may only read a few and then read a bunch of different ones. But honestly I think this list I can stick to. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!