Lisa's Looking Forward To #10 - April 2nd, 2019

Third week I'm posting this on a Wednesday, and last week I did join in with the Waiting on Wednesday Posts, and the Can't Wait Wednesday posts hosted by Wishful Endings.  There are quite a few books coming out next week that I've got listed in my planner. So here we go!

This one I was really excited for, and so disappointed to not ever get a physical ARC, but I did get the e-galley to read, so will post a review tomorrow actually! This was promoted as a type of Joan of Arc retelling, which is what grabbed me with my love of retellings.

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:


A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself.

A prince in danger must decide who to trust.

A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings.

Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war.

In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light. Wicked Saints is the thrilling start to Emily A. Duncan’s devastatingly Gothic Something Dark and Holy trilogy..

Sound good?  Add to Goodreads HERE.

Between that amazing cover and the awesome synopsis below, how could I not want to read this one?

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
Branches and stones, daggers and bones,
They locked the Beast away.

After the death of her sister, seventeen-year-old Violet Saunders finds herself dragged to Four Paths, New York. Violet may be a newcomer, but she soon learns her mother isn't: They belong to one of the revered founding families of the town, where stone bells hang above every doorway and danger lurks in the depths of the woods.

Justin Hawthorne's bloodline has protected Four Paths for generations from the Gray—a lifeless dimension that imprisons a brutal monster. After Justin fails to inherit his family's powers, his mother is determined to keep this humiliation a secret. But Justin can't let go of the future he was promised and the town he swore to protect.

Ever since Harper Carlisle lost her hand to an accident that left her stranded in the Gray for days, she has vowed revenge on the person who abandoned her: Justin Hawthorne. There are ripples of dissent in Four Paths, and Harper seizes an opportunity to take down the Hawthornes and change her destiny-to what extent, even she doesn't yet know.

The Gray is growing stronger every day, and its victims are piling up. When Violet accidentally unleashes the monster, all three must band together with the other Founders to unearth the dark truths behind their families' abilities—before the Gray devours them all. 

Sound good?  Add to Goodreads HERE.

So, I love when we expand on stories of any characters, and of course I loved Aquaman, although that may have been because of Jason Momoa as opposed to the actual story itself.  And I do love the author as well.  I did get an ARC of this, but I guess it is more of a graphic novel than just a story, so I probably won't end up reading it.

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
From Danielle Paige, the New York Times best-selling author of Stealing Snow, comes a Mera and Aquaman origin story that explores Mera's first steps on land as well as her first steps as a hero or a villain, forcing her to choose to follow her heart or her mission to kill.

Mera is teenage royalty, heir to the throne of Xebel, the other not-so-lost colony under the sea. But Mera is destined to wear a different crown, that of Atlantis. When the inhabitants of Xebel plot to overthrow their homeland of Atlantis, Mera is sent to kill the heir to the throne, Arthur Curry. As the unrest between their colonies grows, Mera and Arthur unexpectedly fall in love...will Arthur Curry be the king at Mera's side in Atlantis, or will he die under her blade?

Mera by Danielle Paige is an astonishing story that explores themes of duty, love, heroism and freedom, all through the eyes of readers' favorite undersea royalty.

Sound good?  Add to Goodreads HERE.

Not exactly sure why I added this one. Although it does sound humorous, and being on a college campus in the 90s is when I was there, so probably I thought I'd relate in some way.

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
It’s the nineties, and Tosh Livingston, straight-A student and superstar athlete, is living the dream—he’s made it out of upstate New York and into the incoming freshman class at Harvard University. But after an accident blows up his basketball-playing hopes, he discovers a new purpose in life—to win the frenzied competition for a spot on the staff of the Harvard Harpoon, the school’s legendary humor magazine.

