My Favourite Books from the First Half of 2017

It's always interesting to look back and try to pick my favourite books of the year but it can be really hard to narrow it down to a reasonable number so I thought I'd make a start on my top books of 2017 list early by having a look at my favourites from January to June. I limited it to first reads only (the books I reread are already favourites so would have an unfair advantage!) and no more than one book per author (again some authors would end up on the list multiple times!). The books can be old or new as long as they're new to me but as it happened this time around they're all 2017 releases and there are quite a few debuts on the list which is great.

My favourite YA books from the first half of 2017:

(Click the links to read my reviews)

1. Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
2. Dawn Study by Maria V Snyder
3. Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts
4. Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh
5. Caraval by Stephanie Garber

I don't really read contemporary YA so it's no surprise that this list is full of fantasy titles. We are really getting spoiled with the huge amount of YA fantasy being released right now and there are so many more books that I'm really excited to read and already suspect will end up on my final list at the end of the year!

My favourite adult books from the first half of 2017:

(Click the links to read my reviews)

1. White Hot by Ilona Andrews
2. Silver Silence by Nalini Singh
3. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
4. Scorpion Trap by Pippa DaCosta
5. Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs

It doesn't surprise me that my favourite adult tiles are all branches of fantasy either, my favourite genres are still definitely urban fantasy and paranormal romance but fantasy in general always hits my hot spot! This list includes 4 of my favourite authors who are nearly always in my top book lists and Katherine Arden's debut has me incredibly excited to follow her writing career.

What are your favourite books of the year so far? Do any of mine make your lists too? If you have any fantasy recommendations (old or new) please do leave them in the comment, I can never have too many books on my to read mountain!

Review: Dawn Study - Maria V. Snyder

The exhilarating conclusion to the Chronicles of Ixia series

Despite the odds, former poison taster Yelena and warrior Valek have forged an irrevocable bond - and a family - that transcends borders. Now, when their two homelands stand on the bring of war, they must fight with magic and cunning to thwart an Ixia plot to invade Sitia.

Yelena seeks to break the hold of an insidious evil that could force her to make a dangerous deal whilst Valek peels back the layers of another dark betrayal. At its rotten core lies a powerful sorcerer . . . and his latest discovery - that the fate of all rests upon two unlikely weapons.

One may turn the tide.

The other could spell the end of everything . . .

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
I fell in love with Yelena and Valek in Poison Study and have been a devoted fan of this series ever since then. Maria V. Snyder has created such a wonderful world along with so many favourite characters and I just devour each new instalment so I'm pretty heartbroken that Dawn Study is the final book. If you're going to end a series then it has to be on a high note though and she has definitely achieved that goal here. This book was action packed from beginning to end, we get a chance to catch up with all our favourite characters (old and new) and I don't think there could have been a more fitting end to the series.

This is the conclusion we've been building up to, the final showdown between Yelena and her herd and their longstanding enemies, and it was well worth the wait. Owen Moon thinks he has everything planned down to the tiniest detail, he has the Commander brainwashed, the Master Magicians and the Sitian Council are under his control and he is about to start a war between Ixia and Sitia to destroy the magicians once and for all. Unfortunately for him Yelena, Valek and their allies are determined to stop him at any cost. They're short on manpower, they're up against weapons they have no idea how to counter and they are still trying to figure out all of Owen's backup plans but they're fighting for their lives and they're aiming to win no matter what it costs them.

I'm not going to say anymore about the plot but just when you think you have everything figured out Maria V Snyder throws another curveball to change the game completely. Our team are hit with one thing after another and the danger has never been greater so it's genuinely an edge of the seat read that leaves you praying everyone you love will make it to the end. If I have one complaint it's that I'd have liked a longer epilogue but that's only because I'm not ready to say goodbye to these characters and I wanted to spend more time with everyone, not because the book actually needed any more. I can't help it, I'm greedy when it comes to this world! In reality I actually think the author was right to end Yelena and Valek's story here, it's about time they found some peace and are able to focus on themselves and their growing family.

That doesn't mean I'm not hoping for more in the future though, I'd be happy to read extra stories about ANY of the characters in this world but what I'm really keeping my fingers crossed for is a spin off set a few years down the line starring some of the younger characters. I'd love to see more of Reema and Teegan as they grow into their powers and just imagine how much they could achieve if you had them working alongside Fisk and his helping hands or Valek's younger siblings. Onora would be another interesting character to follow and I'd be happy to spend more time with Ari and Janco too. There are so many options for expanding this world and of course if we could get a glimpse into Yelena and Valek's future too that would just make things even sweeter.

