Can't Wait Wednesday No. 88: Last of Her Name, by Jessica Khoury

Welcome to "Can't Wait Wednesday"!

This is a weekly event hosted by

Tressa @ Wishful Endings!

This is also where we excited book bloggers showcase future releases we're eagerly anticipating! 
For more information, 
please click HERE.


There's also a Linky widget, so participating blogs can link up!

Here's my choice for this week!

 Last of Her Name

Jessica Khoury

Hardcover,  400 pages

Scholastic Press

   February 26, 2019

Historical Retellings, Science Fiction, 

Young Adult Fiction

Sixteen years ago, rebellion swept the galaxy known as the Belt of Jewels. Every member of the royal family was murdered--down to their youngest child, Princess Anya--and the Union government rose in its place. But Stacia doesn't think much about politics. She spends her days half-wild, rambling her father's vineyard with her closest friends, Clio and Pol.

That all changes the day a Union ship appears in town, carrying the leader of the Belt himself, the Direktor Eminent. The Direktor claims that Princess Anya is alive, and that Stacia's sleepy village is a den of empire loyalists, intent on hiding her. When Stacia is identified as the lost princess, her provincial home explodes into a nightmare.

Pol smuggles her away to a hidden escape ship in the chaos, leaving Clio in the hands of the Union. With everything she knows threading away into stars, Stacia sets her heart on a single mission. She will find and rescue Clio, even with the whole galaxy on her trail.

 Why I can't wait for this one!

OMG!!!! This is DEFINITELY exciting!!! It's a retelling, and a HISTORICAL one, at that! I have always been intrigued and fascinated by the true story of the Romanovs of Russia, and the long-standing legend (which might, after all, be true) that Princess Anastasia survived the massacre of her family. In this novel, Jessica Khoury cleverly tells the tale again, through the medium of science fiction!! I'm snapping this one up the minute it releases!!!! YAAAAAASS!!!!!

For more information on this author, you can check out her

Goodreads profile HERE!

What do you think of my
choice this week? 
Please leave a comment and
let me know!

Book Blogger Hop No. 159: My Pet Peeves With Authors

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop,

hosted by Billy @

Ramblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer!

For more information, and 

to find out the topic of next week's question, click HERE.

This Week's Question

Is there anything that drives

you bonkers when you're

reading a book that makes you

want to tell the author

a thing or two?

(Submitted  by C. Lee  @ 

cleemckenziebooks)

My Answer

One of my pet peeves is one I've referred to before in another post, and I noticed that Billy also mentioned it in his own answer to this week's question. Here it is: I just don't understand why an author would kill off a beloved character, one that most readers have overwhelmingly grown to love. This happened with a character in the Harry Potter series, and I don't think I've forgiven -- or will EVER forgive -- J.K. Rowling for this! Because of this tragic event, I have not finished reading the series. I stopped halfway through Book 6....... I would like to finish this book, and then move on to Book 7, but I don't know if I can get past that very sad point.....

I know that writers will often kill off characters because they feel this "literary murder" is necessary to the plot, but it's still hard for a reader who loves said characters to accept this......

Another pet peeve I have is when a writer makes a character act inconsistently. If a writer has already established a character's personality as being a certain way, and then, later on in the novel (or short story) makes this character do or say something that, according to his/her already established personality traits, would be totally inconsistent behavior for this character, I just gnash my teeth.....and don't finish the book.

I had this problem with Sarah J. Maas's series, A Court of Thorns and Roses. I only read, but never finished, the first book. Even though the writing was luscious, and I initially liked the main character, Feyre, I HATED what Maas did with her toward the end of the first book in the series, and then, the second book. I never read the second book, though. I did look up the plot on Wikipedia. Ha, ha!! What I read made my blood boil!! I won't reveal what it is in case whoever reads this post has not read any of the books in this series. It's a very popular series, too -- the first book has nearly 300,000 ratings on Goodreads, and nearly 34,000 reviews! I can't FOR THE LIFE OF ME understand why....

One book I started a couple of years ago, and never finished, either, got me VERY upset at the author, Elyse Douglas (this is actually a husband and wife team of writers using a pen name made up of part of each of their own names). The book is titled The Christmas Bridge. I feel I SHOULD give spoilers for this one.

