Tag: jay kristoff

Guest Post, Reviews

GUEST POST: Nevernight

A Morrow

I’ve got something exciting for you all today!!

As some of you know, I’ve been buddy-reading the bulk of Jay Kristoff’s work with two friends from my amazing book club, The Book Democracy. Jennie, Anita and I started with The Illuminae Files (by Amie Kauffman and Jay Kristoff) and then we were hooked! Since Darkdawn, the third and final installment in this series is set to come out in September, we’ve been focusing on finishing the rest of this series in time.

I loved Nevernight and I can’t wait to tell you all about that love, but I’m not going to! Not here, anyway.

“What?? Not on your blog…then where??”

On Jennie’s blog, that’s where!!

This week up is down and blue is green and we are switching blogs!

That’s right, pals, below you will find a fantastic review for this fantastic book, Nevernight, written by none other than my friend Jennie from Jennie From The Book. I hope you enjoy her wit and humor as much as I do. Have fun and see you tomorrow!

“I can safely say that Jay Kristoff has definitely made his holy dark ways onto my auto-buy author list.

Oh Jay Kristoff. Sir. Nevernight hurts so good. While I have absolutely taken the journey of Mia Corvere and thoroughly enjoyed it, I have to say, it isn’t for everyone. I must state this for everyone in the back to hear… it is NOT Young Adult! The Illuminae series (by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kauffman) was…. This, my friends, is NOT. For one, this book has one too many blow jobs lol. Keep that in mind before going on this wild badass ride.

This is a book about revenge, blood, lust and death. Jay Kristoff wrote his book very brutally. He does not buy you dinner first and does not include vaseline with every purchase. So once you start reading page one get ready to take it. No bracing yourself. Right from the start.

With that said…I freaking loved it!

This book follows young Mia on a journey to avenge her family. She joins a group that can be compared to a place like Hogwarts, except here she’s learning how to murder people. She’s not a Hufflepuff training for O.W.L.s.

We go through every little detail and stage with her. Twists and horrors. My only complaint was actually her age. She’s 15 during this specific book. (I’m not sure about the rest) but I would have felt a tiny bit more comfortable with some scenes if she were at least 20. Regardless of her age, she is powerful, headstrong, and totally badass!

We meet some unforgettable characters in this story. Some you love, some you hate. Some you love to hate. They all stay with you though. I need to know more about all of them! Trust that they all made me gasp and yell at them at one point or another.

We end this book with a cliffhanger that made my head spin. Therefore, it’s safe to say you’ll be seeing a review for book two (Godsgrave) in August.

I hope this review actually helped you lol. Cause after writing it, then re-reading it… I’m still wondering wtf I’m even saying. Nevernight screwed me up in a great way.

Keep a lookout for more joint reviews with my awesome gal-pal fellow badass Story-eyed reviews!”

Want to read more from Jennie? Find her @ her Blog and her Instagram.

I LOVED Nevernight too so much, it was one of those fun, fantastic, crazy reads for me that sucked me in and then I popped out on the other side…changed. I want to tell everyone about it!

To read my own review, check it out HERE at Jennie’s!

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It’s “What are you reading?” Wednesday!

A Morrow

I’ve seen a lot of bookish memes and list ideas here on the book-blogging circuit, and I wish I could do all of them! One of my favorites has been a trend of bloggers posting their current reads on Wednesdays.

This week I’ll be taking inspiration from Taking On a World of Words, and trying out their “WWW Wednesday!”

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

What I’m currently reading:

Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

The re-read continues! I love getting to this part in the series, when things are getting darker and the trio is getting older. Harry is so angsty in this one, not that he doesn’t have a few good reasons why. Agh, this one always gets me too because we lose one of my favorite characters, and my heart breaks every time. Looking forward to it! Haha.

Before I Disappear by Danielle Stinson

This little YA mystery/fantasy has all of my nostalgia feelers activated. It’s been driving me crazy because I remember a story about this town that only existed for a day, or something like that, when I was a kid. It was a book or a movie…? Gah! I can picture it vividly and yet I can’t remember the name of it for the life of me. That’s what this book reminds me of though! Atmospheric and mysterious, full of drama and urgency, Before I Disappear is turning out to be a really fun read. Look for this one touring on my blog soon!

Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff

Okay, I literally started this one today after finishing its prequel at like…three AM, haha. I’m buddy reading this series with two friends from my book club and it is sooo gooood. Damn, I have not read anything like this series so far. I’ll save all my praise for my review, but safe to say that I am already deeply invested and, if you’re a fan of dark, gritty Adult Fantasy, you should check it out too.

What I’ve recently finished:

Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

This was my favorite of the Harry Potter books as a kid for a long time and…I think it is now, too. I had so much fun reading this again. Goblet of Fire is one of those books that is full of “did that just happen??” moments and I was hooked as a kid, I remember taking each and every twist and turn as a complete surprise, and they were just as wonderful to appreciate from the other side this time around. Might type up some thoughts about this one for you guys.

