Otherword & Otherearth (Last Reality #1 & #2) by Jason Segel & Kirsten Miller

         

Otherworld (Last Reality #1)

The company says Otherworld is amazing - like nothing you've ever seen before. They say that it's addictive - that you'll want to stay forever. They promise Otherworld will make all your dreams come true. 

Simon thought Otherworld was a game. Turns out he knew nothing. Otherworld is the next phase of reality. It's everything you've ever wanted.

And it's about to change humanity forever.

Welcome to the Otherworld. No one could ever have seen it coming.

Otherearth (Last Reality #2)

Return to the series BuzzFeed compared to Ready Player One in the second book in a new fast-paced trilogy from New York Times bestselling authors Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller that's perfect for fans of HBO's Westworld.

Simon saved his best friend, Kat, from the clutches of the Company and their high-tech VR gamilng experience, Otherworld. But it was at a steep price. Now he, Kat, and their friend Busara are on the run. They know too much. About the Company's dark secrets.

About the real-life consequences of playing Otherworld. And about Kat's stepfather's involvement in everything. The group is headed to New Mexico to find Simon's old roomate, who is a tech genius and possibly the only person who can help them reveal the truth about the Company before it's too late and the line between what's real and what's fantasy is erased... forever.

Imagine a future in which you can leave reality behind and give in to your greatest desires. That future is now. And the future is terrifying. 

Review(s)

I am writing my reviews of Otherworld and Otherearth together, mostly because I rushed through them both super fast and didn't take any time in between to jot any notes down for a review like I normally do. I will make sure I do not give away any spoilers for Otherworld, for those of you that have not read book #1 yet. 

MIND BLOWN!!!

I must say, I was pretty intrigued when I learned that Jason Segel wrote thsi book. When the first book was released, I put it on my TBR but never read it. I saw him on The View (don't judge me, I just happened to land on that channel while it was on and stopped because he was talking, and he is funny) and found out that he wrote these books and the second had just been released. I 💓💓💓 Forgetting Sarah Marshall! I knew he wrote that, and everything else I've seen him in has been hilarious. I already wanted to read these books after reading about them when Otherworld was released, so this was the push I needed to bump them to the top of my TBR list and read them.

There are definitely some funny parts, and the book is very well-written and the world building is excellent. The authors were able to build an amazing realistic AI world within a world and bring both to life. 

The first book was really good. I sped through it and finished it within a couple of days. The second book was just as good, but the ending BLEW MY MIND! I totally did not see it coming.

I am so upset now! In the Kindle version, the page after you finish the book says Other____ coming Fall 2019" Seriously? It's like they're rubbing it in that we will have to wait a whole year to see what happens next.

So, I just recently started listening to audiobooks on my commute to work. Usually, I just want to keep reading (something that you shouldn't do while driving), so I get the audiobook of the book I am reading from the library so that I can SAFELY keep reading while I drive. 

I was expecting the audiobook to be super funny and entertaining because Jason Segal narrated it. He did a good job, and it wasn't boring, monotonous, or not entertaining, but it just wasn't' what I was expecting when I started it. He does well voicing some of the characters, but I was expecting a lot more theatrics and funny-making (yeah, that's totally a word). That was just my expectation though, not something that the audiobook is advertised as or anything. It is no way was a bad audiobook, and I will totally listen to book #3 on audiobook. I just wanted to mention this in case anyone else has the same expectation I had.

Definitely, do not let this deter you from listening to it, but just don't go into it expecting him to do voice work as if it were a cartoon or something. It is an audiobook, and we are adults (kind of). lol

I loved these books! I am happy that I waited until the 2nd book was released to read the first so that I didn't have to wait to read it, but I am upset that I have to wait to see what happens next! I'm not sure when book # 3 will be out. It isn't listed on GoodReads yet, so I assume it will not be anytime this year. 😥

Mirage (Mirage #1) by Somaiya Daud

In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she too will have adventues, and travel beyond her isolated moon. 

But when adventure comes to Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place.

