TBR Orphans Challenge - February Update

I read a total of 4 orphaned books this month!

Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire has been in my TBR pile since December 2013
Love Minus Eighty by Will McIntosh beats that with a month, having been there since November 2013
Binding the Shadows by Jenn Bennett is a recent orphan. It's only been in my TBR pile since September 2014
I'm not even sure how long I've had The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay. I know I got it from a friend, but can't remember how long ago.

I think I did a good job this month in giving my orphaned books some attention.
How about you?
Did you succeed in your challenges?

City of Heavenly Fire - Book Review

City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6)
by Cassandra Clare

What is it about:
In this dazzling and long-awaited conclusion to the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary's own brother.

Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.

The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris - but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?

When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee - even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned...

Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the word in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments!

What did I think of it:
A satisfying conclusion to a very entertaining series.

I must say Clare knows how to sell books: in this last book she is already setting up her next series. The lead characters of that series are introduced, there's some heavy hinting towards the upcoming love drama in that series, and although this series has a satisfying conclusion, it does leave lots of room for more (nasty) things to come in the world of the Shadowhunters.

Not that this annoyed me. Clare also knows just how to mix those things into the story without the reader feeling cheated. I very much enjoyed the story and the action.

This time around the things that happened were back to being easy to guess. The only thing I didn't see coming is that Clare killed of a character she could have had lots more fun with if she had used that character in the right way.

Did I mind? Not one bit. These books are too entertaining to complain about predictability. I sat back and enjoyed the ride.

I was glad I read The Bane Chronicles before picking up this book, because just as there were lots of mentions of characters and events from the prequel series (even some spoilers for people who haven't read the prequel series yet), there were also several mentions of events from The Bane Chronicles. It gave just a bit more insight having read those stories, although you won't miss out if you haven't read them.

All in all I had a great time reading this series, and I will most certainly reread it. I will also keep an eye out for more books by Clare, because they might be predictable at times, they're also lots of fun.

Why should you read it:
It's a very entertaining Paranormal YA read.

On McPig's Wishlist - Cruel Beauty

A Beauty and the Beast retelling I'd love to give a try.


Cruel Beauty
by Rosamund Hodge

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

Suspicion - Book Review

Suspicion
by Alexandra Monir

What is it about:
“There’s something hidden in the maze.”

Seventeen-year-old Imogen Rockford has never forgotten the last words her father said to her, before the blazing fire that consumed him, her mother, and the gardens of her family’s English country manor.

For seven years, images of her parents’ death have haunted Imogen’s dreams. In an effort to escape the past, she leaves Rockford Manor and moves to New York City with her new guardians. But some attachments prove impossible to shake—including her love for her handsome neighbor Sebastian Stanhope.

Then a life-altering letter arrives that forces Imogen to return to the manor in England, where she quickly learns that dark secrets lurk behind Rockford’s aristocratic exterior. At their center is Imogen herself—and Sebastian, the boy she never stopped loving.

What did I think of it:
I read that this book is inspired by Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca so I had to give it a try.

And this is a really cool read.

It does indeed have the same kind of mood and atmosphere as Rebecca, and there are some elements from Rebecca in this book, but luckily Monir decided not to stay too close to the story that inspired her, but to create a story of her own.

I really liked Imogen and could understand her reactions to everything that happens. Her attraction to Sebastian was less clear at first, but Sebastian made up for it later.

The paranormal element in this story felt a bit unnecessary in my opinion. It didn't really add to the story and could easily have been left out, but then again, it didn't annoy me either.

The story is set in present day, but felt dated at times. I know British nobility is still celebrated and present in the UK, but the peerage when it came to the servants felt a bit unrealistic. But I might be mistaken, and maybe things really are still that old fashioned among the British nobility.

That aside: I very much enjoyed this story for its mood, its suspense, and the characters. I will check out what else Monir has written.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable YA read with a Gothic feel to it.

Teaser Tuesdays - Fire

So far I'm liking this even more than the first book in this series.