This is without a doubt one of my favourite series and it's one I can't recommend highly enough. It has been excellent from beginning to end and Maria V Snyder continues to be an auto-buy author for me so no matter what she decides to write next I'll definitely be reading it.

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
Blackplume
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Shattered Glass - Maria V. Snyder

While trying to teach her adopted daughter, Reema, how to work with molten glass, Opal receives a letter from Master Magician Zitora Cowan requesting Opal's immediate help. Zitora resigned from the Sitian Council over two years ago to search for her lost sister, and no one has heard from her since. The letter is probably a trick, but Opal refuses to pass up the opportunity to help her mentor, who may be in genuine trouble. Good thing Opal isn't that easy to fool. With her two soldier friends Nic and Eve providing backup, the three travel to a small town in the Jewelrose Clan. But can they rescue the Master Magician without being caught in the same trap?

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
Maria Snyder is an auto-buy author for me, I love everything she's written but her Chronicles of Ixia books (the ones narrated by Yelena in particular) are my favourites so I bought Shattered Glass as soon as it was published. This story is set between Night Study and the upcoming final book in the series, it actually overlaps Dawn Study a little so I'd highly recommend reading this before you get the new one. There are certain revelations at the end that are going to have a big impact on Opal's actions in the final story.

It was really nice to get a chance to catch up with Opal, I'm still not convinced about her relationship with Devlin but I'm glad she's happy and I really enjoy watching her with her adopted daughter Reema. I actually think Reema is a pretty brilliant character and I'd love to have a spin off series featuring her a few years down the line when she's old enough to be off having her own adventures, I can't be the only one thinking she'd be a great match for Fisk can I? Just imagine the trouble those two would cause if they put their heads together? They'd take over the world in no time!

Opal's old mentor, Master Magician Zitoria, has been missing for several years now, ever since she went looking for her lost sister, so when Opal receives a mysterious letter from her requesting her help she immediately jumps to respond. Devlin isn't happy about her going alone but he has to stay behind to look after Reema so Opal recruits her friends Eve and Nic to help her.

I'm not going to say any more about the story because it's fairly short and would be too easy to spoil but I enjoyed seeing Opal in action again and this left me more eager for Dawn Study than I already was. I know not all readers are fans of authors writing additional novellas that are required to understand the full length novels in a series but I think it's worth pointing out that Maria wrote this to help raise funds to pay for her daughter's friend's treatment for breast cancer and I think it's worth buying for that reason alone. Even if you ignore the fact that your money is going to a good cause it's a fab little story and fans are going to love being back in this world.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
Blackplume
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Kindle:

My Most Anticipated 2017 Reads

As we close out 2016 I wanted to talk about some of the fabulous books that I'm looking forward to reading next year. I'm going to focus on releases from the first half of 2017 and I'll try to make a similar list in the summer to cover the rest of the year.

Young Adult:

1. Dawn Study by Maria V. Snyder - I'm a huge fan of the Chronicles of Ixia series, Yelena and Valek are two of my favourite YA characters of all time so I can't wait to read the latest book even though I'm incredibly sad it's the last one.
2. Traitor to the throne by Alwyn Hamilton - Rebel of the Sands was one of my favourite books of 2016 so of course I have very high hopes for the sequel.
3. Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor - If you've read The Daughter of Smoke and Bone you'll already know why I'm looking forward to this one, I just adore Laini's writing.
4. Caraval by Stephanie Garber - There is so much hype surrounding Caraval which makes me a little nervous but Hodder publish some of my favourite books so I think this will be awesome, especially since it's described as perfect for fans of The Night Circus.
5. Shadowcaster by Cinda Williams Chima - I first discovered Cinda Williams Chima's Seven Realms series this year and I was hooked from the very beginning, I devoured all four books as well as the first book in the Shattered Realms spin off and I can't wait to see what happens next.
6. Heartstone by Elle Katharine White - This is a debut novel that turns Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice into a high fantasy story with dragons. With dragons people, Pride and Prejudice with DRAGONS! Do I need to say any more than that?
7. Roseblood by A.G. Howard - I love it when authors take a well known story and put their own spin on it so I'm very excited to see what twists A.G. Howard is going to add to the Phantom of the Opera.
8. Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth - I absolutely loved the Divergent series (even though I've refused to read the last book since someone spoilered me!) so I've been waiting a long time to see what Veronica Roth would come up with next.
9. The Wish Granter by C.J. Redwine - I really love fairytales and retellings and this series combines the two so I'm looking forward to reading this one.
10. Silver Stars by Michael Grant - This is a little different to the other books on my list since it's not high fantasy but Michael Grant has imagined WWII as if women had been allowed to fight on the front lines. I enjoyed every minute of the first book so I'm looking forward to continuing the journey these women are taking.

