Sophie Reads YA: June 2019

June Summary

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What I've read this month:

The Book of Life
Series: All Souls Trilogy #3
Author: Deborah Harkness
Published April 9th 2015 by Headline
Read: June 1-6 2019
My Rating: 5 Stars

Her Royal Highness
Series: Royals #2
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Published May 7th 2019 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Read: June 7-8 2019
My Rating: 5 Stars
Challenge: 2019 New Release Challenge, 2019 Contemporary Romance Challenge

Romancing the Duke
Series: Castles Ever After #1
Author: Tessa Dare
Published January 28th 2014 by Avon
Read: June 8-9 2019
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2019 Beat the Backlist Challenge

Say Yes to the Marquess
Series: Castles Ever After #2
Author: Tessa Dare
Published December 30th 2014 by Avon
Read: June 9-10 2019
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2019 Beat the Backlist Challenge

Shadow & Flame
Series: Rime Chronicles #2
Author: Mindee Arnett
Published June 4th 2019 by Balzer + Bray (ARC)
Read: June 13-15 2019
My Rating: 5 Stars
Challenge: 2019 New Release Challenge

Pushing the Limits
Series: Pushing the Limits #1
Author: Katie McGarry
Published July 31st 2012 by Harlequin Teen
Read: June 19-21 2019
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2019 Beat the Backlist Challenge, 2019 Contemporary Romance Challenge

The Rest of the Story
Series: None
Author: Sarah Dessen
Published June 4th 2019 by Harper Collins Children’s Books (ARC)
Read: June 22-23 2019
My Rating: 5 Stars
Challenge: 2019 Contemporary Romance Challenge, 2019 New Release Challenge

The Duchess Deal
Series: Girl Meets Duke #1
Author: Tessa Dare
Published February 22nd 2018 by Mills & Boon
Read: June 28-29 2019
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2019 Beat the Backlist Challenge

Announcing Trouble
Series: None
Author: Amy Fellner Dominy
Published August 5th 2019 by Entangled Publishing, LLC (Crush) (ARC)
Read: June 29-30 2019
My Rating: 4 Stars
Challenge: 2019 Contemporary Romance Challenge, 2019 New Release Challenge

Challenges Update:
2019 Contemporary Romance Challenge: 4 (18 total)
2019 New Release Challenge: 4 (19 total)
2019 Beat the Backlist Challenge: 4 (9 total)

Summary:

I've read a lot of good books in June, and can't wait to finish the school year next month and have more free time this summer!

How have you done this month? Let me know below.

june

Stacking the Shelves: June 29th 2019

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Blitz

Cover Reveal Blitz: The Grimoire Chronicles Series by Zelda Knight (+INTL Giveaway)

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Today Zelda Knight, AURELIA LEO, and Rockstar Book Tours are revealing the covers and exclusive content for THE GRIMOIRE CHRONICLES Series, her new Urban Fantasy Series with the first book releasing in December 2019! Check out the awesome cover and enter the giveaway!

On to the reveal!

Title: ZEPHYR'S CURSE (The Grimoire Chronicles 0.5)

Author: Zelda Knight

Pub. Date: December 31, 2019

Publisher: AURELIA LEO

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: ?

Find it: Goodreads, AURELIA LEO

When Zephyr enters an ancient tomb in search of scrap metal, she doesn’t anticipate igniting a cosmic war. She’s stolen the key to a rare grimoire, The Book of Alabaza the Brave. The hordes of demons chasing her want it back. If she’s to survive, she must rely on Ezekiel, a member of a supernatural clan of guardians called the Thrones. The only problem is she belongs to the demonic caste, and Ezekiel was sent to slay her.

Zephyr’s Curse (A Grimoire Chronicles Novelette) is a fast-paced urban fantasy short story starring a curious crow-shifter and her reluctant guardian angel.

Title: SCALE OF JUSTICE (The Grimoire Chronicles #1)

Author: Zelda Knight

Pub. Date: jUNE 30, 2020

Publisher: AURELIA LEO

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: ?

Find it: Goodreads, AURELIA LEO

Justice Bell has spent her entire life running away from the past. The direct descendant of the most powerful warlock in human history, she’s struggled under the weight of her family’s expectations. The only person she can trust is D’Angelo, an elemental sorcerer who happens to be her ex-boyfriend.

To make enough money to skip town, Justice and D’Angelo track down a demon with a large bounty on her head. While in pursuit, Justice stumbles about a rare girmoire, The Book of Alabaza the Brave. Soon, she discovers that the shapeshifting Nightshade, immortal Fae, and all of humanity are on the verge of war. Justice must form a coven with her estranged sister, Solana, and her best friend, Vanessa, to restore order to the three realms.