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

I have so much to say about this book! I’ll probably do a review, since I’m buddy reading this series right now in preparation for the release of Darkdawn (the third book in this series) this fall! This ADULT fantasy, and I emphasize that because it is often confused with YA and it contains a lot of things that would never be found in YA, is brutal, dark, manipulative, visceral, and sometimes all too much. But it’s so damn good too, and right up my alley. Check it out and enjoy, but fair warning: this one’s not for the faint of heart.

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I LOVED THIS BOOK. Okay, I’ll stop yelling now, but seriously I loved this book. And I was so surprised that I loved it! I know, it’s gotten amazing reviews and everyone is talking about it, but for some reason I never thought it would be one of my favorites of the year. Told like a VH1 documentary on one of your favorite bands from the 70s, Daisy Jones is part memoir, part family story, part self-discovery, and an absolute celebration of music. Look for my review on this one soon, and in the meantime pick up a copy of your own! You won’t regret it.

What I think I’ll read next:

Meet the Sky by McCall Hoyle

I’m participating in a tour for this one coming up soon and was lucky enough to be able to interview the author! (Look for that on 7/25) This book takes place during a hurricane, as I understand it, and it follows two young people as they try to survive and find each other, in more ways than one. Looking forward to this one being an emotional read!

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

I’m so excited to read this. I’ve heard so much about it from my book club, from booktube, I’ve seen it all over bookstagram, I get it already! I’ll read it! Fine! But honestly, I’m really looking forward to it. This looks like another fun YA Fantasy but, if you believe the hype, there’s something special and original about it. I can’t wait to find out for myself and report back.

What are you reading this week??

Top 10 Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday

A Morrow

Top 10 Tuesday was created by The Broke and The Bookish in June 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

This week’s topic asks us to list our “Auto-buy Authors.”

I chose way more than 10 at first! But managed, in the end, to narrow my list down to these 10 below. Honorable Mentions at the end, cause I had to mention them!!

Jim Butcher

Jim Butcher writes my favorite series, The Dresden Files. I struggled to put him on this list though because he also writes another series that I have not read. So is he really auto-buy? …Yes, I had to count him, because I pre-order his books as soon as that button becomes availble. I will read The Dresden Files until the series ends or until I die, whichever comes first haha. Writes Adult Fantasy, Urban Fantasy.

Diana Gabaldon

I’ve been buying and reading the Outlander series, and its companion series, since I was arguably too young to read it. I love this series, I love Gabaldon’s writing style and plot choices, and I love falling back into this world and letting it mesmerize me again and again. Can’t wait to read the next one in 2020! Writes Adult Historical Fantasy.

Jay Kristoff

I only started reading Jay Kristoff’s body of work this year and I can’t believe what I was missing out on! Anything that says it was written by Jay Kristoff now, or Jay Kristoff & Amie Kauffman for that matter, I know I want read. I read his Illuminae Files series last month and LOVED it so much, and am currently reading his Nevernight series also! WOW. Definitely a writer I love following. Writes YA & Adult Sci-Fi/Fantasy.

Megan Whalen Turner

I questioned whether to put Turner on my list, not because I don’t auto-buy everything she writes, because I do, but because she only puts out a book every few years, all in the same series. So it’s more accurately a series that I auto-buy…but I don’t care, I’ll take any chance to brag about The Queen’s Thief series. The way she writes fantasy is original, psychological, and so clever. I loved the newest installment in this series and look forward to the next. Writes MG/YA Fantasy.

Angie Thomas

Thomas has only written two books but they have both been two of my favorites. THUG (The Hate You Give) and On the Come Up, which I reviewed in June, were both absolutely fantastic. They made me feel so many things and I loved and rooted for all of those characters. Thomas’ voice is so important in our current climate today and I for one will read anything she writes at all. Writes YA Contemporary.

Christina Lauren

I only jumped onto the wildly-popular Christina Lauren train this year, but I already love my seat! I’ve read four of their books now and I absolutely loved them all, even though they were all so different from each other. I love how they are able to build a love story into any situation, and I especially love the care and consideration they give to their characters’ thoughts and emotions before action. These books are great summer reads, and I would recommend them to anyone who needs a good one this summer! Check out The Unhoneymooners, which I reviewed this May! Writes Adult Contemporary/Romance.

B.A. Paris

I love these psychological thrillers! I don’t know if I’d nominate these books for an award, but I can say with confidence that every time I pick up a B.A. Paris novel I end up devouring it in as few sittings as my life will let me. I loved The Breakdown, I loved Behind Closed Doors (that ending, right??), and I just started reading Bring Me Back for a book exchange, I’m so excited!! B.A. Paris is always a guaranteed fun night of reading, and I will always appreciate that. Writes Adult Mystery/Thrillers.