(WARNING: Spoilers ahead!) 

The story seems very straightforward at first -- a story of second chances, in which a forty-year-old widow is going to reconnect with the college boyfriend she had betrayed and abandoned 20 years before. The problem is that, on the eve of her reunion with the ex-boyfriend, she meets ANOTHER guy, and starts a relationship with HIM. So she actually ends up hurting the poor ex ALL OVER AGAIN. Oh, I was FURIOUS!! I actually donated this book to Goodwill, and gave it ONE star on Goodreads. (Nice, unintentional pun, too -- Goodwill and Goodreads. Lol.)

This book actually should have been split into TWO books -- one would have been the story of the widow reconnecting with her old love, and rekindling their romance, and the other, a story of another widow, still mourning her husband, who meets an exciting new man on a day that she's feeling especially depressed, since the holidays are approaching, and she really misses her husband.

(End of spoilers for this book.)

Once again, I was puzzled by all the five-star reviews of this book on Goodreads, although it doesn't have as many as A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Both of these books -- the Sarah J. Maas books (Numbers 1 and 2) and the one by Elyse Douglas -- also had one thing in common that totally IRRITATED me: I was expecting the plot to go one way, which seemed to be logical and consistent according to what had already been established, only to have the author take it down ANOTHER path that just made NO SENSE WHATSOEVER. 

Yet another pet peeve is when an author lets a villain -- who seems to be a GOOD person -- literally GET AWAY WITH MURDER. 

(WARNING: A LOT of spoilers ahead!) 

This was the problem I had with Rebecca, by Daphne Du Maurier. One of the main characters, Max De Winter, was a very wealthy man who had married a woman named Rebecca, who was a very manipulative, totally heartless, B---H. She dies in a rather mysterious manner, and he later marries a very young, inexperienced woman who is never named in the novel. Well, it turns out that De Winter actually KILLED Rebecca, whom he loathed. The police are investigating, and are on the verge of discovering the truth. De Winter ends up admitting to the murder. To whom? HIS SECOND WIFE. And guess what? SHE HELPS HIM TO COVER UP THIS MURDER. NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Yes, this is a classic. Yes, the prose style is absolutely BRILLIANT. Yes, the suspense is excellently handled. BUT. MAX DE WINTER GOT AWAY WITH MURDER. End of story. End of my interest in this book!!!

(End of spoilers for this book.)

As you can all see (if you read the spoilers), I have some rather strong feelings regarding things that authors have done with their novels. Interestingly, these pet peeves all have something to do with the way characters are portrayed. They also have a lot to do with the way a plot is developed. 

What I find pretty funny, as well as fascinating, and yet, altogether appropriate, is that I've gotten SO MAD at these authors, given the fact that these characters and plots are FICTIONAL. These are not real people, nor real events. Yet, I've been passionately involved with them! This goes to show just how POWERFUL the written word is. Not only do novels and short stories have the power to transport us to different worlds and time periods, they also have the IMMENSE power to move us, to provoke us to actual disappointment and anger, which are really feelings of......yes, I have to say it: BETRAYAL. I have felt betrayed by these authors. 

So these things that "drive me bonkers" tell me that I am totally invested in reading, that books and reading are a PASSION for me, and that, when an author's work clicks with me, I will feel a glorious bliss, whereas, when it doesn't, I will feel.....well, everything I've already described. 

As the saying goes, "A reader lives a thousand lives....." And when one of them just doesn't work for said reader, the book is history! Lol.

There. I'm off my soapbox now!!  :)  

What are your thoughts on

this topic?

Please leave a comment! 

If you're participating in this meme,

I'll go comment on your 

own BBH post.

If not, I will then comment on one 

of your blog posts!

Thanks for visiting!!! 

Book Blogger Hop No. 158: My First Book of the Year

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop,

hosted by Billy @

Ramblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer!

For more information, and 

to find out the topic of next week's question, click HERE.

This Week's Question

What is your first book

of the year?

(Submitted  by Elizabeth  @ 

Silver's Reviews)

My Answer

I started a Christmas-themed book, titled A Magical Christmas Present, toward the end of December, and finished it on January 7th. So this collection actually counts as my first book of the year.