As Amani is forced into her new role, she can't help but enjoy the palace's beauty - and her time with the princess' fiance, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection... because one wrong move could lead to her death. 

Review

I went in this book not quite knowing what to expect and was pleasantly surprised! I loved it!

I listened to most of this book as an Audiobook, and I highly recommend it. This is one of those books where I know I would have pronounced the names and places much different if I read them first. I really enjoyed hearing the book read with the pronunciation the author intended for the characters and places.

I have only recently started listening to audiobooks. This was only the 3rd or 4th one I've listened to, and I enjoyed it very much. I especially love that I can read while driving now, something you should never do without an audiobook.

This book is really well written! The author did an excellent job at world building and character development, and the plot was very unique.

Although this book is set on a different planet, much of the book was inspired by Moroccan culture. This was awesome! I love when YA fantasy books incorporate different cultures, even if they are set on other planets!

The only thing that irked me just a little about this book was how easily Amani seems to settle into her new life and doesn't seem to be taking her situation as seriously as she should be. She is supposed to be in danger throughout the whole book, and it seems like she forgets that quite a bit. This could be a combination of her personality and how young she is, but I still expected her at several points during the book to stop and consider how much danger she is in.

I still really enjoyed reading this book, though! I definitely recommend it!

The ending left me asking a whole bunch of questions, so I will definitely check out book #2 when it comes out!

Book # 2, Court of Lions, is listed on GoodReads. It says it will be released sometime this year but doesn't say when. 

The Winter of the Witch (Winternight Trilogy #3) by Katherine Arden

Following their adventures in The Bear and the Nightengale and The Girl in the Tower, Vasya and Morozko return in this stunning conclusion to the bestselling Winternight Trilogy, battling enemies mortal and magical to save both Russias, the seen and the unseen. 

Now Moscow has been struck by disaster. Its people are searching for answers-and for someone to blame. Vasya finds herself alone, beset on all sides. The Grand Prince is in a rage, choosing allies that will lead him on a path to war and ruin. A wicked demon returns, stronger than ever and determined to spread chaos. Caught at the center of the conflict is Vasya, who finds the fate of two worlds resting on her shoulders. Her destiny uncertain, Vasua will uncover surprising truths about herself and her history as she desperately tries to save Russia, Morozko, and the magical world she treasures. But she may not be able to save them all.

Praise for The Winter of the Witch:

(Normally I wouldn't include this, but I have several good reasons, besides the fact that it was included on GoodReads with the synopsis)

1. I completely agree with it.
2. Laini Taylor is AH-MAY-ZING, and I ♥♥♥ her!
3. Because I want to. 

"Katherine Arden's Winternight Trilogy isn't just good-- it's hug-to-your-chest, straight-to-the-favorites-shelf, reread-immediately good, and each book just gets better. The Winter of the Witch plunges us back to fourteenth-century Moscow, where old gods and new vie for the soul of Russia and fate rests on a witch girl's slender shoulders. Prepare to have your heart ripped out, loaned back to you full of snow and magic, and ripped out some more" - Laini Taylor

Review

I just got done reading this series, and I am so sad that Vasya's story has come to an end! This series was amazing.

If I could only say one thing about this series, I would definitely borrow the sentiment that stuck out to me most when I was reading other reviews of this book:

This is why I read. 

This book was unique and inspiring and funny and sad and insightful and creative, and a whole lot of other things, all wound up into one amazing work of fiction.

If you have not read the first 2 books, I recommend starting with my review of The Bear and the Nightengale (book #1) or The Girl in the Tower (book #2). 

This book starts off right where The Girl in the Tower ended. Dmitri still doesn't understand Vasya and tries to offer to marry her off within the first few pages of this book. Her siblings know the truth now, though, even though I'm not sure how much of it they believe. 

I absolutely loved this book! It was a perfect way to wrap up an awesome trilogy. 

I loved the unique premise for these books. I have never read any books that incorporated Russian folklore and fairytales. I loved learning about them and a little bit about Russian history.

