Can't Wait Wednesday No. 5: The Crown's Fate, by Evelyn Skye

Welcome to "Can't Wait Wednesday"!

  

This is a weekly event hosted by

Tressa @ Wishful Endings, and inspired by "Waiting On Wednesday", which used to be hosted by

 Jill @ Breaking the Spine.

For more information, please click HERE.

As in the previous meme, this one showcases future releases  we book  bloggers 
are eagerly anticipating!!
There's also a Linky widget, so participating blogs can link up!

Here's my choice for this week!

 The Crown's Fate

(The Crown's Game, Book 2)

Evelyn Skye

Hardcover, 432 pages 

 Balzer + Bray

May 16, 2017

Fantasy, Historical Fiction, 

 Romance, Young Adult Fiction  

   

Perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone and Red Queen, The Crown’s Fate is the thrilling sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Crown’s Game, an atmospheric historical fantasy set in Imperial Russia.

Russia is on the brink of great change. Pasha’s coronation approaches, and Vika is now the Imperial Enchanter, but the role she once coveted may be more difficult—and dangerous—than she ever expected.

Pasha is grappling with his own problems—his legitimacy is in doubt, the girl he loves loathes him, and he believes his best friend is dead. When a challenger to the throne emerges—and with the magic in Russia growing rapidly—Pasha must do whatever it takes to keep his position and protect his kingdom.

For Nikolai, the ending of the Crown’s Game stung deeply. Although he just managed to escape death, Nikolai remains alone, a shadow hidden in a not-quite-real world of his own creation. But when he’s given a second chance at life—tied to a dark price—Nikolai must decide just how far he’s willing to go to return to the world.

With revolution on the rise, dangerous new magic rearing up, and a tsardom up for the taking, Vika, Nikolai, and Pasha must fight—or face the destruction of not only their world but also themselves.

Why I can't wait for this one!

I missed the first book in this series when it was released.....but I'm well aware that it was a HUGE hit! Besides, the cover was GORGEOUS! Well, I LOVE this cover, too! And anything set in Imperial Russia (I ADORE Leigh Bardugo!!) will get me all excited and cheering for sure!! So I'm now catching the train with this second book!!

Here's the first book in the series!!

What do you think of my choice?

Leave your link below, so I can
come check out your pick(s)!

Shelf Candy Saturday No. 203: Dream A Little Dream, by Kerstin Gier

Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!

***Late Edition***

This is my weekly feature

showcasing beautiful covers!

It also provides information, 
if available, on their 
very talented creators!

Here's my choice for this week!

Dream A Little Dream
Kerstin Gier
(Anthea Bell, Translator)
Hardcover, 322 pages
Henry Holt and Co.
April 14, 2015
   Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal Romance,   
Young Adult Fiction 

My Thoughts About This Cover

I discovered this GORGEOUS cover on the blog A Belle's Tales, created and staffed by the incredible mother-daughter team of Michele and Mckenzie! As soon as I saw this image, I fell totally in love with it! Right then and there, I decided to feature it on my Saturday (and sometimes Sunday, lol) book cover meme. (Click on the link above to see Michele's post.)

This looks like a powerful dream image, so it's PERFECT for the book's title! I love the overall impression I get -- that of walking into a fantasy land through a "keyhole" that's also a tunnel cut into a tree. The texture around this "keyhole" is that of tree bark, and very well depicted, too. I think this is a digitally manipulated photographic image.

The pathway into the fantasy land is strewn with red rose petals, creating a lovely effect. Also, the entire shape of the "keyhole" and path remind me of some exotic perfume bottle. This is fascinating! This image can thus be seen alternately as one or the other, which adds to the cover's appeal.

The young girl in the image looks as if she's delighted to start off on a great fantasy adventure. I can tell from the way she's walking happily along, with not a care in the world!

The contrasting textures of the tree bark and flower petals make this a powerful visual image! The tree bark might have a hint of something sinister hidden within the tree, while the rose petals hint at possible love. So there's a contrast of symbolism, as well.

Another hint in this cover is the overall feeling of anticipation. This points to the fact that there's a mystery involved here, as well.

The font is a classic one, but has been enhanced with very graceful flourishes that reinforce the dreamlike feel of the entire cover. I like that the title is all in caps, too.

I was happy to discover the brilliant designer of this cover! Her name is April Ward, and she's a native of the Pacific Northwest. She graduated from the very prestigious Pratt Institute in NYC, and has designed books for such publishers as HarperCollins, North South Books, Flashkids Books, and Harcourt Trade Publishers. She's currently the Art Director of Square Fish Books at Macmillan Children's Publishing Group.     

Online Links
Website 

Julie Halpern's Blog of 
Wonder: Interview
25 of the Most Wonderful 
Book Covers of the Year

 

What do you think of this 
week's cover?
Please leave a comment
and let me know!

Book Blogger Hop No. 84: Reading with TV or Radio On

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

Can you read and watch TV

or listen to the radio at the same time?

(Submitted  by Elizabeth @ 

Silver's Reviews)

My Answer

This question is really a no-brainer for me. I don't think it's really possible to concentrate on a book and whatever program is on the TV, at the same time. The exception for me is when I'm really not interested in the program, and just have the TV on for background noise. This is not really my idea, though; it's my husband who needs to have the TV on at all times, whether he's watching it or not. Lol.

When the volume is low (as in background noise), I am totally able to concentrate on my book. If the volume is set at a higher level, though, and what's on the tube is something I find very interesting (such as a "Star Trek" rerun), then obviously the tube will win out. If the book I'm reading is TOTALLY FASCINATING, then the book will win out. Of course, in such cases, I would much prefer to have the TV off, anyway.

Things are a little different with radio stations, CDs, or MP3s. These are my music sources. At home, I usually listen to either CDs or MP3s. While commuting to work or somewhere else, then I listen to any of these music sources.

I can listen to music while reading, but it really depends on the type of music being played. I do prefer to have no music on at all while reading, but, if I do have some playing, the best type for me to listen to is meditation music. I am unable to read at all if I'm listening to either classical music, rock, EDM (electronic dance music), soft rock, or jazz. Meditation music -- such as New Age music -- is okay, because the melodies are frequently repetitive and, of course, they're always soothing. Thus, they don't take away from my concentration on the book. Even with this type of music, though, I do need to have the volume on low. 

Reading is a left-brain activity, for the most part, although there's some right-brain activity involved, especially when one is reading fiction, and is picturing the imaginary settings invented by authors. Listening to music, on the other hand, is definitely a right-brain activity. So it stands to reason that these two activities would be incompatible with each other, except in the situation I mentioned above. Watching TV is mostly a right-brain activity, especially in cases of programs that don't require any thought at all, such as game shows or comedy shows. Programs such as documentaries or dramas do require some thought.  Since visual input can grab one's attention so completely, of course it will win out when one is trying to read a book. Visual images are extremely compelling, especially for visually-oriented people like me. Again, if the TV is on only for background noise, then I will be able to ignore whatever images it's showing.("Beam me up, Scotty!" Huh? Wait a second, is that a "STAR TREK" episode playing?! Quickly puts book aside and rushes to the TV to watch.)

Summing up, I would have to say that these three highly entertaining activities are best kept separate, again, with some few exceptions. At least, this is how it works out for me!  

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!!!