Sophie Reads YA

March

Stacking the Shelves: March 16th 2019

10:00

Kate Watson

Waiting on Wednesday: Lovestruck by Kate Watson

10:00

4 Stars

ARC Review: Obsidian and Stars (Ivory and Bone #2) by Julie Eshbaugh

10:00

Obsidian and Stars
Series: Ivory and Bone #2
Author: Julie Eshbaugh
Published June 13th 2017 by HarperTeen

Goodreads Synopsis
In the sequel to Ivory and Bone—the prehistoric fantasy novel that New York Times bestselling author Amie Kaufman described as a “richly crafted world of life-and-death stakes”—the story shifts to Mya’s viewpoint as vengeful adversaries force her to flee the life she once knew.

After surviving the chaotic battle that erupted after Lo and the Bosha clan attacked, now Mya is looking ahead to her future with Kol. All the things that once felt so uncertain are finally falling into place. But the same night as Kol and Mya’s betrothal announcement, Mya’s brother Chev reveals his plan to marry his youngest sister Lees to his friend Morsk. The only way to avoid this terrible turn of events, Morsk informs Mya when he corners her later, is for Mya to take Lees’ place and marry him herself.

Refusing to marry anyone other than her beloved, and in an effort to protect her sister, Mya runs away to a secret island with Lees. And though it seems like the safest place to hide until things back home blow over, Mya soon realizes she’s been followed. Lurking deep in the recesses of this dangerous place are rivals from Mya’s past whose thirst for revenge exceeds all reason.

With the lives of her loved ones on the line, Mya must make a move before the enemies of her past become the undoing of her future.
Goodreads

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

Following the first book, Ivory and Bone, I knew I needed to get a hold of this book, and boy was I glad when a copy dropped through my letterbox from the publisher. Now that Mya and Kol are betrothed, and coming to terms with the attack by the neighbouring tribes, they think life is back on track. However, Chev, the new leader of their tribe, has announced that their youngest sister, Lees, is to marry Morsk, something that she really does not want. The only way to save Lees, is for Mya to marry Morsk instead, something she has absolutely no intention of doing. Rather than either of them being forced into a marriage they don't want, Mya and Lees run away to a secret island, hoping everything will soon blow over, and they will eventually be able to return, and marry those they love. Obviously, this would lead to a boring book, and Mya realises she's being followed, and has to use all her wits in order to save herself, and her sister.

I really did enjoy this book, but do think I preferred Ivory and Bone. Seeing as book 1 was a Pride and Prejudice retelling, I was bound to love that, and the way the prehistory was woven in, was fantastic. For Obsidian and Stars, however, the plot was a bit slow, in my opinion, as it had to pad out a story that probably would've taken less than half the pages to be completed. The plot, what was there, was really enjoyable, but like I said, it could've been much shorter - and, if I'm honest, there didn't really need to be a book 2.

Kol and Mya's romance, following the turbulence of Ivory and Bone, was extremely sweet, and because of that, that's the main reason I've rated the book so highly. I know it's been a while since I read the book, so maybe hindsight is making me reconsider my original feelings, but I ca't really remember all that much from the book, and what I can remember, was that any of the issues were mainly caused by the lack of communication, or bad choices made by the main characters. I've heard that this series was originally planned as a trilogy, but became a duology, and I'm glad, because I don't know if a book 3 would've added anything to the series, or instead, ruined the good work of book 1. Maybe this book fell into the sophomore slump you find of so many second books, I don't know, but I wish there was just something more to this!

