Check Out Cassandra Clare's Agent: Red Scrolls Art | Giveaway

(Magnus talking to Johnny Rook)

“There was something slightly off about his face: Magnus had heard a rumor that Johnny had hired faeries to permanently enhance his features, but if it was true, Magnus felt Johnny had wasted his time. The man was also known as Rook the Crook, and he was committed to his aesthetic.”

How great is that quote from the book? And look at that art piece! 

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The Red Scrolls of Magic

The Eldest Curses #1

Author: Cassandra Clare | Wesley Chu

Release Date: April 9th 2019

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books 

From #1 New York Times bestseller Cassandra Clare and award-winner Wesley Chu comes the first book in a new series that follows High Warlock Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood as they tour the world after the Mortal War. The Red Scrolls of Magic is a Shadowhunters novel.
All Magnus Bane wanted was a vacation—a lavish trip across Europe with Alec Lightwood, the Shadowhunter who against all odds is finally his boyfriend. But as soon as the pair settles in Paris, an old friend arrives with news about a demon-worshipping cult called the Crimson Hand that is bent on causing chaos around the world. A cult that was apparently founded by Magnus himself. Years ago. As a joke.
Now Magnus and Alec must race across Europe to track down the Crimson Hand and its elusive new leader before the cult can cause any more damage. As if it wasn’t bad enough that their romantic getaway has been sidetracked, demons are now dogging their every step, and it is becoming harder to tell friend from foe. As their quest for answers becomes increasingly dire, Magnus and Alec will have to trust each other more than ever—even if it means revealing the secrets they’ve both been keeping.

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To celebrate the release of The Red Scrolls of Magic and the illustration art, we have a giveaway to offer one of our readers.

Giveaway:

• SIGNED copy of The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare
• US residents only

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Book Review: Autoboyography by Christina Lauren

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Autoboyography
Author: Christina Lauren
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: September 12th 2017
Review Source: Simon & Schuster Books for Young

Fangirl meets Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda in this funny and poignant coming-of-age novel from New York Times bestselling author Christina Lauren about two boys who fall in love in a writing class—one from a progressive family and the other from a conservative religious community.

Three years ago, Tanner Scott’s family relocated from California to Utah, a move that nudged the bisexual teen temporarily back into the closet. Now, with one semester of high school to go, and no obstacles between him and out-of-state college freedom, Tanner plans to coast through his remaining classes and clear out of Utah.

But when his best friend Autumn dares him to take Provo High’s prestigious Seminar—where honor roll students diligently toil to draft a book in a semester—Tanner can’t resist going against his better judgment and having a go, if only to prove to Autumn how silly the whole thing is. Writing a book in four months sounds simple. Four months is an eternity.

It turns out, Tanner is only partly right: four months is a long time. After all, it takes only one second for him to notice Sebastian Brother, the Mormon prodigy who sold his own Seminar novel the year before and who now mentors the class. And it takes less than a month for Tanner to fall completely in love with him.

This book may be the hardest book I’m going to review this year. I was completely enamored by the story and I don’t think my review will ever do it justice and honestly I wholeheartedly believe this is Christina Laurens best work yet. Autoboyography was a book my soul was looking for and didn’t even know until it landed right in my lap. It delicately tackles a relationship that is frowned upon in the eyes of one of the boy’s faith and the personal struggle of accepting and loving oneself as we are. And they do it without demonizing the faith and they made both the boy’s battle true and raw.

Autoboyography is told through Tanner’s perspective. He had moved from California to Utah, he was proudly out to his friends and family as bisexual in California but since he is now living in a town that is primarily Mormon he’s kept his sexuality within the walls of his own home. Not even his best friend Autumn knows. So when she dares Tanner to take a writing class next semester she has no idea what she is about to get Tanner into, nor does Tanner. In walks Sebastian, a mentor for this years writing class and from the very first look Tanner is hooked. He can’t keep his eyes off him and can’t help himself for social media stalking him later. Tanner is crushing hard on Sebastian, the Bishop's son, and we soon find out that the crush isn’t one sided, but with Sebastian’s involvement and faithfulness with the LDS church makes things a bit confusing.