She'd done it because she'd had to. An apology for the life of her father, who'd created a world of lawlessness where towns like Grey Haven fell under the attack of looters. And she'd done it to show Roen's son that she was on his side. And also to keep him alive.

(page 86, Fire by Kristin Cashore)




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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Rosemary and Rue - Book Review

Rosemary and Rue (October Daye #1)
by Seanan McGuire

What is it about:
October "Toby" Daye, a changeling who is half human and half fae, has been an outsider from birth. After getting burned by both sides of her heritage, Toby has denied the Faerie world, retreating to a "normal" life. Unfortunately for her, the Faerie world has other ideas...

The murder of Countess Evening Winterrose pulls Toby back into the fae world. Unable to resist Evening's dying curse, which binds her to investigate, Toby must resume her former position as knight errant and renew old alliances. As she steps back into fae society, dealing with a cast of characters not entirely good or evil, she realizes that more than her own life will be forfeited if she cannot find Evening's killer.

What did I think of it:
I really liked McGuire's Discount Armageddon, but her book Feed (written under the name Myra Grant) was boring imo, so it was a DNF for me. That's the reason I was hesitant to start on this series, and this book stayed in my TBR pile for a long, long time before I dared pick it up.

This turned out to be a cool read though!

I loved the world building and the faerie world. McGuire uses a lot of old faerie mythology, but weaves it into the story so it feels like it belongs.

October had to grow on me (she's a bit too closed off and self reliant when she should know she should ask for help), but some of the other characters I was intrigued by from the start. Especially Tybalt, king of the Cat Faeries sounds like a character I want to read lots more about.

There were two possible love interests, both not to my tastes and with their own set of troubles, but luckily the romance isn't too present in this book, so it didn't spoil the story for me. although I am wary for how things might develop later on in this series.

The situation Toby is in felt desperate at times, and I had my doubts if things could turn out right. It did keep me reading though, to find out.

All in all I enjoyed this book much more than I ever expected, and I will pick up the next book in this series soon. I will most probably also dig up the second book in McGuire's InCryptid series as my next TBR Orphan.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool Urbab Fantasy read.

Finding Willow - Book Review

Finding Willow (Freedom 0.5)
by Michelle K. Pickett

What is it about:
“Finding Willow” is the prequel to “Unspeakable,” the touching romance between Brody and Willow that explores one girl’s quiet strength to survive the unbearable weight of a family secret alone, and the love and resolve of a boy determined to help her.

Brody Victor lives life on the fringes. Moving from school to school with each transfer his mother’s job requires has taught Brody well: If there’s one thing harder than making friends, it’s saying goodbye to them. So he’s learned to close himself off. He’s a loner, and that’s how he likes it.

When his mother accepts a permanent position in Wisconsin, Brody begins to slowly open up. But old habits die hard and, for Brody, making friends doesn’t come easily. That is, until he meets Annabelle. Brody loses himself in her. Their connection runs deep and, for the first time, Brody truly lets someone inside. But life can be cruel. An unexpected job transfer uproots Brody from his home in Wisconsin, and Annabelle.

Vowing not to get involved with another girl after the heartbreak of losing Annabelle, Brody returns to life on the outside looking in. A loner by choice. Until he finds Willow. Friendly and beautiful, a guy can’t help but notice her, but Brody notices more than her beauty. When she flashes her full smile, a spark is missing from her hazel eyes and for reasons unknown to him, Brody needs to find the reason.

Along the way, he stumbles across a secret bigger than both of them.

What did I think of it:
I read Unspeakable and although it is a very good and beautiful story, it was also a difficult story for me, because of the subject. This novella takes place largely before the events in Unspeakable and gives insight into Brody, the male lead of Unspeakable.

And I'm glad I read this novella, because it's very enjoyable.

Brody is a nice guy, with a past that explains why he has difficulties to connect with others. The romance between him and Annabelle is really sweet, and it makes me like Brody even more than the events in Unspeakable already made me like him.

If you like Contemporary Young Adult Romance that also deals with heavier subjects, I can advice you to pick up this free novella to see if you like Pickett's style and to get to know Brody a bit. Then pick up Unspeakable to read Willow's story.