Scale of Justice (The Grimoire Chronicles, #1) is a fast-paced urban fantasy romance novel starring a rebellious witch and her charming elemental sorcerer.

Title: FLAME OF TRUTH (The Grimoire Chronicles #2)

Author: Zelda Knight

Pub. Date: November 29, 2020

Publisher: AURELIA LEO

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: ?

Find it: Goodreads, AURELIA LEO

Solana Bell grew up longing for the future. The unwanted secret child of the Bell Clan, a powerful coven of witches and warlocks, Solana has always felt out of place. When her half-sister, Justice, begs Solana to join a new coven alongside her rival, Vanessa, Solana is more than a little weary.

Soon, Solana, Justice, and Vanessa are in the middle of a cosmic power struggle between the shapeshifting Nightshade, immortal Fae, and all of humanity. Transported to the realm of the Nighshade during the war, Solana encounters Prince Rafael of the dragon-shifters. Solana holds the key to a rare girmoire, The Book of Alabaza the Brave. Prince Rafael will stop at nothing to possess it, even if it means following her to the underworld.

Flame of Truth (The Grimoire Chronicles, #2) is a fast-paced urban fantasy romance novel starring a trickster witch and her chiseled dragon-shifter prince.

Title: WINGS OF GLORY (The Grimoire Chronicles #3)

Author: Zelda Knight

Pub. Date: June 29, 2021

Publisher: AURELIA LEO

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: ?

Find it: Goodreads, AURELIA LEO

Vanessa Jean-Charles has always lived in the moment. Orphaned at a young age, she’s navigated the world and her budding magical abilities alone. That’s until she met the Bell sisters, Justice and Solana, forming a coven to save the world.

The discovery of a rare girmoire, The Book of Alabaza the Brave, ignited a cosmic war between the shapeshifting Nightshade, immortal Fae, and all of humanity. Now Vanessa is tasked with destroying it. After sneaking into the realm of the Fae, Vanessa searches for their king, Emmanuel. Well, that was the plan before he tracks her down and demands her hand in marriage.

Wings of Glory (The Grimoire Chronicles, #3) is a fast-paced urban fantasy romance novel starring a badass witch and her immortal fae warrior.

Excerpt

ZEPHYR

Ezekiel motioned towards a gateway adorned with the skulls of giants. A shiver ran down Zephyr's spine. She curled her wings around herself for protection. Looking at the bones feels like a hex, she thought absently.

Embedded in the eye sockets of two of the three skulls were runes. She walked up to the gateway, doing her best not to gag at the stench of decay. Squatting to inspect the ground, Zephyr reasoned one of the runes was missing. There were only three realms, after all, Nightshade, Fae, and Human. The magic radiating from the runes matched that of the gateway. Zephyr glanced at the hilt of the ascended's broadsword. On the hilt, a gem reflected what little light there was inside of the cave.

There's no doubt it's the rune he seeks. That's the only way he could've pierced The Veil. So why is he asking me if I stole it? It doesn't make any sense!

Lost in her thoughts, Zephyr didn't notice Ezekiel approaching until it was too late.

"So?" Ezekiel boomed impatiently, mere inches away. She squawked in terror and leaped to her feet. Spinning around, Zephyr gulped as the guardian sheathed his sword and stepped forward in one fluid motion. Before she could step back, he lifted her chin upward, the palm of his hand resting on her throat. It's calloused... I always expected the highborn to be smooth all over.

"S-so. I don't know. I didn't borrow a rune. I borrowed—"

"Stole." He cut her off.

"Borrowed a key!" She snapped. Zephyr realized her mistake when a smug grin crept across Ezekiel's handsome face.

"Hmp. For a demon, you are a fool." His gleaming rows of perfectly straight teeth were begging to be knocked out. Zephyr believed he was her guardian angel. Now, she knew he was worse than an ogre!

Ezekiel bent forward, and his breath ghosted against Zephyr's skin. Something ethereal and sweet replaced the familiar smell of decay. With a curious expression, Ezekiel cupped her wounded cheek, thumb resting on her chapped lips. He murmured something too low to hear, but it sounded like an incantation to Zephyr's untrained ears. She shut her eyes tight with a grimace. She didn't want to see whatever he was summoning to obliterate her. To Zephyr's astonishment, her cuts and bruises began evaporating, leaving behind a faint translucent aura.

"You...healed me?" She asked dumbfounded.

He shrugged, "Naturally. I am ascended, not your neighborhood troll. Besides, you possess the key. Where is the grimoire of Alabaza the Brave?"