Adult:

1. White Hot by Ilona Andrews - This is a bit of a cheat since I've already read White Hot (twice!) but it's so absolutely awesome that I can't wait to read it again and we also have the third book in the series, Wildfire, to look forward to later on in the year so I'm all about this series next year.
2. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden - This debut fantasy is being sold as perfect for fans of The Night Circus and Uprooted which happen to be two of my favourite books so I'm expecting great things from this one.
3. Silver Silence by Nalini Singh - I love everything Nalini Singh writes and her Psy-Changeling series is absolutely fantastic so of course I'm looking forward to the next instalment.
4. Scorpion Trap by Pippa DaCosta - I discovered Pippa DaCosta in 2015 and completely fell in love with her writing. Since then I've devoured her entire backlist but luckily for me she's quite a prolific writer and I can't wait for the next book in her Ace Dante series. 
5. Blade bound by Chloe Neill - Well the end is here, the last book in the Chicagoland Vampires series. This is going to be a bittersweet read because I'm not ready to say goodbye to these characters but at the same time I can't wait to see how things turn out for Merit and Ethan.
6. Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs - Mercy Thompson is one of my favourite urban fantasy heroines, I reread this series regularly but it's been a couple of years now so I'm hoping to find time to read them all before Silence Fallen releases.
7. Breath of Fire by Amanda Bouchet - A Promise of Fire was another of my favourite 2016 debuts so I'm sure this will be just as awesome.
8. The Night Mark by Tiffany Reisz - I'm a huge fan of Tiffany Reisz's writing so of course this is at the top of my wish list.
9. Ride Rough by Laura Kaye - I may not read much contemporary romance these days but there are a couple of authors who I automatically preorder and Laura Kaye is one of them.
10. Too Wilde To Tame by Tonya Burrows - This is another series that I love and have been waiting almost a year for the next instalment of.

Are any of these books at the top of your list? What other books are you excited about reading in 2017?

My Favourite Reads of 2016

It's always fun to look back over the year and try to pick out my favourite reads. I've read a lot of amazing books this year but I've also reread a lot of series I love so I've decided that I'm only allowed to include first reads in this list and I'm also going to try and limit it to one book per author so that a few favourites don't dominate the list! The links below will take you to my reviews.

Young Adult:

1. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
2. Morning Star by Pierce Brown
3. Night Study by Maria V. Snyder
4. Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
5. Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
6. Barefoot on the Wind by Zoe Marriott
7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Illustrated Edition - J.K. Rowling & Jim Kay
8. Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
9. The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima
10. Secret of the Gargoyles by Rebecca Chastain

Adult:

1. Magic Binds by Ilona Andrews
2. Archangel's Heart by Nalini Singh
3. Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs
4. See No Evil by Pippa DaCosta
5. A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet
6. Den of Wolves by Juliet Marillier
7. Siege by K.F. Breene
8. Beyond Surrender by Kit Rocha
9. Lets Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson
10. Hollywood Dirt by Alessandra Torre

What were your favourite reads in 2016? Do any match up with the ones on my list?

Review: Night Study - Maria V. Snyder

A new darkness is rising for Yelena Zaltana

Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana's life has been in peril. But the recent loss of her Soulfinding abilities - the powerful magic that has protected her before - has made her more vulnerable to her enemies.

As she searches for a way to reclaim her abilities neither Ixia nor Sitia are safe for her. Especially since the growing discord between the two countries and the possibility of a way threatens everything Yelena holds dear.

Now with the most sinister threat she has ever faced approaching, Yelena will have to find a new way to fight the dark.

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
I'm not very rational when it comes to this series because I just love it so damn much but I think Night Study might just be my new favourite from Maria V. Snyder. Yelena and Valek have been one of my favourite fictional couples ever since I read Poison Study and my love for them both has only grown throughout the series so you're just going to have to forgive me for fangirling a little (or probably a lot!) in this review.  I'm going to assume that anyone who is reading this review has read at least as far as Shadow Study so please be aware that there may be spoilers beyond this point for anyone new to the series but just in case you've been hiding under a rock for the last few years and are yet to discover the Chronicles of Ixia you're just going to have to trust me that these books are AMAZING and you NEED to read them! So, if you're not up-to-date step away from the screen now and get reading, I'll wait right here until you're finished.