In my reviews of TB&TN and TGitT, I ranted about my appreciation for the author's use of the Russian language and thanked her for adding a section about Russian names and language and their use throughout the book. I will not rant again, but "ditto." 😄

I still 💜💜💜 Vasya! She would be a total badass in today's society, but in her time, her level of badassery was completely unheard of in a woman. I love that no matter what, she doesn't back down and do what society expects of her, despite pretty much everyone around her trying to marry her off or send her to a convent. Thankfully, this book has less of that.

This is from TGitT, but I like it so here.

I also 💜 the chyerti! I wish I could find some fan art to post of them. While I've liked the domovoi since the first book, I also really liked the mushroom chyerti in this book! 

The only thing I would have liked better would have been to read the whole trilogy at one time, instead of having to wait for up to a year for each subsequent book. GOOD NEWS: If you haven't read any of the series yet, you can do that now, since they have all been released now!

I liked the way the author ended this book, but oh boy did it have me bawling, as did several other parts in the book. 

I also like the beautiful different book covers done for these books. Here is one set:

Here is a cute pic from Instagram that features the back of this book, which has the quote:

I will ride the world, in between times, through the farthest countries of dark and day. 

How cool is that?

If you haven't started reading this series yet, GO DO IT NOW! What are you waiting for?

2019 Reading Challenge

Happy new year everyone! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season!

I just set my GoodReads reading challenge and am considering doing a different kind of reading challenge this year, but there are so many different ones to choose from. 

Click the picture below for a list of all the different reading challenges online this year:

Here is another "Master List," because I found a couple that are on one but not the other. This one is from GirlXoxo

Here are a few of my favorite. What do you think? 

This one is from Epic Reads and includes a different challenge for each week. The first week's challenge is to read a book thats cover is your favorite color. 

First Week's Challenge:

Click the pic to see some examples

This is one from PopSugar that I like. I think it would really take me out of my reading comfort zone and encourage me to read a lot of books that I would never read otherwise. 

This one is designed to read one book each week. 

I'm tempted to do this one, because pretty much all of the books I read in 2018 were sci-fi and fantasy.

      

However, I am also thinking that I should try a challenge that will make me branch out a bit and try reading some other genres that I might not choose on my own.

This is probably the one I need to do most! I have tons of ebooks that I've gotten for free that I haven't read yet. 

Then, there are the Alphabet Soup challenges. The original Alphabet Soup challenges requires you to read a book that starts with each letter of the alphabet. However, there is also an Author's Edition this year, which requires you to read a book by an author whose first or last name starts with each letter of the alphabet. 

 

Interested in getting involved (or more involved) in the book blogging community? Here's a challenge designed to keep bloggers in communication throughout the year.

I haven't decided which one I'm going to try yet, but I will post it on IG and FB when I do. 

What do you think? Which of these do you think sounds like fun, or which one do you plan to do this year? 

Is there a challenge I didn't list here that you think I would like? Please let me know! I'm up for suggestions! 

Happy Jolabokaflod!

Meet your favorite new holiday tradition!

Last year, I wrote a post about Jolabokaflod, Iceland's "Christmas Book Flood." Sorry for the repetition, but I just had to share about this AWESOME tradition again this year! I wish everyone did this in the US.

According to a decades-old Icelandic tradition, books are the standard Christmas gift. NPR reports:

"The culture of giving books as present is very deeply rooted in how families perceive Christmas as a holiday," says Kristjan B. Jonasson, president of the Iceland Publishers Association. "Normally, we give the presents on the night of the 24th and people spend the night reading. In many ways, it's the backbone of the publishing sector here in Iceland."

 From: So Cool! Iceland’s Tradition is to Give BOOKS for Christmas

In the months before Christmas, publishers compete for the attention of Icelanders in a season known as Jolabokaflod, the "Christmas Book Flood." According to NPR, "The Flood begins with the release of Bokatidindi, a catalog of new publications from the Iceland Publishers Association distributed free to ever Icelandic home."