Along with Lao, his pot-smoking roommate from China, their friend Meera, a passive-aggressive science major from India, and Zippa, a Jamaican student-activist with a flair for cartooning, Tosh finds that becoming a member of the Harpoon is weirder and more dangerous than anyone could have imagined. Success requires pushing themselves to their limits and unearthing long-buried secrets that will rock their school and change all of their lives forever.

With its whip-smart humor and fast-paced narrative, Around Harvard Square will appeal to readers of all ages interested in exploring the complicated roles that race and class play in higher education.

Sound good?  Add to Goodreads HERE.

This one just sounded really unique, and another cool cover!

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
Katina King is the reigning teen jujitsu champion of Northern California, but she's having trouble fighting off the secrets in her past.

Robin Thornton was adopted from an orphanage in Kolkata, India and is reluctant to take on his future. Since he knows nothing about his past, how is he supposed to figure out what comes next?

Robin and Kat meet in the most unlikely of places — a summer service trip to India to work with survivors of human trafficking. As bonds blossom between the travel-mates, Robin and Kat discover the healing superpowers of friendship.

At turns heart-wrenching, beautiful, and buoyant, Mitali Perkins' new novel explores the ripple effects of violence — across borders and generations — and how small acts of heroism can break the cycle.

Sound good?  Add to Goodreads HERE.

So, I loved Geekerella, you can read my review of that one HERE.  And I really want to read this one as well!  I mean if I had it in my hands, it would be the perfect read before Comicon this coming Saturday.  And I might be getting it through a trade, fingers crossed. 

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
The Prince and the Pauper gets a modern makeover in this adorable, witty, and heartwarming young adult novel set in the Geekerella universe by national bestselling author Ashley Poston.

Imogen Lovelace is an ordinary fangirl on an impossible mission: save her favorite character, Princess Amara, from being killed off from her favorite franchise, Starfield. The problem is, Jessica Stone—the actress who plays Princess Amara—wants nothing more than to leave the intense scrutiny of the fandom behind. If this year's ExcelsiCon isn't her last, she'll consider her career derailed.

When a case of mistaken identity throws look-a-likes Imogen and Jess together, they quickly become enemies. But when the script for the Starfield sequel leaks, and all signs point to Jess, she and Imogen must trade places to find the person responsible. That's easier said than done when the girls step into each other's shoes and discover new romantic possibilities, as well as the other side of intense fandom. As these "princesses" race to find the script-leaker, they must rescue themselves from their own expectations, and redefine what it means to live happily ever after.  

Sound good?  Add to Goodreads HERE.




Final Thoughts:
Quite a few books come out next week. I think as we get closer to summer, this is probably going to be the way.   Only got to read one, a few I wish I could read soon!  How about you?  Have you read any of these yet?  Are they on your TBR?  And hey, while you're here, you should go try to win some of my ARCs from Cleaning Up My TBR Post HERE.

Waiting on Wednesday: Yellow Brick War (Dorothy Must Die #3) by Danielle Paige

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases that we're eagerly awaiting.  My choice this week is the third book in a series that was such an original story.  It wasn't quite what I expected, but it still was a great, unique story.  I just listened to the 2nd book a month or so ago.  So it is pretty fresh in my mind and I'll be ready to read it when it comes out!  Here is the blurb from Goodreads:  

In this dark, action-packed third book in the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die series, Amy Gumm—the new girl from Kansas—must do everything in her power to save Kansas, kill Dorothy, and make Oz a free land once more.

Amy Gumm’s mission to take down Dorothy Gale is not going according to plan. Dorothy has found a way to bridge the worlds of Oz and Kansas, and if the power-hungry dictator of Oz has her way, Kansas will be destroyed forever. Now, Amy has to team up with the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked to save her home, restore the balance between the magic and nonmagic worlds, maybe get the guy—and kill that not-so-sweet Kansas farm girl once and for all.

In the third installment of the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die series, Danielle Paige’s twisted versions of beloved Oz characters are back, including the biggest, baddest, most famous of all: the Wicked Witch of the West.