So as you can see Christina Lauren set themselves up with a challenge and executed it perfectly. They gave us all perfect swoony moments they are so perfect at but gave us a raw story that tackles someone’s inner battle of what’s right and wrong. What they feel in their heart is right but everyone around them is telling them it’s wrong. It tackles a religion that sees something as wrong but doesn’t blame or demonize their followers, questions the church as a whole, not necessarily its followers. Not only does Sebastian have challenges he overcomes but Tanner as well. I wish I could adequately express how much this book meant to me but I’m not a writer and unfortunately can’t compute what my brain wants to say to my fingertips. Hands down in my opinion Christina Lauren’s best work to date. This will definitely be a book that I will shove into everyone’s hands and tell them they need to read it. It was a book I didn’t know I was looking for but thank God it found me!

Book Review: Scythe by Neal Shusterman

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Scythe
Scythe #1
Author: Neal Shusterman
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction
Released: November 22 2016
Review Source: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers

In a world where disease has been eliminated, the only way to die is to be randomly killed (“gleaned”) by professional reapers (“scythes”). Citra and Rowan are teenagers who have been selected to be scythe’s apprentices, and—despite wanting nothing to do with the vocation—they must learn the art of killing and come to understand the necessity of what they do.

Only one of them will be chosen as a scythe’s apprentice. And when it becomes clear that the winning apprentice’s first task will be to glean the loser, Citra and Rowan are pitted against one another in a fight for their lives.

In a world where death, illness and aging no longer plagues the human race there has to be a way to control the population. That's where the Scythe's come in. The bringers of death, the controllers of human existence - in a way. When Scythe Faraday decides to train two apprentices he doesn't realize the uproar that will create among the Scythedom, and everyone involved gets thrown into an adventure they're not quite sure they want to be on.

There are many times where I get a book by chance. Mainly that's because my fellow blogger, Leydy, will see a book and tell me "It's a Bri book" and send it my way. So many times this happens and so many times I find a book that I absolutely love. It makes me even wonder if I really know what a Bri book is. Scythe was one of these books. I got it by chance, trusted Leydy enough to say sure I'll read it, and decided to give it a go.

This book. There are so little words to describe just how much I loved it. I want to say it changed my soul - but I'm not sure how. It got into the depths of humanity, reached into the depths of my mind, and shifted my being. Scythe brings to attention the things that most people don't want to think about. Death. It is the main theme of this book. And it makes you realize how precious Death is. It's weird to say it, but seeing a society within Scythe that knows that Death isn't imminent, only if a Scythe declares it so, changes the whole entire way a person lives. If you live knowing that in 20 years you can "turn the corner" and go back to being 20 how would you live? Would you pursue your dreams, or would you just not care about anything.

Citra and Rowan become characters you love, and you have ideals and hopes for them. They are training to be Scythe's - but only one will be able to get the Scythe position, seeing as they're training under Scythe Faraday. You want both of them to become the Scythe so badly. And when the twists and turns of storytelling bring these characters apart it tears you up. You want Citra and Rowan to be with each other. Even if not romantically, just as friends. And then, when you reach the end, you're happy about where they ended up and what happened - even if it did break you up as well.

I got to the end of this book and cried. Cried because it was so good. Cried because I was heartbroken it was over. Cried because I really didn't want to leave this world, this world that makes us realize how precious our lives are even the darkest parts of it. This world will make you realize how special humanity is, how the threat of Death is really what keeps us close to one another, even to the strangers among us. It's why we are humans. This book will leave you with a feeling of hope and desire. Hope for the greater good of life, and desire to go out there and do something with this precious thing we call life.

Nerd Blast: The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid | Trailer | Giveaway

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The Diabolic
Author: S.J. Kincaid
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Science Fiction
Released: November 1st 2016
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

A Diabolic is ruthless. A Diabolic is powerful. A Diabolic has a single task: Kill in order to protect the person you’ve been created for.

Nemesis is a Diabolic, a humanoid teenager created to protect a galactic senator’s daughter, Sidonia. The two have grown up side by side, but are in no way sisters. Nemesis is expected to give her life for Sidonia, and she would do so gladly. She would also take as many lives as necessary to keep Sidonia safe.