The tradition is especially fitting for Iceland, as it's famous for being a highly literary culture. As the BBC pointed out in 2013, "This island nation of just over 300,000 people has more writers, more books published and more books read, per head, than anywhere else in the world." Las month, the New York Times reported that "At least 90% of Icelanders age 16 or older read at least one book a year just for pleasure." In comparison, only 72% of American adults read a single book last year.

Check out this article by an Icelandic author to see what Jolabokaflod means to her.

You can also get these awesome Jolabokaflod pajama sets from Out of Print! I think they are sold out for the holidays though, because I can't find them any more. :( Maybe next year...

Happy holidays everyone!

The Mortal Word (The Invisible Library #5) by Genevieve Cogman

  

A corrupt countess

A spy in danger

And an assassin at large 

In the latest novel in Genevieve Cogman's historical fantasy series, the fate of worlds lies in the balance. When a dragon is murdered at a peace conference, time-traveling Librarian spy Irene must solve the case to keep the balance between order, chaos... and the Library. 

When Irene returns to London after a relatively straightforward book theft in Vienna, Bradamant informs her that there is a top secret dragon-Fae peace conference in progress that the Library is meditating, but that the second-in-command dragon has been stabbed to death. Tasked with solving the case, Vale and Irene immediately go to 1890s Paris.

Once they arrive, it seems that the murder victim had uncovered evidence suggesting that he may have found proof of treachery by one of more Librarians. But to ensure the peace of the conference, some Librarians are already hostages in the dragon and Fae courts. To save the captives, including her parents, Irene must get to the bottom of this murder-but was it dragon, Fae, or even a Librarian who committed the crime? 

Review

I ABSOLUTELY ♥ this series!

If you haven't read the rest of the series, check out my review of the first 3 books (I sped through them super fast and decided to do 1 review about all 3), HERE.

I will try not to include too many spoilers about the first 4 books, but it is kind of unavoidable.

SPOILER ALERT: I will try to keep them to a minimum though

This book picks up where book # 4, The Lost Plot, left off, with Kai no longer in service to the Library.

I'm sad that Kai wasn't in this book more! He is one of my favorite characters! I love him and Irene as a team! It sucks that they aren't working as one anymore!

I am glad he was in it, though, and of course, I am still in ♥ with Irene! She is a total badass!

This book, like the last, is set in the same world as the first 3 books, but since the original conflict with Alberich was resolved (we hope), this book follows a new main plot line. Irene and Vale are asked to go to 1890s Paris and solve a dragon murder.

While this book was a bit different than the rest of the series, I found it just as enjoyable. The author introduced some very interesting new characters that I really liked. Up until this book, I wasn't a fan of the fae, but I started to like a couple of them in this book.

If you liked the rest of the series, you will certainly like this book. It is mostly set at one time, in one city, unlike some of the other books in this series, but the author still continues to world build and share much more about the dragons, fae, and Librarians that we haven't learned yet. Also, the character development continues, but the new characters are my favorite part of this book.

I just read that Genevieve Cogman has been contracted for up to 8 books, so she plans to write at least 8 Invisible Library books! It makes me so happy that I do not have to say goodbye to Irene, her friends, and her world yet. However, a release date has not been announced for book #6, so I may have to wait a while to see what happens next.

Until then, I will be waiting not so patiently to see what happens next!

I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Iron Garland (Harbinger #3) by Jeff Wheeler

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jeff Wheeler continues his majestic Harbinger series in a world where motivations are as mysterious as magic. 

For three years, Sera Fitzempress has been a pawn in a gilded prison - the floating manor of Pavenham Sky. Disgraced and exiled from society, she has been isolated from the downtrodden she's determined to liberate. But although Sera may seem subservient on the outside, the stubborn princess has only emboldened.

Now in charge of her family's estate, Cettie Pratt has grown into an independent young woman, although she continues to be tested by the high society of the clouds. Advancing in the magic of the Mysteries, Cettie is also a useful tool of defense during turbulent times. However, as more of Cettie's mysterious past comes to light, her greatest challenge may be a reckless stranger with a dark secret.

