Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books You've Read In 2017 So Far

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Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.

Best Books You've Read In 2017 So Far 

Blog Tour: Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza | Quotes | Giveaway

Welcome to our stop on Empress of a Thousand Skies tour for Rhoda Belleza. This tour is hosted by PenguinTeen.

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Empress of a Thousand Skies
Author: Rhoda Belleza
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction
Released: February 7th 2017
Publisher: Razorbill

Empress
Rhee, also known as Crown Princess Rhiannon Ta’an, is the sole surviving heir to a powerful dynasty. She’ll stop at nothing to avenge her family and claim her throne.

Fugitive
Aly has risen above his war refugee origins to find fame as the dashing star of a DroneVision show. But when he’s falsely accused of killing Rhee, he's forced to prove his innocence to save his reputation – and his life.

Madman
With planets on the brink of war, Rhee and Aly are thrown together to confront a ruthless evil that threatens the fate of the entire galaxy.

A saga of vengeance, warfare, and the true meaning of legacy.

Favorite Quotes

There are couple of phrases that one must know the situation to appreciate the context. Empress of a Thousand Skies was quite a story that I highly recommend everyone to check it out. Below are some of my favorite quotes:

"Ma'tan sarili," she told him solemnly. It was an everyday Kalusian greeting, but it meant much more than hello and goodbye. It translated into "highest self," and to say it was a pledge to be the best person you could be. And for Rhee, that meant to be honorable, brave and loyal to his memory, to the man she'd known, to Jullian's father. - page 45

"Your faith in me is heartwarming." - page 115

"Rhee should have died with her family.

This was the only way to say she was sorry." - page 142

"He does not deserve your tears" - page 145

"I will be loyal to you until the day I die" - page 149

"The boy she disliked most in the world could have been the brother she'd never had: both orphans, rigid in their beliefs, born for strife and loss and revenge" - page 164

"Honor, loyalty, and bravery, she repeated. Never mind the questions that came after. Who must she be honorable and loyal to? Who mus she be brave for" - page 190

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Rhoda Belleza was raised in Los Angeles, where she grew up writing X-Filesfanfiction and stuffing her face with avocados. She's a children's editor at a publishing house and writes from a sunny Brooklyn apartment stuffed with far too many bikes and far too many shoes. When she's not writing, Rhoda obsesses over nail art tutorials, watches kung fu movies, and sews together crooked things that pass for clothes. Empress of a Thousand Skies is her debut novel. Follow her on Twitter @rhodabee.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enter for a chance to win one (1) of three (3) signed copies of Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza (ARV: $17.99 each).

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on February 6, 2017 and 12:00 AM on February 20, 2017.  Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about February 22, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

Follow the Tour

Week One:
2/6 – Brittany’s Book Rambles – Guest Post
2/6 – Bibliophile Gathering – Review
2/6 – Seeing Double in Neverland – Mood Board
2/7 – Tales of a Ravenous Reader – Excerpt
2/7 – In Wonderland – Review
2/8 – Across the Words – Character Fan Casting
2/8 – Novel Ink – Review
2/8 – Bookling Critics – Review
2/9 – The Young Folks – Interview
2/9 – Here’s to Happy Endings – Review
2/10 – Butter My Books – Book Look
2/10 – Ex Libris – Review
2/10 – My Friends Are Fiction – Guest Post

Week Two:
2/13 – Stories & Sweeties – Empress Cupcakes
2/13 – What Sarah Read – Guest Post
2/13 – MundieMoms – Review
2/14 – YA Wednesdays – Character Fashion
2/14 – Fiction Fare – Review
2/15 – Once Upon a Twilight – Favorite Quotes
2/15 – The Books Buzz – Review
2/15 – Take Me Away to a Great Read – Review
2/16 – The Bookish Traveler – Empress Trailer
2/16 – Bookworm Everlasting – Review
2/17 – The Forest of Words and Pages – Like/Try/Why
2/17 – The Paige Turner – Interview
2/17 – Fangirlish – Review

Book Review: Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza

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Empress of a Thousand Skies
Author: Rhoda Belleza
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction
Released: February 7th 2017
Review Source: Razorbill

Empress
Rhee, also known as Crown Princess Rhiannon Ta’an, is the sole surviving heir to a powerful dynasty. She’ll stop at nothing to avenge her family and claim her throne.

Fugitive
Aly has risen above his war refugee origins to find fame as the dashing star of a DroneVision show. But when he’s falsely accused of killing Rhee, he's forced to prove his innocence to save his reputation – and his life.

Madman
With planets on the brink of war, Rhee and Aly are thrown together to confront a ruthless evil that threatens the fate of the entire galaxy.

A saga of vengeance, warfare, and the true meaning of legacy.

I absolutely enjoyed reading Empress of a Thousand Skies and love it's cover! Seriously, just look how beautiful the cover is! And the story... Rhonda you have a new fan in me.

The world-building of Empress of a Thousand Skies is incredible, the characters are unique and easy to follow. The story itself is intriguing, but most of all, I loved the twist. If you pay close attention, you will put them together while reading, nevertheless, when the truth is revealed... you'll get so happy and say "I KNEW IT"!

If you're a fan of sci-fi/fantasy, then you know the world building is a major topic. Thankfully, Rhonda made this so easily. It was flawless to read about this world, or should I say galaxies.  Rhee and Aly's history and background will definitely keep you reading, well it surely made me.

Told in two point of views, one is able to follow along with the characters. I try to stay away from multiple POVs because most of the times it is hard to follow the story, but there're very few authors that knows how to make each of their characters stand out. And Rhonda is one of them.

A Princess in search of revenge? Yes, sign me up! Rhee is one with many characteristics and all she wants is revenge for her family. The family that was taken away from her at a very young age. It is understandable for her to be confused, yet full of anger and determination. I liked how she slowly is developing because it makes it more real... real that she is truly broken. She's bewildered, she is curious, but willing to learn the truth. I really liked her and I cannot wait to see her character development.

Overall, there is so much going on that you cannot put this book down. The book is well written and will keep you turning those pages. So if you're a fan of YA science fiction, then you should most definitely pick a copy. I cannot wait for the next installment in this series.

Waiting on Wednesday: Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza

Waiting on Wednesday

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

Empress of a Thousand Skies

Author: Rhoda Belleza

Release Date: February 7th 2017

Publisher: Razorbill

Empress
Rhee, also known as Crown Princess Rhiannon Ta’an, is the sole surviving heir to a powerful dynasty. She’ll stop at nothing to avenge her family and claim her throne.

Fugitive
Aly has risen above his war refugee origins to find fame as the dashing star of a DroneVision show. But when he’s falsely accused of killing Rhee, he's forced to prove his innocence to save his reputation – and his life.

Madman
With planets on the brink of war, Rhee and Aly are thrown together to confront a ruthless evil that threatens the fate of the entire galaxy.

A saga of vengeance, warfare, and the true meaning of legacy.