Why should you read it:
It's a really enjoyable and sweet Contemporary YA read


Get this novella here

Carpe Corpus - Book Review

Carpe Corpus (The Morganville Vampires #6)
by Rachel Caine

What is it about:
In the small college town of Morganville, vampires and humans lived in (relative) peace-until all the rules got rewritten when the evil vampire Bishop arrived, looking for the lost book of vampire secrets. He's kept a death grip on the town ever since.

Now an underground resistance is brewing, and in order to contain it, Bishop must go to even greater lengths. He vows to obliterate the town and all its inhabitants-the living and the undead.

Claire Danvers and her friends are the only ones who stand in his way. But even if they defeat Bishop, will the vampires ever be content to go back to the old rules, after having such a taste of power?

What did I think of it:
Yet another entertaining addition to this series.

I will confess some of the developments in this book have me worried for the rest of the series. Especially something that happens to Myrnin makes me worried how he will be in future books.

Otherwise I'm very much enjoying myself with this series. It's full of action, vampires, and intrigue. I like how this book is less obvious as the previous ones. Still some things were easy to guess, but others were at least a bit more of a surprise.

All in all this is a fun series and I will pick up the next book soon.

Why should you read it:
It's a fun and entertaining Paranormal YA read.

On McPig's Wishlist - End of Days

I very much enjoyed the first two books in this trilogy, so I have to get my trotters on this book to see how it ends.


End of Days (Penryn & the End of Days #3)
by Susan Ee

End of Days is the explosive conclusion to Susan Ee’s bestselling Penryn & the End of Days trilogy.

After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run. They’re both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and Penryn’s sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all.

When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other?

Expected publication: May 12th 2015

The Bane Chronicles - Book Review

The Bane Chronicles (The Bane Chronicles #1-11)
by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson and Sarah Rees Brennan
with illustrations by Cassandra Jean

What is it about:
Fans of The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices can get to know warlock Magnus Bane like never before in this collection of New York Times bestselling tales, in print for the first time with an exclusive new story and illustrated material.

This collection of eleven short stories illuminates the life of the enigmatic Magnus Bane, whose alluring personality, flamboyant style, and sharp wit populate the pages of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices.

What did I think of it:
Magnus Bane is my favorite character in Cassandra Clare's books, so I had to get this book with short stories all about Magnus.

And I can advice this book to anyone who also loves Magnus Bane.

The stories are not brilliant I will confess. Some are cool, some didn't really float my boat, and some felt unfinished, but still I very much enjoyed this book.

The reason why I enjoyed this book so much, is that it gives lots of background information on a character I love, shows more about other characters from the books, fills in some blanks and generally lets you enjoy the world Clare build in her books some more.

The stories in this book can be read spoiler free before reading City of Heavenly Fire. There are some that might be spoiling a bit if you haven't read all the other books yet.

All in all this book is clearly for fans of Clare's books, and Magnus Bane in particular. I myself will put this book on my keeper shelves, and reread some of the stories when I'm in the mood.

Why should you read it:
It has lots and lots of Magnus Bane.

Teaser Tuesdays - City of Heavenly Fire

Julian swallowed. He was pale. Clary could imagine the pain he was feeling, the weight of the Sword.

(page 82, City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare




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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Deadly, Calm, and Cold - Book Review

Deadly, Calm, and Cold (The Collectors #2)
by Susannah Sandlin

What is it about:
How far will ordinary people go to protect their secrets? The Collectors’ games are as much about manipulating lives as finding lost treasure. Everyone is expendable as the ruthless C7 pushes people into gambling with their lives in order to find priceless objects lost to history.

Samantha Crowe’s secrets could ruin her career, while Brody Parker’s could get him killed. They become pawns for two Collectors seeking Bad King John’s crown jewels, which disappeared in rural England back when Robin Hood roamed Nottingham. This time, however, the Collectors—a ruthless dotcom billionaire and a desperate London detective—might not be playing for the same team, leaving Sam and Brody trapped in the middle.