Welcome to the other side of the rainbow. Here there’s danger around every corner, and magic shoes won’t be able to save you.

Have you read this series yet?  What book are you eagerly awaiting this week?  While you're here, make sure to go enter my giveaway for a finished copy of Titans by Victoria Scott.

Audiobook Review: The Wicked Will Rise (Dorothy Must Die #2) by Danielle Paige

This was the next audiobook I chose to listen to.  I had owned a copy of the book, but traded it for something I couldn't wait for awhile back.  So I had to borrow the audiobook from my public library.  It was a pretty good story. The narrator did a good job with different voices and keeping it interesting. As most second books seem to be in trilogies, it was what I call a "road trip" book.  Now, my review of this will probably, no definitely have spoilers if you haven't read the first book.  So in that case, you should just stop reading now, and go read my review of the first book, Dorothy Must Die. 

This book picks up basically where the last one left off.  The main character, Amy Gumm, failed in her mission to kill Dorothy.  She was able to get the Tin Woodsman's heart though, which was one of the things the Wizard told her she would need to be able to actually kill Dorothy.  In the battle, she lost sight of the rest of the witches in the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked, included her friend Nox.  Probably the one thing she is glad to have done is save the Princess Ozma.  Even if she isn't much help in her dazed and confused state.  Amy and Ozma get some help getting away from their friends the wingless monkeys, who got paper wings from the Wizard just for this mission.  And they get close to the monkeys' village when they run into the Lion.  And somehow, Amy must get his courage from him, another ingredient needed to kill Dorothy. The way that she does it, well, that is a surprise!  And then they are taken into the village high up in the trees where the monkeys live now.  While there, Amy discovers a secret about Ozma, and the boy named Pete that she'd seen back at the Palace in Emerald City.  Mombi shows up beat up and exhausted.  She tells Amy that she must talk to someone named Polychrome, who lives in the land of the rainbows. 

So part of the book takes place in a land of rainbows.  It is on this journey that she will find Nox again.  And together they must try to figure out how to stop Dorothy.  Only Glinda and Dorothy will not fight fair.  And they will soon find out that there is something peculiar between Dorothy and Amy, something that makes it really hard to kill each other.  And the Wizard, we'll finally find out what he's up to.  And you'll know whether he can be trusted, or if he has a plot worse that what Dorothy has! 

Another cliffhanger of an ending, and the big battle will still be coming in the third book!

Again, such fun with all the different places being created for the story.  I kind of want to smoke a rainbow cigarette, even though I'm very anti-smoking.  :-)

@CrossroadReview #ReadOn #57 Aug. 2nd 4pm est. @daniellempaige @AprilynnePike @kimberlyderting @AmyPlumOhLaLa with #Giveaway

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Dark Days of Summer Tour Stop - Kansas City, Missouri

Last night I was lucky enough to have the pleasure of getting to go to one of these awesome events, with four really awesome authors.  I had mentioned earlier this year about getting to be a moderator, but then a couple weeks ago the publicist said that they were sending someone on tour with them to be the moderator, so I didn't get to.  :-(  But the community resource manager at the bookstore where I work part-time, and that was hosting the event, still introduced me to the moderator, and she made sure to ask me for at least one question during the audience Q and A period.  And honestly, she was such a bright, upbeat person, that she did a way better job than I would have anyway.  It was fun meeting her though!  They had the authors sit at a table up in front where they all answered questions from the moderator. Then they opened it up for a few audience questions. Then they moved all the authors to separate tables in the back of that part of the store, so that people could line up for the authors they wanted to see.  Which makes sense when you saw Kiera Cass's line!  While it was moving not too bad, by the time I got over to that line, I still ended up starting the line at the same place it seemed to have been ending for the whole time!  It just kept getting filled back up as people moved through.  I had to go ahead and buy a copy of Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong because even though I supposedly won a copy from Adventures in YA Publishing back on April 14th, I've not received it yet.  Has anyone else won anything from them before?  I'm just curious, because I've replied to the email twice now, and no one has responded.  Guess maybe I'll just give the copy I won away on my blog, if I ever get it.