Are you back? Okay you've had your spoiler warnings so this is where the real discussion starts. Night Study picks up immediately after the ending of Shadow Study and you're already aware of the cliffhanger that ended on so I'm sure you've been desperately waiting for this book just like I was! Yelena has just made a very big discovery and now it's time to break the news to Valek, this is a huge time of change for the couple and things aren't helped by the fact that Yelena is still unable to access her magic. Valek is understandably feeling very protective towards his heart mate but he is torn between his love for her and his duty to the Commander. It's not going to be long before Valek is forced to make some difficult choices, especially since the Commander seems to be hiding so many things from him lately.

I really don't want to say too much about the plot here but there is a LOT going on that is will potentially have a huge impact on lives in both Ixia and Sitia in the future. Yelena and Valek are dealing with enemies both old and new, there are new friendships, strengthening of old ties, surprising allies and betrayals from unexpected corners. Night Study is full of action and romance, it will tug on your heartstrings and shock the hell out of you but leave you with a huge smile on your face. Our favourite characters are facing difficult challenges and danger but they are also learning a lot about themselves and the people they care about. The best news of all is that Yelena and Valek actually get to spend quite a lot of time together in this book, yes they still have separate tasks that they need to perform but they also spend some quality time as a couple and their relationship is stronger and more wonderful than ever.

This series has gone from strength to strength and Night Study is the best instalment yet, I'm absolutely devastated that Yelena and Valek's story is coming to an end but at the same time I can't wait to see how things play out. There are a lot of loose ends but things are finally coming together and I can't wait to get my hands on Dawn Study to see how it all plays out.

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
Blackplume
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Blog Tour: Night Study - Maria V. Snyder

I absolutely LOVE Maria V. Snyder's Chronicles of Ixia series so it shouldn't be any surprise that I was incredibly excited to get my hands on an early copy of the latest instalment Night Study. I'll be posting my full review later today but trust me, if you're a fan of this series you NEED this book! I think it might be my favourite book yet and that's really saying something! Anyway, to celebrate the release of Night Study I have a fab guest post from Maria for you including a special visit from one of my favourite characters but before we get to that let me give you a bit more information about the book.

A new darkness is rising for Yelena Zaltana

Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana's life has been in peril. But the recent loss of her Soulfinding abilities - the powerful magic that has protected her before - has made her more vulnerable to her enemies.

As she searches for a way to reclaim her abilities neither Ixia nor Sitia are safe for her. Especially since the growing discord between the two countries and the possibility of a way threatens everything Yelena holds dear.

Now with the most sinister threat she has ever faced approaching, Yelena will have to find a new way to fight the dark.

The Chronicles of Ixia:
(Links will take you to my reviews)
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Dawn Study (2017)

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Now I'm really thrilled to hand the reigns over to both Maria and Valek who have very kindly agreed to drop by today and introduce themselves!

Maria V. Snyder

Introducing Valek

Maria: (Instead of me telling you about Valek, I asked him to tell you about himself.)

Valek: Maria said you’ve been asking about me. I’d like to know why. If you think you can bypass my security measures to reach the Commander, you are sadly mistaken. As the Commander’s chief of security, I’m responsible for his safety. I’ve been at this job for twenty-four years and know all the tricks. Before that, I trained as an assassin for two years at the School of Night and Shadows, and practiced my craft for two more years until I assassinated the King of Ixia when I was seventeen. This allowed the Commander to take over command of Ixia. If you insist on knowing my age you can do the math.

Most people are terrified when they see me. Although at six feet tall with black hair and blue eyes, I don’t look as threatening as my friend Ari. While he has the broad shoulders and the biceps to knock over an ox, I’m more lean, which helps when I’m climbing walls and escaping prisons. It’s when I’m in disguise that you really have to worry as I’m quite capable of changing my appearance and have even gone undercover as a woman for a season as Queen Jewel’s hairdresser. The Queen died without a clue. The King, however, being a magician—albeit corrupt and evil—put up quite the fight. Good thing I’m immune to magic.

I’ve a heart mate named Yelena and we’ve been together for eight years. Don’t even consider harming her or you will be hunted and killed by yours truly. I am also in charge of a vast network of spies. Members of my corps are in every city in Ixia and Sitia, so you can run, but you can’t hide.
Now you know all about me. And now that I’ve distracted you…turn around

********************

Thank you so much for a wonderful guest post Maria, Valek stole my heart when I read Poison Study and he remains one of my all time favourite book boyfriends so it's always great to hear from him!