One thing’s for sure: if either hopes to survive, Sam and Brody will have to find a way to overcome their distrust—and their growing attraction—in order to succeed on this winner-take-all treasure hunt.

What did I think of it:
I very much enjoyed the first book in this series, so I had to read this one as well.

And this is yet another fun and suspenseful story.

Brody is forced in sabotaging Sam's quest to find king John's crown jewels. Luckily this sabotage isn't going so far that I couldn't believe in Sam and Brody overcoming their mistrust of each other though. They both are resilient and inventive and make a great team.

Again the story and the mood reminded me of the Indiana Jones movies: There's adventure, searching for lost treasure, lots of intrigue, danger, and romance. (And there might not be any evil Nazis, but the Collectors make up for that ;-))

And if maybe Brody and Sam escape danger a little too easily, or find a too neat solution to their problems, that doesn't matter. Because that's supposed to happen in stories like this. It might be a book, but I could easily see this story happening on the big screen: exciting firefights, explosions and all.

All in all this is yet another cool and entertaining adventure romance. I will most certainly read other books in this series, if there will be more.

Why should you read it:
It's a very entertaining Contemporary Adventure Romance.

City of Lost Souls - Book Review

City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5)
by Cassandra Clare

What is it about:
What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

What did I think of it:
This series keeps getting better in my opinion.

The first three books were very entertaining, but often very predictable as well. The fourth book was a lot better, it felt more surprising and solid. And this book is yet another step above book four. I can only hope that means book six will be absolutely amazing.

I really enjoyed this book. I will say I was happy I've read the prequel trilogy before reading this one, because that way I was treated to some fun scenes and cameos. They were small and if you haven't read the prequel trilogy you certainly aren't missing out on the main story, but those tiny 'easter eggs' were an added bonus for me.

I'm still not a Simon fan, but I will say he did have his moments in this book. Magnus was magnificent, as always, and the story line dealing with him and Alec had me worried.

There were some cool and intense scenes, Clary acting way too impulsive, and trusting too easily (nothing new there), and although the book did end pretty much as I expected, it had some surprises in the epilogue that made me eager to start on the last book in this series.

But first I grabbed The Bane Chronicles, because I wanted more Magnus Bane.

Why should you read it:
It's a very entertaining Paranormal YA with cool world building.

On McPig's Wishlist - Hidden Huntress

I really enjoyed the first book in this trilogy, so I'm eager to read book two.


Hidden Huntress (The Malediction Trilogy #2)
by Danielle L. Jensen

Sometimes, one must accomplish the impossible.

Beneath the mountain, the king’s reign of tyranny is absolute; the one troll with the capacity to challenge him is imprisoned for treason. Cécile has escaped the darkness of Trollus, but she learns all too quickly that she is not beyond the reach of the king’s power. Or his manipulation.

Recovered from her injuries, she now lives with her mother in Trianon and graces the opera stage every night. But by day she searches for the witch who has eluded the trolls for five hundred years. Whether she succeeds or fails, the costs to those she cares about will be high.

To find Anushka, she must delve into magic that is both dark and deadly. But the witch is a clever creature. And Cécile might not just be the hunter. She might also be the hunted...

Expected publication: June 2nd 2015

Of Beast and Beauty - Book Review

Of Beast and Beauty
by Stacey Jay

What is it about:
In the beginning was the darkness, and in the darkness was a girl, and in the girl was a secret...

In the domed city of Yuan, the blind Princess Isra, a Smooth Skin, is raised to be a human sacrifice whose death will ensure her city’s vitality. In the desert outside Yuan, Gem, a mutant beast, fights to save his people, the Monstrous, from starvation. Neither dreams that together, they could return balance to both their worlds.

Isra wants to help the city’s Banished people, second-class citizens despised for possessing Monstrous traits. But after she enlists the aid of her prisoner, Gem, who has been captured while trying to steal Yuan’s enchanted roses, she begins to care for him, and to question everything she has been brought up to believe.

As secrets are revealed and Isra’s sight, which vanished during her childhood, returned, Isra will have to choose between duty to her people and the beast she has come to love.