The fog of war is drawing in, and with it comes a startling new enemy who may unravel secrets that both women would prefer to stay hidden. But their secrets may be the only way to stop the coming darkness...

Review

If you have not read the first book in the Harbinger series, click here to read my review of Storm Glass (book #1).

I will try not to include too many spoilers of Mirror Gate (book #2) in this review, but this book starts a few years after Mirror Gate ends.

Yet again, Jeff Wheeler kept me on the edge of my seat, speeding through this book because I couldn't wait to see what happened next!

My only issue with this series is that all of the books weren't released at the same time, so I have had to wait in between releases to see what happens next!

The author continued to do an excellent job of world-building and character development, as well as introducing us to some new characters that we will grow to love and/or hate. Many, you do not know whether you should love or hate them, and certainly not whether or not the characters should trust them. The author sucks you into this book with the amazing world he's built, and his characters keep you glued to the pages, determined to learn about what they do next.

The ending to this book was a bit anticlimactic. Yes, secrets were revealed and a bit plot point ramps up at the end. However, I found that it was a little lacking in excitement. It definitely sets up the scene for a super exciting beginning of book #4 though. In some ways, I am a little happy about this, if this book ended in a huge cliffhanger, I would be complaining even more about how long I have to wait to read the next book.

I haven't had time to read the Kingsfountain books yet, but this book just reinforced my need to get them and read them... like NOW.

However, I hope I find an ARC of Prism Cloud (book #4) soon so that I don't have to wait until March to read it!

I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Dark Arts & a Daiquiri Book Blitz & Giveaway

Dark Arts and a Daiquiri
Annette Marie
(The Guild Codex: Spellbound, #2)
Publication date: November 16th 2018
Genres: New Adult, Urban Fantasy

When I found myself facing down the scariest black-magic felon in the city, practically daring him to abduct me, I had to wonder exactly how I ended up here.
It all started when I accidentally landed a job as a bartender—but not at a bar. At aguild, populated by mages, sorcerers, alchemists, witches, and psychics. Good thing this lame-o human is adaptable, right?
Then my favorite guild members—three sexy, powerful, and intermittently charming mages—asked for my help. Did they want access to my encyclopedic knowledge of cocktails? Oh no. They wanted to wrap me up in a pretty ribbon and plunk me in the crosshairs of a murderous rogue to lure him out of hiding.
So that’s what we did. And that’s why I’m here. About to be kidnapped. Oh, and our grand plan for safely capturing said murderous rogue? Yeah, that completely fell apart about two minutes ago.
Why did I agree to this again?
—
Note: The three mages are definitely sexy, but this series isn’t a reverse harem. It’s 100% fun, sassy, fast-paced urban fantasy.
Tori has no problem getting herself into trouble in every book in the Guild Codex series, but each one is a complete adventure—no cliffhanger endings.
—
THE GUILD CODEX: SPELLBOUND
Three Mages and a Margarita (#1)
Dark Arts and a Daiquiri (#2)
Two Witches and a Whiskey (#3)