Don't forget to check back later today to read my full review of Night Study and make sure you check out the rest of the stops on the blog tour for lots of exciting posts and reviews!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2016

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week has a different theme & you can find all the details about how to join in HERE.

Today's topic is Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2016. There are so many upcoming releases that I'm looking forward to but since I already posted a list of my most anticipated 2016 Debuts I decided to focus this list

1. Allegiance of Honor by Nalini Singh: I absolutely love everything Nalini writes so I can't wait to get my hands on this book. It's not often you find series that are still going so strong at book 15 but this is definitely one of them.
2. Morning Star by Pierce Brown: I've been addicted to this series since I first read Red Rising nearly 2 years ago, the series has gone from strength to strength and I can't wait to see how it ends.
3. Night Study by Maria V Snyder: I'm a huge fan of the Chronicles of Ixia series and I'm really pleased Maria decided to revisit the original main characters Yelena and Valek in these new books. I don't think I'll ever get enough of this world!
4. Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs: It's no secret that I love Patricia Briggs, in fact I'm currently on my third read of the Mercy Thompson series because I couldn't resist reading it again before the new book comes out. I think that says all there is to say about how fantastic it is!
5. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas: I love Sarah's Throne of Glass series but I think I enjoyed A Court of Thorns and Roses even more so I'm going to be dropping everything the second I get my hands on a copy of ACOMAF.
6. Of Flame and Promise by Cecy Robson: The Weird Girls series is another of my favourites, this is the first book to be told from Taran's point of view and I'm really looking forward to getting inside her head and finding out what makes her tick!
7. Judged by Liz de Jager: I've known Liz since she was a blogger so I was thrilled when she got her publishing contract and I've loved every minute of the Blackheart Legacy. I'm going to be taking part in the blog tour for Judged, the final instalment in the trilogy, in January so happily that means I get to read it very soon :o)
8. A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab: A Darker Shade of Magic was absolutely fantastic so I'm really looking forward to seeing what trouble Kell and Lila get into next.
9. Camp Alien by Gini Koch: This is another series that makes me drop everything when I get my hands on the latest instalment, the books are always completely crazy and laugh out loud funny.
10. Midnight Marked by Chloe Neill: I love the Chicagoland Vampires, this series just gets better and better and I'm looking forward to spending more time with Merit and Ethan.

So those are my most anticipated reads from early 2016. Do any of them match the books on your list? What books are you most excited about?

Review: Outside In - Maria V. Snyder

There's something outside.
It wants in.

I'm Trella, I used to be a scrub, cleaning the pipes and corridors of INSIDE. Then I found a whole world beyond the cube we live in and accidentally led a revolution against the Uppers. Now everyone is trying to figure out what happens next.

Except me. The fight's over and I want my life back. I need to explore the new world I've found and work out exactly what's going on with Riley, the Upper who helped me win the war.

But there's something OUTSIDE. And I need to step up. Because once a leader always a leader.

It's coming.
Am I strong enough to stop it?

Insiders Series:
Inside Out
Outside In

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
I loved Inside Out so I was glad I didn't have to wait to find out how Trella's story continued and I dove straight into Outside In which I think I ended up enjoying even more. I'm going to assume that anyone reading this review has already read the first book so please be aware there may be spoilers ahead if you haven't.

The rebellion Trella lead has turned life on the Inside upside down and now the Uppers and the scrubs are trying to figure out what happens next. The scrubs are expecting an immediate change in their circumstances but the dirty jobs still need doing and now nobody is willing to do them. The Uppers know that changes need to be made but are reluctant to give up their living quarters and the scrubs aren't trained to do most of the Upper jobs even if they wanted to. Basically it's all a mess and everyone is looking to Trella to fix it. All Trella really wants is to go back to her old life, she never wanted to be in the spotlight and she never wanted to be a leader but she's starting to realise that she doesn't have a choice in the matter. She set things in motion and now it's up to her to find a solution. As if the internal politics wasn't enough for her to deal with Trella makes a startling discovery - there are people on the Outside. People who want in and who may not have the best intentions. Can Trella unite the Insiders and help them work together to keep their world safe?