Dates Read:

April 23-27, 2017

Rating
4 Stars

March

Stacking the Shelves: March 9th 2019

10:00

Ashley Poston

Waiting on Wednesday: The Princess and the Fangirl (Once Upon a Con #2) by Ashley Poston

10:00

March

Stacking the Shelves: March 2nd 2019

10:00

books on my radar

March books on my radar

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A Question of Holmes
Series: Charlotte Holmes #4
Author: Brittany Cavallaro
March 5th 2019 by Katherine Tegen Books
The fourth book in the New York Times bestselling Charlotte Holmes series!
Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Watson think they’re finally in the clear. They’ve left Sherringford School—and the Moriartys—behind for a pre-college summer program at Oxford University. A chance to start from scratch and explore dating for the first time, while exploring a new city with all the freedom their program provides. But when they arrive, Charlotte is immediately drawn into a new case: a series of accidents have been befalling the members of the community theater troupe in Oxford, and now, on the eve of their production of Hamlet, they’re starting all over again. What once seemed like a comedy of errors is now a race to prevent the next tragedy—before Charlotte or Jamie is the next victim.
Goodreads

The Queen's Resistance
Series: The Queen's Rising #2
Author: Rebecca Ross
March 7th 2019 by HarperCollins Children's Books

The highly anticipated sequel to The Queen’s Rising!
Finally, Brienna is a mistress of knowledge and is settling into her role as the daughter of Davin MacQuinn, a disgraced lord who returned to Maevana to reclaim his house. Though she’d just survived a revolution, one that will finally return a queen to the throne, she faces another difficult challenge. She must prove herself trustworthy to the MacQuinns. But as Queen Isolde Kavanagh’s closest confidant, she’ll have to balance serving her father’s house as well as her country. And then there’s Cartier, a wholly separate but desirable factor in her new life.
Aodhan Morgane, formerly known as Cartier Évariste, is adjusting to the stark contrast between his pre-rebellion life in Valenia as a master of knowledge and his current one as the lord of a fallen house. During his castle’s restoration, he discovers a ten-year-old boy named Tomas, whose past and parentage are a complete mystery. So when Cartier’s former pupil Brienna is as taken with Tomas as he is, he lets his mind wander—what if he doesn’t have to raise him or his house alone?
As the Lannon trial rapidly approaches, Brienna and Cartier must put their feelings aside to concentrate on forging alliances, executing justice, and ensuring that no one interferes with the queen’s coronation. But resistance is rumbling among the old regime’s supporters, who are desperate to find a weakness in the rebels’ forces. And nothing makes a person more vulnerable than deep-seated love.

Goodreads

Izzy + Tristan
Series: None
Author: Shannon Dunlap
March 7th 2019 by Orion Children's Books
This isn't a story about anything new. It's about the oldest thing in the world. It's about love.
Sixteen-year-old Izzy, a bright aspiring doctor, isn't happy about her recent move from the Lower East Side across the river to Brooklyn. She feels distanced from her family, especially her increasingly incomprehensible twin brother, as well as her new neighbourhood.
And then she meets Tristan.
Tristan is a chess prodigy who lives with his aunt and looks up to his cousin, Marcus, who has watched out for him over the years. When he and Izzy meet one fateful night, together they tumble into a story as old and unstoppable as love itself.
From an exciting new voice in YA, this is a gripping tale of first love for anyone who loved All the Bright Places and The Hate U Give.
Goodreads

Night Music
Series: None
Author: Jenn Marie Thorne
March 19th 2019 by Dial Books
A romantic comedy that sweeps you up with breezy writing and canny social commentary, set behind the scenes of the classical music world during one hot, anything-can-happen, New York City summer
Ruby has always been Ruby Chertok future classical pianist, heir to the Chertok family legacy, daughter of renowned composer Martin Chertok. But after bungling her audition for the prestigious Amberley School of Music--where her father is on faculty--Ruby is suddenly just . . . Ruby. And who is that again? All she knows is that she wants out of the orbit of her relentlessly impressive family, and away from the world of classical music for good. Yes? Yes.
Oscar is a wunderkind, a musical genius. Just ask any of the 1.8 million people who've watched him conduct his own compositions on YouTube--or hey, just ask Oscar. But while he might be the type who'd name himself when asked about his favorite composer and somehow make you love him more for it, Oscar is not the type to jeopardize his chance to study under the great Martin Chertok--not for a crush. He's all too aware of how the ultra-privileged, ultra-white world of classical music might interpret a black guy like him falling for his benefactor's white daughter. Right? Right.
But as the New York City summer heats up, so does the spark between Ruby and Oscar. Soon their connection crackles with the same alive, uncontainable energy as the city itself. But can two people still figuring themselves out figure out how to be together? Or will the world make the choice for them?
Goodreads