The lines were kind of long to wait in, but I figured it was good practice to get ready for BEA in 3 weeks!  I mean 3 weeks from today, BEA will almost be half over for me!!  So excited to go!  I didn't take too many pictures last night, mostly just with the authors.  So I'll share a group photo below, then one with each of the authors, and a picture of the book they were there promoting last night.  First thing though, I hate how I look in every picture!  I guess the good thing?  Is that you can see just how excited (and nerdy) I was to meet them all.  I'm guessing I look like this in every picture I take with authors.

 

L to R:  Danielle Paige, Kimberly Derting, Kelley Armstrong, Kiera Cass, Me

Danielle Paige:

Danielle Paige was really funny!  She talked about actually knowing Al Roker, from working with him on a pilot for MTV, that wasn't picked up she said.  It's really cool that she used to write for a soap opera.  Not sure which one, although it was one that had a clone storyline, so maybe I can figure it out from that.  When I see her at BEA in 3 weeks, I'm going to ask her that!!

Kelley Armstrong:



I have to admit I've not read any of Kelley Armstrong's books before.  But I know she is a very popular author, and there are some of hers that do look very good.  This one is described as high fantasy, which is normally not my type of book.  But, when she was describing what it was about, I'm so excited to read it now!  She was very nice, and the reason why she writes the YA characters that she does, is because there weren't a lot of YA books available when she was a teen.  And I remember that there didn't seem to be as many when I was younger either.  I know I'm around the same age as Kiera Cass, wondering how close in age I am to Kelley Armstrong as well.

Kimberly Derting:



I actually got to meet Kim Derting last May here in Kansas City at the Romantic Times Convention, and she remembered me!  Yay!  I had to shamefully admit that I still hadn't read The Body Finder yet, even though I'd gotten it signed by her last year.  But, I have read The Taking, and loved it, you can read my review HERE.  So now I know I must go back and read all her books!  It was fun to hear her talk about how she always picked something for her characters to be good at that she wasn't.  In this case, softball.  In The Body Finder series, it was running.

And last, but certainly not least, the somewhat "star" of the show last night:

Kiera Cass:

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So, I think part of the reason Kiera Cass was the biggest "star" of the night, is the fact that she has just had the final book in such a popular series come out this week.  And she was so funny!  I loved listening to her talk, and at the beginning she laughed at something, or pointed at something, that was so random and she just seems like someone so much fun to hang out with.  It was cool to hear her say that writing kissing scenes was so much fun, and that there are parts of her husband in both Prince Maxon and Aspen, so she just can't be Team either one!  Since I had finished The One yesterday, and loved it so much, I had to bring her Milk Duds, something she mentioned in her little blurb at the back of the book had helped her get through the writing process.  I would have brought her some Coke Zero as well, but she said that couldn't be brought on the plane, so it wouldn't be practical. 

There were some really great things talked about last night.  One thing I loved hearing was that these authors all see their stories as "movies" playing in their heads.  Now they admitted that not all authors do, some hear it, or other ways, depending on their styles.  Also, one of them mentioned that it wasn't good to base a character on yourself as the writer, because then when reviews talk about how boring or horrible that character is, it would be really hard to take those criticisms, because it would be like they were criticizing you!  And that made me think, because my novel that I'm closest to finishing is kind of me as the main character.  So, hmm.  Now I have to think about changing it. 

It was a great time, I think had by all! 

A to Z April - J: Journalism?