Trella has a lot of growing up to do in this book, she is young and doesn't want the responsibility of being in charge of the Inside which was completely understandable but things are falling apart without her input and people are looking to her for guidance. There were times when I felt a little frustrated with her because she kept trying to walk away from it all but she does pull herself together when it counts and once she sets her mind to something she gives it her all. I have to admit I missed seeing her and Riley together, he is around and taking part in what's going on here but they don't get to spend as much time together as they did before and I missed the interactions between them. We do get to see some of the other characters shine though, each of the members of the Force of Sheep has a role to play and there were some really surprising twists and turns along the way.

Outside In was a really fast paced story and I quickly devoured it. Maria V. Snyder did a great job of answering the questions we were left with at the end of the first book and I think she wrapped up the duology really nicely. Having said that I would still happily read more books set in this world if she ever decides to revisit it in the future.

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Birthday Giveaway Winners!

I have the winners of my birthday giveaways to announce today with the help of Rafflecopter

First we have the UK giveaway for a signed copy of Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Secondly we have the international giveaway for a signed copy of Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Congratulations to you both! I have sent you an email asking for your addresses and you now have 1 week to respond or a new winner/s will be chosen. I will be sending out the prizes for these giveaways so your details won't be shared with anyone else.

Thanks so much to both Hodder & Stoughton and Mira Ink for sponsoring these giveaway & thanks to everyone who entered. I'm sorry if you didn't win but I'll have more giveaways coming up soon so make sure you check back for another chance to win prizes.

Birthday Giveaway 2: Signed Copy of Shadow Study - Maria V. Snyder (International)

No this isn't an April Fool's joke - today actually is my birthday and to celebrate I feel like giving someone else a present! So I have two fabulous giveaways for you, one for UK participants and one that is open internationally,

I'd like to say a massive thank you to MIRA Ink for giving me a second copy of Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder so I could get it signed at a recent blogger event to give away to one of my lucky readers.

So I have ONE beautiful SIGNED paperback copy of Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder to give away today. I know there are 2 copies in the picture but that's just so you can see what the cover looks like along with the signature on the inside. Isn't it gorgeous?!

• Courtesy of MIRA Ink I have 1 Signed paperback of Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder to giveaway to a lucky winner.
• The winner will be chosen at random from all entries received. 
• To enter please use the rafflecopter below, there are optional extra entries for following or tweeting about the giveaway but these are not required to enter.
• The giveaway will close on the 15th of April 2015 and the winner will be contacted soon afterwards. You will have 1 week to reply to me with your address or a new winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Inside Out - Maria V. Snyder

Keep your head down.
Don't get noticed.
Or else.

I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping INSIDE clean for the Uppers. I just do my job and try to avoid the Population Control Police, who dream of recycling scrubs into fertiliser. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? It's not like it's dangerous . . .

Well, turns out it is. Because I know every corridor, pipe and shortcut I've become the go-to girl to lead a revolution. I know if we find a gateway to OUTSIDE it'll be suicide plain and simple. But guess who likes a challenge.

I should have just said no . . .

Insiders Series:
Inside Out
Outside In

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
I've become a huge fan of Maria V Snyder since I discovered her Avery of Khazan and Chronicles of Ixia series but for some reason I'd never quite got around to trying her Insiders books. I'm really not sure why I left it so long and now I'm kicking myself because Inside Out was fabulous! I think I'd just got a bit bored of YA dystopia, the market has been completely flooded with the genre for a long time now and although this series was published during the early wave because I missed it at the time it's taken a while to make it's way back onto my radar. What I can say is that even though I seem to have read a ton of books in this genre Inside Out was different enough to hold my attention and I love it for that alone.

Trella is an interesting main character, she's a bit of a loner and kind of hard to relate to at first. She only really has one friend and she even keeps him at a distance so she can come across as quite selfish at times but really it's her defence mechanism. She thinks that by keeping to herself she is rebelling against the system but gradually she realises that she has fallen hook, line and sinker for the lies they have been feeding her and that she has been reacting in exactly the way the people in charge want her to. Once she starts to understand how things really work she realises that she is going to have to start putting her trust in others if she wants to find a way to change the status quo. I really grew to respect Trella, she is smart, resourceful and incredibly brave, she may not be the easiest person to get to know but once someone has earned her trust she is fiercely loyal and she will do anything to protect those she cares about. She also cares about her people as a whole, she wants to create a better life for the scrubs who live on the lower levels. She wants equality and the chance to choose her own destiny and you've got to love her for that.