A Magical Christmas Present is an anthology of short Christmas romance stories by three different authors, and they were ALL lovely! I won't say much about them now, though, as I do intend to review this collection. However, I can say that each story has a fantasy/paranormal angle to it. There's one story involving a ghost, another involving magical spectacles, and two involving time travel (the ghost story has this ingredient, as well). I LOVE romance stories that include time travel!

This is the book I'm referring to. Click on the cover for the Goodreads page, if you're interested in learning more about it.

I'm also going to be reading The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas, pretty soon. But A Magical Christmas Present is really the very first book of 2019, even though I began it before New Year's.

What are your thoughts on

this topic?

Please leave a comment! 

If you're participating in this meme,

I'll go comment on your 

own BBH post.

If not, I will then comment on one 

of your blog posts!

Thanks for visiting!!! 

Can't Wait Wednesday No. 87: Vortex Visions, by Elise Kova

Welcome to "Can't Wait Wednesday"!

This is a weekly event hosted by

Tressa @ Wishful Endings!

This is also where we excited book bloggers showcase future releases we're eagerly anticipating! 
For more information, 
please click HERE.


There's also a Linky widget, so participating blogs can link up!

Here's my choice for this week!

 Vortex Visions

(Air Awakens: Vortex Chronicles, Book 1)

Kindle Edition,  11835 KB

Silver Wing Press

   February 4, 2019

Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult Fiction

 

A desperate princess, a magical traveler, and a watch that binds them together with the fate of a dying world.

 Vi Solaris is the heir to an Empire she’s barely seen. Her parents sacrificed a life with her to quell a rebellion and secure peace with a political alliance. Now, three years past when her wardship should’ve ended, Vi will do anything to be reunited with her family.

The Empire is faltering beneath the burden of political infighting and a deadly plague. Yet, Vi can’t help but wonder if her inability to control her magic is the true reason her parents haven’t brought her home. Suspicion becomes reality when she unleashes powers she’s not supposed to have. 

Powers that might well cost her the throne.

As Vi fights to get her magic under control, a mysterious stranger appears from across the world. He holds the keys to unlocking her full potential, but the knowledge has an unspeakable price — some truths, once seen, cannot be ignored.

All eyes are on her and Vi must make the hardest choice of her life: Play by the rules and claim her throne. Or, break them and save the world.

If you enjoy epic fantasy stories with sorcery, slow-burn romance, and expansive worlds to adventure in, then you’ll love the Vortex Chronicles!

 

 Why I can't wait for this one!

When I first came across this cover, I was hooked!
I just HAD to find out more! The only problem
is that this is is an ebook.....
Well, I'm crossing my fingers that it
will soon be out in print, as well!! 
Meanwhile, I'll go ahead and pre-order the 
Kindle Edition, because this sounds 
MUCH TOO GOOD to pass up!!!

For more information on this author, you can check out her

Goodreads profile HERE!

What do you think of my
choice this week? 
Please leave a comment and
let me know!

Book Blogger Hop No. 157: Books I'm Looking Forward to in 2019!!!

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop,

hosted by Billy @

Ramblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer!

For more information, and 

to find out the topic of next week's question, click HERE.

This Week's Question

Any books you are looking

forward to for 2019?

(Submitted  by Elizabeth  @ 

Silver's Reviews)

My Answer

I did publish a post about interesting January releases, on January 1st. This was also my Happy New Year post. However, the list of books in that post included some that I wouldn't read myself. So this list was really more for my first-time visitors and regular blog readers (although I do like a couple of the books on it, as well; one of them is also featured below).  You can access that post HERE.

As for books I'm looking forward to strictly for myself, well, here they are! You can find out more about each one by clicking on the book image, which will take you either to the Goodreads page, or the Amazon page.

Would you be interested in any of these? Again, since I'm a very eclectic reader, I do have several genres featured here, just as I did in that New Year's post.

  I'm VERY interested in this book 

because this is actually the city

where I was born.

What are your thoughts on

this topic?

Please leave a comment! 

If you're participating in this meme,

I'll go comment on your 

own BBH post.

If not, I will then comment on one 

of your blog posts!

Thanks for visiting!!!