When the power-mad Emperor learns Sidonia’s father is participating in a rebellion, he summons Sidonia to the Galactic court. She is to serve as a hostage. Now, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia. She must become her. Nemesis travels to the court disguised as Sidonia—a killing machine masquerading in a world of corrupt politicians and two-faced senators’ children. It’s a nest of vipers with threats on every side, but Nemesis must keep her true abilities a secret or risk everything.

As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns there is something more to her than just deadly force. She finds a humanity truer than what she encounters from most humans. Amidst all the danger, action, and intrigue, her humanity just might be the thing that saves her life—and the empire.

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S.J. Kincaid was born in Alabama, grew up in California, and attended high school in New Hampshire, but it was while living beside a haunted graveyard in Scotland that she realized that she wanted to be a writer. Her debut, Insignia, came out in July of 2012. The second book in the series, Vortex was released in July of 2013. The final book in the trilogy, Catalyst, came out October 28, 2014. Her standalone novel The Diabolic will be released in fall 2016.

Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

- Five Winners will receive a Copy of Diabolic +Swags by S.J. Kincaid.


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Waiting on Wednesday: The Sun Is Also a Star & The Diabolic

Waiting on Wednesday

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

The Sun Is Also a Star

Author: Nicola Yoon

Release Date: November 1st 2016

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.

The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

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The Diabolic

Author: S.J. Kincaid

Release Date: November 1st 2016

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Red Queen meets The Hunger Games in this epic novel about what happens when the galaxy’s most deadly weapon masquerades as a senator’s daughter and a hostage of the galactic court.

A Diabolic is ruthless. A Diabolic is powerful. A Diabolic has a single task: Kill in order to protect the person you’ve been created for.

Nemesis is a Diabolic, a humanoid teenager created to protect a galactic senator’s daughter, Sidonia. The two have grown up side by side, but are in no way sisters. Nemesis is expected to give her life for Sidonia, and she would do so gladly. She would also take as many lives as necessary to keep Sidonia safe.

When the power-mad Emperor learns Sidonia’s father is participating in a rebellion, he summons Sidonia to the Galactic court. She is to serve as a hostage. Now, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia. She must become her. Nemesis travels to the court disguised as Sidonia—a killing machine masquerading in a world of corrupt politicians and two-faced senators’ children. It’s a nest of vipers with threats on every side, but Nemesis must keep her true abilities a secret or risk everything.

As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns there is something more to her than just deadly force. She finds a humanity truer than what she encounters from most humans. Amidst all the danger, action, and intrigue, her humanity just might be the thing that saves her life—and the empire.

Book Review: The House by Christina Lauren

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The House
Author: Christina Lauren
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genres: Horror | Paranormal | Thriller | Romance
Released: October 6th 2015
Review Source: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Delilah and Gavin’s new love is threatened by a force uncomfortably close to home in this haunting novel from New York Times bestselling duo Christina Lauren, authors of Beautiful Bastard.

His shirt is black, jeans are black, and shaggy black hair falls into his eyes. And when Gavin looks up at Delilah, the dark eyes shadowed with bluish circles seem to flicker to life.

He lives in that house, the one at the edge of town. Spooky and maybe haunted. Something worse than haunted. And Gavin is trapped by its secrets.

Delilah and Gavin can’t resist each other. But staying together will exact a price beyond their imagining.

The House is the book you want to read this month. Can you say creeeeeee-py! You know when you were a little kid and in your neighborhood existed that one house that everyone always stayed away from or talked about, it could have been due to how scary it looked or the people that lived in it. Well The House is that house!!!

You follow the story of Delilah and how she goes from boarding school back to public school and the why she moves back to her old town. Then she sees the boy she had a crush on before she was sent away to boarding school. (he was the reason to begin with that she was sent away). That would be Gavin and he is that boy that lives in the house everyone was dared to go inside when they were little kids but didn't. Now everyone just ignores it exists, like if they can't see it on the block. Delilah though doesn't shy away from Gavin's house, she actually is thrilled when he invites her over to visit. But someone(s) does the share the same sentiments that she does for visiting. Delilah better watch her back, front and any other angle she can while she is visiting Gavin at his house.

Seriously you got to read this book, and do it while sitting in the dark with just a candle flickering and no other noises. You'll thank me for that tip. You can't go wrong with reading this book written by the stellar duo that is Christina Lauren.