I haven't even mentioned the world building yet and there is so much I could talk about there. Trella lives in an enclosed world, a giant cube built on four levels that each have a very regimented layout. There is no known exit and nobody knows what happened to the Outside or why they are unable to leave. The Uppers live on the top two levels, they have complete control over the society and make all the important decisions. They live in luxury while the scrubs from the bottom two levels do all the work to keep the society functioning. The scrubs live in overcrowded barracks, they aren't allowed to remain in family units and they work long hours doing the jobs that the Uppers think are beneath them. Scrubs resent the Uppers who have it all but perhaps everything isn't quite what it seems and when Trella finds herself caught up in a rebellion she starts to realise that it isn't only the scrubs who are being lied to.

I don't really want to say too much more about the plot but I loved watching everything unfold through Trella's eyes. I had so many questions and spent a lot of time speculating about the cube that they lived in and why they were unable to get out. Had there been a nuclear holocaust or some kind of asteroid? Was it a virus? Were they underground? Would they be able to return to the surface? No matter how many possibilities I came up with I didn't once guess at the real answer and it was nice to be so surprised by it. I'm just going to say that even if you think you're bored of YA dystopian stories it is well worth picking up a copy of Inside Out. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I can't wait to start on the second (and final) book Outside In.

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Shadow Study - Maria V. Snyder

Yelena Zaltana is back and facing her biggest battle.

When Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. She survived to play a vital role in the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia.

Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands - and protect her relationship with Valek.

Yet dissent is rising. Valek's job - and life - are in danger. And Yelena's magic has been compromised.

Now she faces her toughest challenge - uncover and defeat her hidden enemies without the help of her powers . . .

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
I'm a huge fan of Maria V. Snyder, I was late to the party when it came to the Chronicles of Ixia books but I absolutely LOVE the Study trilogy and Yelena and Valek are still one of my favourite fictional couples so I can't tell you how excited I was to find out they were going to be the main characters in this new series. Although I enjoyed the Glass trilogy and would recommend reading the Chronicles of Ixia series in order (start with the Study trilogy, then the Glass trilogy and finally the new Soulfinders trilogy that starts with Shadow Study) I had missed Yelena and Valek as the main characters and was looking forward to them taking a central role again. Better still, Shadow Study finally gives us a chance to see things from Valek's point of view as he is one of the story's narrators alongside both Yelena and Janco.

Shadow Study was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it more than lived up to expectations. There is just so much to love about these characters and this world and I loved getting the chance to see inside Valek's head and the chance to learn more about his childhood and his assassin training. Did you ever wonder how he ended up working for the Commander or why he wanted to kill the king of Ixia? Did you want to know who taught him about poisons and how he became so skilled with a blade? You'll get the answers to those questions and so many more, Valek has always been a bit of a mystery so it was great to get to know him better. His relationships are sorely tested in this book, people he trusts are keeping major secrets and he isn't sure why but Valek has never been one to back away from a challenge and you just know he'll move heaven and earth to protect Yelena so anyone who is out to hurt her is going to end up in a world of trouble.

I have to admit I would have liked for Yelena and Valek to have spent more time together than they did but I can understand why things were that way and I think we're going to see them working closer together as the series continues. At least the time they do spend together was quality time and I love seeing how strong their bond is and how happy they still are after so many years as a couple. Adding Janco as a third point of view was brilliant, he is able to give us insight into both Yelena and Valek and he is just such a fun character to spend time with.

Yelena finds herself in an impossible situation here, she has several enemies coming at her and very little way of protecting herself against them. I don't want to go into too much detail about what happens but I found it interesting seeing her a bit out of her depth for a change, she is so used to being able to handle anything that is thrown at her and it comes as quite a shock to find herself feeling vulnerable. I had a suspicion about something for quite a long time and I was absolutely thrilled by the big reveal at the end of the story. In fact there are so many things I desperately want to talk about but I can't because they're all veering into spoiler territory.

Shadow Study is absolutely fantastic and it was one of those books that I wanted to devour in one sitting, so much so that I was annoyed because life kept getting in the way. It was great to catch up with some familiar faces but we are also introduced to some interesting new ones and the plot was just amazing. My only real problem with this book is that the rest of the trilogy isn't available for me to devour immediately - it's just not fair that I'm probably going to have to wait 2 years to get hold of book 3 and I actually think Maria V. Snyder is trying to kill me! I can't fault her though, any author who has me so totally invested in the lives of her characters is obviously doing something right and I will be right at the front of the queue on release day impatiently waiting for my copies of Night Study and Dawn Study when they are published.

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Spy Glass - Maria V. Snyder

A new legacy is rising . . .