About Zelda:

Zelda Knight writes speculative romance (horror, science fiction, and fantasy). She’s also a cryptozoologist in training. Keep in touch on social media @AuthorZKnight. Or, visit www.zeldaknight.com.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

One lucky winner will receive an eBook of ZEPHYR'S CURSE, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2019 Beat the Backlist challenge

Review: When Life Gives You Demons by Jennifer Honeybourn

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When Life Gives You Demons
Series: None
Author: Jennifer Honeybourn
Published July 17th 2018 by Swoon Reads

Goodreads Synopsis
Sixteen-year-old Shelby Black has spent the past year training to be an exorcist. Her great-uncle Roy—a Catholic priest and Shelby’s guardian—believes she has a gift for expelling demons, and he’s put her through exorcist boot camp hell, but he still doesn’t trust her to do an exorcism on her own.

High school is hard enough without having to explain that you fight demons for a living, so Shelby keeps her extracurricular activity quiet, especially from Spencer, her cute math tutor. Secrets run in Shelby’s family, though: her mother has been missing ever since an exorcism went horribly wrong, and Uncle Roy is tight-lipped about it. But Shelby’s hell-bent on finding her mom, no matter what—even if what it ends up costing her her soul AND a date with Spencer.
Goodreads

Review
Wesley James Ruined My Life was a fantastic debut, and when I heard about this book, I was definitely intrigued, but had to wait a while until I could grab myself a copy. I found the whole premise of this book fantastic, especially without it being too religious. Shelby is in training to be an exorcist with her priest uncle Roy. Her mother has been missing for over a year, and no one knows where she is, and Shelby is trying to focus on finding her, and acing all her tests to become a full on exorcist. However, as any other sixteen year old would, she still has school to deal with, and her struggles with maths have led her to have a tutor, Spencer, who she finds cute, and seriously wants to keep away from her exorcism work. Well, there's more than meets the eye to Spencer, and he might just be the key to help Shelby to find and help her mother come home.

I loved Shelby's character. She was sassy and had a persona that suggested she didn't care about things, but once we saw more of her, we saw that she really did care, and that her loss of her mam and the struggles with her abilities did get to her, and that she did have a vulnerable side. The book wasn't heavy either, even though it was dealing with demons and the like. There was a proper humour to it that I wasn't really expecting, but loved none the less. The banter between all of the characters, but especially between Shelby and Spencer was real and witty, and I loved the chemistry between them, even before the truth about each other had been revealed. Jennifer's books are definitely ones for me, and I'll be adding her third book to my wishlist ASAP!

Dates Read:

February 23-26, 2019

Rating
4 Stars

Sarah Dessen

Waiting on Wednesday: The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen

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

This week's pick is:

The Rest of the Story
Series: None
Author: Sarah Dessen
Published June 4th 2019 by Harper Collins Children’s Books

Goodreads Summary
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah Dessen comes a big-hearted, sweeping novel about a girl who reconnects with a part of her family she hasn’t seen since she was a little girl—and falls in love, all over the course of a magical summer.

Emma Saylor doesn’t remember a lot about her mother, who died when she was ten. But she does remember the stories her mom told her about the big lake that went on forever, with cold, clear water and mossy trees at the edges.

Now it’s just Emma and her dad, and life is good, if a little predictable…until Emma is unexpectedly sent to spend the summer with her mother’s family—her grandmother and cousins she hasn’t seen since she was a little girl.

When Emma arrives at North Lake, she realizes there are actually two very different communities there. Her mother grew up in working class North Lake, while her dad spent summers in the wealthier Lake North resort. The more time Emma spends there, the more it starts to feel like she is divided into two people as well. To her father, she is Emma. But to her new family, she is Saylor, the name her mother always called her.

Then there’s Roo, the boy who was her very best friend when she was little. Roo holds the key to her family’s history, and slowly, he helps her put the pieces together about her past. It’s hard not to get caught up in the magic of North Lake—and Saylor finds herself falling under Roo’s spell as well.

For Saylor, it’s like a whole new world is opening up to her. But when it’s time to go back home, which side of her will win out?

Goodreads

Why I'm waiting:

I have just started to discover Sarah's books, and they are always ones that I enjoy, and I was recently approved for an ARC of this, so here's hoping I enjoy this one too!

Are you waiting for this book? Have you already read it? Let me know :)

2018 Debut Author Challenge

ARC Review: Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry

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Heretics Anonymous
Series: None
Author: Katie Henry
Published August 7th 2018 by Katherine Tegen Books

Goodreads Synopsis
Michael is an atheist. So as he walks through the doors at St. Clare’s—a strict Catholic school—sporting a plaid tie, things can’t get much worse. His dad has just made the family move again, and Michael needs a friend. When a girl challenges their teacher in class, Michael thinks he might have found one, and a fellow nonbeliever at that. Only this girl, Lucy, is not just Catholic . . . she wants to be a priest.