Do you dare to go inside The House?

Book Review: The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch, Volume One: At the Edge of Empire by Daniel Kraus

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At The Edge of Empire
The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch (Volume One)
Author: Daniel Kraus
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Released: October 27, 2015
Review Source: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

May 7, 1896. Dusk. A swaggering seventeen-year-old gangster named Zebulon Finch is gunned down on the shores of Lake Michigan. But after mere minutes in the void, he is mysteriously resurrected. His second life will be nothing like his first.

Zebulon's new existence begins as a sideshow attraction in a traveling medicine show. From there, he will be poked and prodded by a scientist obsessed with mastering the secrets of death. He will fight in the trenches of World War I. He will run from his nightmares—and from poverty—in Depression-era New York City. And he will become the companion of the most beautiful woman in Hollywood. Love, hate, hope, and horror—Zebulon finds them. But will he ever find redemption?

Ambitious and heartbreaking, The Death & Life of Zebulon Finch, Volume 1: At the Edge of Empire is the epic saga of what it means to be human in a world so often lacking in humanity.

I won't lie, I was a bit intimidated by this book. 642 pages can do that to someone. Luckily this book pulled me in straight away and kept me hooked the entire time! To say that was a relief is an understatement. You always want a big book to be good!

Zebulon, our narrator, is telling us his story. That is one of my favorite things about this book: the writing style Daniel Kraus went for. It definitely helps in keeping you interested. The characters each stood out on their own and in their own ways. Zeblon's character arc throughout the book was amazing. The book summary tells you that in itself, really. Zebulon's life is full of amazement and wonder with so many things that he goes through. You'll stay entertained!

There was SO MUCH content! Which is a great thing, don't get me wrong, but you have to keep up with it so it doesn't boggle your mind at times. I found myself kind of taking moments to rethink about what happened, but it didn't slow me down at all!

At the Edge of Empire is definitely something you should add to your book shelves. It's so different and amazing. Truly unlike anything I've ever read before and I can't wait for volume two!

Book Review: The Many Lives of John Stone by Linda Buckley-Archer

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The Many Lives of John Stone
Author:  Linda Buckley-Archer
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Historical Fiction
Released: October 20th 2015
Review Source: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

An English teen questions all she knows about aging when she encounters a set of journals that date from the present back to the reign of King Louis XIV in this blend of contemporary and historical fiction from the author of the acclaimed Gideon trilogy.

Stella Park (Spark for short) has found summer work cataloging historical archives in John Stone’s remote and beautiful house in Suffolk, England. She wasn’t quite sure what to expect, and her uncertainty about living at Stowney House only increases upon arriving: what kind of people live in the twenty-first century without using electricity, telephones, or even a washing machine? Additionally, the notebooks she’s organizing span centuries—they begin in the court of Louis XIV in Versailles—but are written in the same hand. Something strange is going on for sure, and Spark’s questions are piling up. Who exactly is John Stone? What connection does he have to these notebooks? And more importantly, why did he hire her in the first place?

It is extremely rare that it takes me this long to read a book. I’m the type of reader that picks up a book and if I get sucked into the story I can stay up until the wee hours to finish it because I just need to know what happens. I’m sad to say that was not the case with The Many Lives of John Stone. Try as I might I just couldn’t connect with the story at all.

It’s hard to say where I stand with this book. At times I found myself engrossed by the diaries entries at French court, but other times I would find myself feeling frustrated because I didn’t feel like the story was moving along. I wanted to find a common ground with The Many Lives of John Stone, but I just couldn’t push through the flaws it first brought up. I also had a hard time with the third person storytelling at times. I mean, I do know who’s talking that I don’t need you to write out his or their names in every single sentence. I don’t know I guess it just bugged me.

I think it might actually be targeted to the wrong audience. I love a good 500+ book, but I with where teens are now a days it’ll be a book they push away only because it didn’t hold their attention early on. I’ve already passed along The Many Lives of John Stone to a friend and she seems to be enjoying. A couple of the same issues with the start, but says the story progresses as it goes on. The Many Lives of John Stone may not have been for me, but everyone has different taste. Pick it up and decide for yourself.