Okay, I'm kind of stretching for today.  Wasn't sure anyway what to do for J, journaling was my other idea.  But, I decided to use today's post to get some help from my followers and anyone else who stops by.  On May 8th, I am so excited to get to be a moderator for an author panel at the bookstore where I work part time.  It is the Pitch Black Dark Days Summer Tour, and includes the authors:  Kelley Armstrong, Kiera Cass, Kimberly Derting, and Danielle Paige.  I'm so excited because Kiera Cass is the author of one of my favorite series, The Selection series, and the final book in the series, The One, comes out this May and I can't wait to read it!  Danielle Paige is the author of the exciting new book, Dorothy Must Die.  Kimberly Derting is an author I just fell in love with from reading her latest book, The Taking.  And Kelley Armstrong is an author I have yet to read, other than short stories, but am still very excited to meet.


So, to me, journalism is reporters, telling the news, interviews, magazines, newspapers, etc.  So I feel like I would love to have some ideas of questions you think I should ask when moderating the panel with these awesome authors next month.  Here is what I'm asking.  Please give me some question ideas in the comments below.  I will also make this into a contest.  Whoever comes up with the most original question, that I think is appropriate and perfect to ask the authors, I will purchase one of the titles from these authors and have it signed for them as a giveaway.  So think hard about what you'd like to know or what you would ask these authors if you had the chance to moderate this.  And keep in mind, it can be a question for just one of them, but even better would be something I could have all of them answer.

Can't wait to read your ideas!!!

Review: No Place Like Oz (Dorothy Must Die 0.5) by Danielle Paige

When I saw this was available as an e-novella, I had to purchase it right away.  I bought it before I got ahold of the ARC of Dorothy Must Die, but just didn't get around to it until after I read it.  It was nice to read this because it did kind of answer some questions I had as I read Dorothy Must Die.  If you go back to my review that I liked to above, you can see what my questions were.

As it says, this is a prequel.  In No Place Like Oz we join Dorothy about 6 months I believe after she returned from Oz.  But when she gets back, she finds that she really, really misses Oz.  In fact, you kind of see a connection in the way she feels about Kansas compared to the way Amy Gumm felt about it in the first book.  It is just about time for Dorothy's birthday, and at the party she begins to feel like she misses Oz even more.  Her Uncle Henry and Auntie Em are having some issues with raising money with the farm these days, and so the cake doesn't turn out so great.  And when her best friend shows up, she sees that her tales of Oz may have lost her to other, more well-to-do girls in the town.  Dorothy gets upset at one of her gifts and runs to shut herself in her room.  Under her bed is a gift from Glinda!  Some bright red shoes.  When she puts them on, she makes a wish, and she is back in Oz.  Only, not alone.  Her aunt and uncle end up there as well.  And they are not happy to be there.  They want to get back to take care of the farm.  But they land right by the old house, and there is a message from Glinda that she is in trouble.  So Dorothy sets off on a journey to find and help Glinda.  While many years have passed in Oz compared to the short time that passed in Kansas, she is still able to find all her friends, as well as meet the Princess Ozma, and begin looking for Glinda.  But she gets a taste of magic, and loving the life she lives as a hero there, and gets really irritated about her aunt and uncle who just keep harping about going back.

It's a different Dorothy than we know from The Wizard of Oz, but that's okay.  A trip like she had would change anyone.  Another great read, that while it gives you an idea of what is to come, it doesn't tell us every detail leading up to Dorothy Must Die, and that is just done perfectly.  Read it before or after, you won't be disappointed either way.

Waiting on Wednesday - Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases that we're eagerly awaiting.  This week I've chosen a book that I first learned about through other blogs' WOW posts.  And then about a week ago I learned that I might get to be a moderator at a discussion with this author, along with three other authors, and now I'm even more eager to read this book.  Here is the blurb from Goodreads.com:  

I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.
But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.

What happened?
Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman's heart.
Steal the Scarecrow's brain.
Take the Lion's courage.
Then and only then—Dorothy must die!

Sounds pretty interesting to me!  Especially if like me, you grew up watching The Wizard of Oz every spring when they broadcast it on network tv.  

While you're here, make sure you enter my 1900 Follower Giveaway for a book of your choice up to $19 value!  It ends on Friday!