But Lucy introduces Michael to other St. Clare’s outcasts, and he officially joins Heretics Anonymous, where he can be an atheist, Lucy can be an outspoken feminist, Avi can be Jewish and gay, Max can wear whatever he wants, and Eden can practice paganism. After an incident in theology class, Michael encourages the Heretics to go from secret society to rebels intent on exposing the school’s hypocrisies. When Michael takes one mission too far—putting the other Heretics at risk—he must decide whether to fight for his own freedom, or rely on faith, whatever that means, in God, his friends, or himself.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

I honestly hadn't heard anything about this book before it landed on my doorstep, and I'm glad I went in blind, because books with a religious theme aren't usually ones I enjoy, but this book just blew me away! Michael is being sent to St Clare's, an ultra-strict catholic school, when he is a staunch atheist. His very first friend at school is Lucy, who he thinks is just like him, an atheist in a catholic setting, but he soon discovers that couldn't be further from the truth - she actually wants to be a priest one day. However, she is part of this group of misfits, known as the Heretics Anonymous, where everyone can be themselves, no matter of their religion, sexual orientation, or anything else. As the group embrace Michael as one of their own, they start to push boundaries, denouncing the hypocrisies of the school, but are they going too far. What could they be risking?

Like I said, if I had known was this book was about, I probably wouldn't have picked it up. That being said, I did really enjoy it, even with the religious undertones. The characters were all fantastic, from Michael's dry wit, to Lucy's feminism, to Avi's snark. The funniness and humour is there from the get go, and I can't remember the last time I laughed like this at a book before. The book was so inclusive and diverse, with prejudices challenged on page, and all the characters seemed real, and not forced at all. Nobody was trying to get anyone to be someone they weren't, all they wanted was to show others that it was alright being individual, and not having to follow the status quo, just because that's what is expected from you.

The only reason this book isn't a five star for me was some of the decisions Michael made later on really got on my nerves, and I felt like it was sort of put in there to automatically add tension. However, I felt this was an excellent debut, and I look forward to reading more from Katie in future.

Dates Read:

August 9-10, 2018

Rating
4 Stars

Blog Tour

Blog Tour: Only a Breath Apart by Katie McGarry (+INTL giveaway)

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june

Stacking the Shelves: June 22nd 2019

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Cover Reveal

Cover Reveal: Cloak of Night (Circle of Shadows #2) by Evelyn Skye

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2018 Contemporary Romance Challenge

Review: Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

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Starry Eyes
Series: None
Author: Jenn Bennett
Published May 17th 2018 by Simon & Schuster Children's UK

Goodreads Synopsis
Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best-friends-turned-worst-enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern-day version of the Montagues and Capulets. But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.

Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to try to make their way to safety. But as the two travel deeper into the rugged Californian countryside, secrets and hidden feelings surface. Soon it's not simply a matter of enduring each other’s company, but taming their growing feelings for each other.
Goodreads

Review
I have fallen in love with Bennett's books since Alex, Approximately, which I think I've read three different times already. So when I heard about this one coming out, and the friends-to-enemies-to-more trope, I knew I had to get a copy ASAP. While I didn't love this one as much as Alex, it was still a fantastic read, and Jenn has quickly become one of my auto-buy authors.

Zorie and Lennon used to be the best of friends, but once their parents started to hate each other, they were torn in the middle, a la Romeo and Juliet. It quickly turned into them two hating each other - or at least acting like they did - when they both were going on the same glamping trip with their friends from school. However, they soon become stranded in the wilderness - okay, a forest - and need to get over their differences, and work together to get home. Obviously the sexual tension that's been there since they were young would also come to a head, and they realise how much they had missed their best friend, let alone the person they were falling for.

I loved both characters - Zorie was organised, a big planner, and hated the outdoors (like me), whereas Lennon loves everything about the outdoors, and is a bit more lax about things. Being together, and having their different characteristics, helped them to recover their camping trip, and get back on the trail, having an adventure while they were at it. During the time when they had stopped being friends, a lot had happened in their families, and this time alone lets them vent to each other, and even without the romantic aspect of the book, the return to friends part was perfectly done!

The secondary characters were either lovely, or so annoying (Zorie's dad in particular), but because a lot of the book was spent with Zorie and Lennon alone, we didn't really see much of the other characters. I enjoyed the plot a lot, and think I will be re-reading this book soon, as I want to immerse myself in that world again.

Dates Read:

May 17, 2018

Rating
5 Stars