Gillian Flynn

My other mystery auto-buy author. My favorite Gillian Flynn novel is Sharp Objects, I loved that book so much. It was dark, brutal, unapologetic, and ugly in all the right ways, which are the things I love about Flynn novels. Even her novellas get me where it hurts! The Grownup is one of my most reread novellas and I still can’t decide what I think really happened in that story. I love Flynn’s way of making the reader have to decide what is good or possible or survivable or what actually happened as a whole, and I love the dark corners that she explores in her writing. Writes Adult Mystery/Thrillers.

Jenny Lawson

I love Jenny Lawson! She might be my oldest auto-buy author, and she’s only written two books, each of them gems. I’ve been following Lawson since she was only a blogger and her blog is still one of my most entertaining, relatable reads every week. Her books are even better. Furiously Happy and Let’s Pretend This Never Happened are both hilarious adventures through stories of love, mental illness, giant metal chickens, and living life loudly when surrounded by obstacles. Wholeheartedly recommend. Writes Memoirs.

Brené Brown

These books are my jam. Any time I need help resetting my insecurities or guidance into a better headspace, Brown has my back. She has written so many books that have spoken to me: The Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly, Rising Strong, Braving the Wilderness, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next! If you’re not familiar with Brown, you can also catch her TED talk for a little piece of what to expect from her books. Writes Non-Fiction/Self-Help.

Honorable Mentions: So many more!!

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Robin Benway, Jay Kristoff & Amie Kauffman, J.R.R. Tolkien, Ruth Ware, Rupi Kaur, Patricia Briggs, Riley Sager.

Who are your auto-buy authors?? Tell me in the comments!

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It’s “What are you reading?” Wednesday!

A Morrow

I’ve seen a lot of bookish memes and list ideas here on the book-blogging circuit, and I wish I could do all of them! One of my favorites has been a trend of bloggers posting their current reads on Wednesdays.

This week I’ll be taking inspiration from Taking On a World of Words, and trying out their “WWW Wednesday!”

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

What I’m currently reading:

Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan

I’m halfway through this book and I have to say that I am enjoying it a lot. It hasn’t hooked me the way I was hoping it would, yet, but to be fair, my expectations for this book were HIGH. I love the fresh perspective of tying a characters powers and fate to religion and gods and it gives the whole story a new twist that I think is original and so fun to read. I’ll definitely be updating you all when I finish this one.

The Invited by Jennifer McMahon

Ha, I started this one kind of on a whim, but I got lucky. I saw it in a new release display at my library and the synopsis sounded utterly creepy and, dare I say it? SCARY. So, of course, I had to bring it home and read it. I’m really loving this one. Again, I’m about halfway through, maybe a little more, and I had to keep my hall light on last night. I know, I’m 12 years old again, I feel it haha. But seriously! The book isn’t “scary” per se, but it definitely holds some scenes that are keeping me up at night with vivid, tangible imagery, and eerie topics that creep into your head when you’re sitting in a waiting room or trying to fall asleep. I hope that the climax of this book lives up to my very high expectations, but we shall see!

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

I started this book last week and I’m still reading it! I’ve been having to read in rotation, so I can get everything else I need to read by deadlines read, but I’m also kind of enjoying the way that its forced me to savor every moment of this book. Nevernight is SO DARK and I LOVE IT. Mia is unapologetic and brutally fierce, the story is a complex woven tapestry of a thousand different choices and consequences, and I am thoroughly impressed by this book. I’m already so excited to read the rest of the series.

What I’ve recently finished:

Harry Potter 1-3 by J.K. Rowling

I’m participating in a Harry Potter reread!! I haven’t reread these books in years and I am so. damn. excited. about reading them again now. I flew through the first three in the series, partly because they’re geared younger than the other four and partly because of excitement, but it feels like going home. I read HP for the first time the year that I too turned 11 and the magic of the twists and turns in this series has not been lost. I am falling back in love all over and over again.

I’m also thinking of doing some sort of blog feature as I read the other four! What do you think??

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

I started this book with the intention of reading as much as I could fit in before the deadline because I’m reviewing it for an exciting book tour tomorrow! (There’s also gonna be a GIVEAWAY! Keep on the look-out!) However, I fell head over heels into this book with no hope of getting out. It was driving, compelling, addicting, and I NEEDED to know the secrets inside the Bartholomew. Oh, and I learned them. I finished this book in one day, you couldn’t pry it out of my hands. I can’t wait to more fully review this book and I’m so excited to be participating! Check back here tomorrow for some exciting Lock Every Door stuff!