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

“This is really nice,” I gushed, unconcerned by the apartment’s lackluster finishes. Beggars couldn’t be choosers, and having spent the last ten months sleeping on my brother’s sofa, I was ready to overlook anything less than holes in the walls.
Which, unfortunately, had been included in all the apartments we’d viewed so far, along with complimentary mold, cockroaches, and suspicious odors. That wasn’t including the batshit crazy landlords. Did normal people not dabble in real estate investment, or did all the well-adjusted landlords have tenants already?
“It’s clean,” Sin observed. “Running water. Heat. Wait, does it have heat? It’s cold in here.”
“Well, it is a basement.” I flapped my printout. “It says all utilities are included in the rent. How sweet is that?”
Sin wrinkled her nose suspiciously. “It’s too cheap. There’s got to be something wrong with it.”
“Maybe there’s a hobo living in the crawlspace.” I pointed at a half-height door tucked in a corner of the living room. “That’s a crawlspace, right?”
We crossed the room and I crouched at the door, Sin leaning over my shoulder. I pulled it open. Inside was nothing but impenetrable darkness.
“Use your phone’s flashlight,” Sin suggested. “There must be a light switch or—”
Chill air whispered over my skin and all the hair on my body stood on end—then arctic wind blasted me in the face.
I recoiled, crashing into Sin’s legs. She landed on her ass as the wind howled out of the crawlspace, whipping dust through the room. My printouts went flying and we scrambled backward on our butts with the papers spiraling toward the ceiling.
The darkness in the crawlspace leaked out from the doorway and pooled on the floor like ink. Shadows writhed and something pale materialized in the threshold—a skeletal woman on her hands and knees, toothless mouth gaping, empty eye sockets dribbling black blood.
I took one look at the moaning specter and screamed like the sissy girl that I am.
Sin let out her own terrified shriek as the ghostly woman dragged herself out of the crawlspace, her long hair trailing on the floor. She stretched a hand toward us, blackened fingers curled like claws, and icy gusts lashed at our faces. Still screaming, Sin grabbed my arm, her fingernails digging into my skin. Sharp pain cut through my panic.
I jammed my hand into my pocket and whipped out my trump card—yes, a literal card.
My trusty Queen of Spades was more than it appeared: a sorcerer’s artifact embedded with a spell that reflected magic. Was there any magic here to rebound? I had no idea. Would it work on a ghost? Also no idea. I wasn’t a sorcerer. I was a crime-of-convenience thief and I had only the vaguest notion how to use the card.
But it was the lone magical defense I had, so I thrust it at the phantom and shouted, “Ori repercutio!”
The air rippled and the gale-force wind reversed direction. It slammed into the woman, flinging her back into the crawlspace. Her head hit the door frame with a whack.
“Ow!” she squeaked.
Sin’s scream cut off. In unison, we launched to our feet. We weren’t screaming anymore, but I for one was even more freaked out. The woman was too solid to be a ghost, but holy freaking shit, that body did not belong to a living being—papery skin clinging to bones, empty sockets for eyes, stringy hair down to her knees.
The ghost woman sprang up, raising her hands like claws. “Begone from this place,” she moaned. “Begooooone … or else!”
I tilted my head toward Sin, not daring to take my eyes off the not-a-ghost. “Hey, Sin. Is that … a vampire?”
“No.” She pulled a handful of vials with colorful liquid contents out of her purse. “Not even close.”
Selecting a bottle, she dropped the others back into her bag and unscrewed the top. A hideous smell like burnt iron singed my nose.
“No!” the woman shrieked—except she didn’t sound like a woman anymore. Her voice was two octaves higher and painfully nasal. “Don’t!”
Sin held out the bottle threateningly. “Show us your real form or I’ll drench you!”
“Noooo! Go away!” The woman stomped her foot. “Stupid humans! This is my house!”
Raising her hand higher, Sin started to tip the bottle.
“Uuuuugh. Fine.” The woman threw her hands up—and her body melted. It lost solidity and shrank, then reformed into something new.
The creature was dark green with skin the waxy texture of pine needles. Even with twigs sprouting off its large head in place of hair, it barely reached my waist, and a mixture of spruce branches and pine cones hid its torso. Thin arms and legs stuck out of the twiggy mess, its hands and feet comically oversized.
Its eyes, narrowed angrily, dominated its face, the crystalline green irises unnaturally bright and entirely lacking pupils—just giant green orbs.
The creature pointed an accusing finger at us. “This is my house! Leave or I’ll turn you into bean sprouts!”
I cleared my throat. “Okay, not a vampire,” I said to Sin. “What is it?” “This,” Sin replied grimly, “is a faery.”

Author Bio:
Annette Marie is the author of Amazon best-selling YA urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, its prequel trilogy Spell Weaver, and romantic fantasy trilogy Red Winter. Her first love is fantasy, but fast-paced adventures and tantalizing forbidden romances are her guilty pleasures. She lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, it's not quite that bad) with her husband and their furry minion of darkness—sorry, cat—Caesar. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in one art project or another while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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