What did I think of it:
I will confess: I have a soft spot for Beauty and the Beast retellings. So I had to try this Dystopian/SciFi retelling.

And this is a beautiful read.

I like how Jay put some of the story elements upside down. It's the mutant 'beast' who is the prisoner instead of the beauty for example. Instead of staying too true to the original story, Jay made the story her own.

And this story makes you think as well. Jay touches on some serious subjects, but weaves them into the story in a natural way. I posted a quote from the book that I could relate to here.

The story is told from three viewpoints: Isra, Gem, and Bo (a guard). I liked how Bo is a character I was not sure about. One moment I liked him, the next I hated him. It took a long time to get the measure of him.

There were some things that I thought were too easy and could have been left out, but overall I really enjoyed this story, and was rooting for Isra and Gem to realize what they felt for each other, and to save the day.

All in all this is great retelling of Beauty and the Beast that will most certainly be reread. I will also try other books by Stacey Jay.

Why should you read it:
This is a beautiful and very enjoyable Dystopian/SciFi YA read.

Teaser Tuesdays - Suspicion

This book starts promising, I must say. No resemblance to Rebecca just yet, apart from a grumpy housekeeper.


It feels good to be just a normal teenager. Not "Imogen, whose parents are dead" or "Imogen, with the uncertain future"- just a seventeen-year-old girl who is liked by a boy.

(page 35, Suspicion by Alexandra Monir)




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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Fortunately, the Milk... - Book Review

Fortunately, the Milk...
by Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell (Illustrator)

What is it about:
You know what it’s like when your mum goes away on a business trip and Dad’s in charge. She leaves a really, really long list of what he’s got to do. And the most important thing is DON’T FORGET TO GET THE MILK. Unfortunately, Dad forgets. So the next morning, before breakfast, he has to go to the corner shop, and this is the story of why it takes him a very, very long time to get back.

Featuring: Professor Steg (a time-travelling dinosaur), some green globby things, the Queen of the Pirates, the famed jewel that is the Eye of Splod, some wumpires, and a perfectly normal but very important carton of milk.

What did I think of it:
Three words:
Time Travelling Dinosaur!

Need I say more?!

Seriously: this is an awesome book.

Next to a fun and utterly bizarre story full of adventure, aliens, pirates and dinosaurs there are lots of really cool illustrations as well.


The things Dad has to overcome to make sure his children get milk are plenty, and his companion on his trip Professor Steg is a great help in getting the milk where it has to go.

I very much enjoyed reading the story and looking at the cool illustrations. This book is meant for children, but adults will find this story just as entertaining. I will definitely put this book on my keeper shelves.

Why should you read it:
Seriously: Time Travelling Dinosaur!

Lord of Misrule - Book Review

Lord of Misrule (The Morganville Vampires #5)
by Rachel Caine

What is it about:
In the college town of Morganville, vampires and humans coexist in (relatively) bloodless harmony. Then comes Bishop, the master vampire who threatens to abolish all order, revive the forces of the evil dead, and let chaos rule. But Bishop isn't the only threat.

Violent black cyclone clouds hover, promising a storm of devastating proportions as student Claire Danvers and her friends prepare to defend Morganville against elements both natural and unnatural.

What did I think of it:
This series is getting better and better.

The first two books were entertaining enough, but it's since book three that I actually feel excited to pick up the next book to find out what will happen next.

And Myrnin!

Myrnin is a vampire who's totally stealing the show time and time again, and who is awesome! For the rpg nerds among my readers: I've been wondering if Caine is familiar with The World of Darkness, because Myrnin is totally a Malkavian, and a very cool one at that.

As for the story: this too is getting more and more interesting and intense. There's still things you can see coming from miles away, but other things kept me guessing. More characters were introduced, and I especially liked the vampire Theo.

The ending is another cliffhanger, but not completely unnecessary like the cliffhangers in some of the other books. I'm happy to say I have lots more books in this series in my TBR pile, so I can continue reading about Morganville whenever I want.

Why should you read it:
It's a very fun and entertaining Paranormal YA read.