The Next to Last Mistake
Series: None
Author: Amalie Jahn
March 19th 2019 by Light Messages Publishing

Tess Goodwin’s life in rural Iowa is sheltered and uncomplicated. Although she chooses to spend most of her free time playing chess with her best friend Zander, the farm-boy from next door, her skills as a bovine midwife and tractor mechanic ensure that she fits in with the other kids at East Chester High. But when her veteran father reenlists in the Army, moving her family halfway across the country to North Carolina, Tess is forced out of her comfort zone into a world she knows nothing about.
Tess approaches the move as she would a new game of chess, plotting her course through the unfamiliar reality of her new life. While heeding Zander’s long-distance advice for making new friends and strategizing a means to endure her dad’s imminent deployment to the Middle East, she quickly discovers how ill-equipped she is to navigate the challenges she encounters and becomes convinced she’ll never fit in at her new school.
When Leonetta Jackson is assigned as her mentor, she becomes Tess’s unexpected guide through the winding labyrinth of disparities between them, sparking a tentative friendship and challenging Tess to confront her reluctant nature. As the pieces move across the board of her upended life, will Tess find the acceptance she so desperately desires?

Goodreads

Sherwood
Series: None
Author: Meagan Spooner
March 19th 2019 by HarperTeen
Fans of Danielle Paige, Marissa Meyer, and Alex Flinn will devour New York Times bestselling author Meagan Spooner’s next fierce fairy tale-inspired story, which Illuminae author Amie Kaufman calls “a kick-ass, gender-flipped feminist retelling.”
Robin of Locksley is dead.
Maid Marian doesn’t know how she’ll go on, but the people of Locksley town, persecuted by the Sheriff of Nottingham, need a protector. And the dreadful Guy of Gisborne, the Sheriff’s right hand, wishes to step into Robin’s shoes as Lord of Locksley and Marian’s fiancé.
Who is there to stop them?
Marian never meant to tread in Robin’s footsteps—never intended to stand as a beacon of hope to those awaiting his triumphant return. But with a sweep of his green cloak and the flash of her sword, Marian makes the choice to become her own hero: Robin Hood.
Goodreads

What has caught your eye for March? Have you read any of these? Let me know :)

Stacking the Shelves: March 16th 2019

Waiting on Wednesday: Lovestruck by Kate Watson

ARC Review: Obsidian and Stars (Ivory and Bone #2) by Julie Eshbaugh

Stacking the Shelves: March 9th 2019

Waiting on Wednesday: The Princess and the Fangirl (Once Upon a Con #2) by Ashley Poston

Stacking the Shelves: March 2nd 2019

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, which showcases the books we've purchased, won, borrowed and received in the mail.

This week (February 24th-March 2nd) I received:

Nothing this week

What did you receive? Let me know.

March books on my radar

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About Me

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Twitter

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Reading Challenge

2025 Reading Challenge

Review Scale

Blog Archive

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, which showcases the books we've purchased, won, borrowed and received in the mail. This week (February 24th-March 2nd) I received: Nothing this week What did you receive? Let me know.

Contact Form

About Me

Search

Twitter

Bloglovin'

Reading Challenge

Review Scale

Blog Archive

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, which showcases the books we've purchased, won, borrowed and received in the mail.

This week (February 24th-March 2nd) I received:

Nothing this week

What did you receive? Let me know.