What I think I’ll read next:

The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory

I’m really looking forward to this one! I’ve heard the Jasmine Guillory is a hit and I’ve been reading a LOT of fantasy lately, so I think it’ll feel good to take a break with a fun contemporary. This book is about a girl who’s boyfriend (of like- weeks or something ridiculous) proposes to her in on the jumbotron at a baseball game- and the chaos that ensues after. I think it looks fun, fresh, and like a perfect Summer read. Here’s hoping!

Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff

Ahhhh yaaaaay! It’s taken me a while to get through Nevernight, since I’m also trying to continue with my HP read-a-long and books for review, but I am so excited for the next book in the series. And also excited that I discovered these not too long before the third, and final, installment comes out this year. I cannot wait!! This series has hooked me hard.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

So excited for this one! I’ve been enjoying my HP reread like no other, but this book was my favorite in the series for a long time and I suspect that it still will be. I’m really looking forward to diving into it again as an adult and seeing what new things pop out at me, and what holds up and doesn’t. This series is so much fun and I’m having the time of my life reliving the nostalgia and love for these books.

What are you reading this week?? Tell me in the comments!

Top 10 Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday

A Morrow

Top 10 Tuesday was created by The Broke and The Bookish in June 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

This week’s topic asks us to list our “Top 10 Unique Character Names.”

Well, I chose more than 10, cause I LOVE NAMES!! I usually have a list of names I love from media, but I had to write this list while I was out of town, so these are just off the top of my head! Haha and yes, there are fourteen of them. Some of these are old favorites and some are new discoveries, but I love finding new and unique names within literature. Hope you have as much fun reading as I did making this list!

Arya & Sansa

A Game of Thrones series by George R.R. Martin

Scout

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Hermione

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Mercy, Adam, & Bran

Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega series by Patricia Briggs

Niklas

Gemina, The Illuminae Files by Amie Kauffman and Jay Kristoff

Sekani

The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas

Kaz, Jesper, & Inej

Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo

Elias

An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir

Theo (Theodora)

The Haunting of Hill House (Book & TV Series) by Shirley Jackson

Jamie, Marsali, Phaedre & Jem

The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon

Rhysand (Rhys)

A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Maas

Briar

The Circle of Magic series by Tamora Pierce

What are some of your favorite literary names?? Tell me in the comments!

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It’s “What are you reading?” Wednesday!

A Morrow

I’ve seen a lot of bookish memes and list ideas here on the book-blogging circuit, and I wish I could do all of them! One of my favorites has been a trend of bloggers posting their current reads on Wednesdays.

This week I’ll be taking inspiration from Taking On a World of Words, and trying out their “WWW Wednesday!”

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

What I’m currently reading:

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

I’m reading this with two friends (Heeey Anita and Jennie! @jenniefromthebook) and I’m already hooked! This is my first time reading this one even though the third book in the series is set to come out this year, and I’m really enjoying it. Nevernight is dark, unapologetic, and addicting. Jay Kristoff has definitely earned a spot in the list of authors who’s body of work I consistently enjoy. Excited to continue this one!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

That’s riiiiiight! It’s time for a reread, folks! I haven’t reread these in years, years, and I am so excited to dive back into these childhood favorites!! I’m listening to them this time around and hearing the words of this story unfold before me again is like taking a long, peaceful walk in the neighborhood I grew up in. This July is going to be one great Harry Potter month!

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

This one came out today! I received this ARC just two days ago in order to read it for its upcoming Blog Tour! I’ll be participating as a host this year and I’m so excited to tell you all more about this great, thrilling read. This is my second Riley Sager book and I am not disappointed! Keep an eye out for the tour soon and a GIVEAWAY too!!

What I’ve recently finished:

Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira

Oh, my heart! This book hit me right in the feels, over and over and over. It was beautiful. I read this book for bingo in June and I enjoyed it a lot. This YA contemporary deals with really difficult topics and does so with such a delicate hand and poignant style. I’m very impressed by this book, which I had previously never heard of, which I love. If this sounds like your kind of book, then I definitely recommend!

What I think I’ll read next:

Recursion by Blake Crouch

I’m so excited to read this!! Blake Crouch also wrote Dark Matter, which I enjoyed a lot, and his mind is so sharp with this brand of science fiction. The synopsis of this one sounds just as intense and creative as the last one was, something to do with memory and a technology that could allow us to tangibly relive them, and then of course lots of complicated intrigue and moral dilemmas along the way. I’m so psyched.

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris

I’m also excited about this one, to be honest. I’m reading this for a Book Exchange, but also because I’ve read most of B.A. Paris’ work and I have really enjoyed all of them. I read the synopsis before I bought it, but really only as a formality. Paris consistently writes thrillers that are psychological, moody, and don’t always end how you expect, and that’s what I’ve enjoyed the most. I look forward to enjoying this one too.

What are you reading this week?? Tell me in the comments!