After siphoning her own blood magic, Opal Cowan has lost her powers and been separated from Kade and Ulrick, the two men who divide her heart. Now an outsider looking in, Opal spies through the glass on those with the powers she once had.

Until spying through the glass becomes her new power. Suddenly, the beautiful pieces she makes flash in the presence of magic. And then she discovers that some of her blood has been stolen - and that finding it may let her regain her powers for good.

Or learn if they're lost forever.

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
I'm a huge fan of Maria V. Snyder and I absolutely love her Chronicles of Ixia series. I think the first three books starring Yelena were probably my favourite but I've still been really enjoying the Glass books featuring Opal so I was looking forward to seeing how things played out for her in Spy Glass. I hate to say it but I think this is the first time I've been disappointed by one of this author's stories. Don't get me wrong, there were a lot of things to love about this book and I think that anyone who has started Opal's trilogy will have to read this book if only to see the end of her journey but there was one thing in particular that really annoyed me.

I'm going to talk about the positives first and I think the biggest was seeing how far Opal has come since the beginning of the series. She's been through so much and losing her magic at the end of the last book left her despondent and depressed. She feels more than a little sorry for herself at the beginning of this book but I can't blame her for that and I thought the author did a good job of showing how lost and alone Opal felt. I loved seeing her come to terms with what had happened though and deciding to make the best of things. We also get to see her spending a lot of time with Valek which was brilliant, Valek has always been a favourite of mine so I'm never going to complain about him getting more page time! There was plenty going on in this story, lots of action and a good does of mystery and magic that kept me turning the pages.

The main issue I had was to do with Devlin and is where I veer into spoiler territory so you might not want to continue reading this review if you haven't read the book yet! I've actually grown to like Devlin a little in the last couple of books which surprised me considering how we first met him, we've seen a lot of changes in his character and I do think that people can redeem themselves and turn their lives around. I could even get on board with Opal forgiving him to a certain extent and I would probably have been happy to see him find love in a future book once he'd done a bit more to prove that he's changed. What I really, really, REALLY couldn't believe was that Opal fell in love with him. That just didn't seem even slightly realistic and I'm just completely unhappy about their relationship.

This is the man that tortured her both physically and emotionally, not just once but on multiple occasions going on for days at a time. He broke her, he basically destroyed her and he made her betray her friends and the people she loved. Not only was he involved in her sister's murder but he also swapped souls with her boyfriend and then used her boyfriend's body to seduce her and torture her all over again! All this has happened in the space of the last two books and yet now I'm expected to believe that she can not just forgive him but fall head over heels in love? Nope, I don't believe it. In fact I HATE it. I'm disappointed in Opal and I'm angry with Maria V. Snyder for leaving Opal's series with such an unrealistic ending. Of course the one potential silver lining to Opal ending up with Devlin is that Kade is still single and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we're going to get to see more of him in the next part of the series. I'd really like to see him meet someone and get his own happily ever after.

I may have been disappointed with Opal and Devlin's relationship but I've still really enjoyed the series as a whole and I would highly recommend all 6 of the current books in the Ixia series. I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was to learn that Maria V. Snyder was writing a new trilogy for the series and the first book, Shadow Study, is one of my most anticipated reads of 2015 - especially since it is going to be told from the points of view of three of my favourite characters in the series - Yelena, Valek and Janco!

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Sea Glass - Maria V. Snyder

A Game of Magic

Student magician Opal Cowan's newfound ability to steal others' powers makes her too powerful.

Trapped under house arrest, Opal dares to defy her imprisonment, searching for Ulrick, the man she thinks she loves. Thinks because she is sure another man - now her prisoner - has switched souls with Ulrick.

In hostile territory, without proof or allies, Opal isn't sure whom to trust. She doesn't know the real Ulrick's whereabouts and can't forget Kade, the handsome Stormdancer who doesn't want to let her get too close.

And now everyone is after Opal's special powers for their own deadly gain . . .

The Chronicles of Ixia:
Poison Study
Assassin Study (Short Story)
Magic Study
Fire Study
Power Study (Short Story)
Ice Study (Short Story)
Storm Glass
Sea Glass
Spy Glass
Shadow Study
Night Study
Shattered Glass (Novella)
Dawn Study

Visit Maria V. Snyder's website for more information

Review:
Now that the Council have found out about Opal's ability to steal other magician's powers they immediately see her as a threat. No matter how much she has done for them in the past it is all worth nothing now and they now want her under house arrest inside the Citadel where they can monitor her activities and decide what to do with her. The worst thing of all is that nobody believes her when she tells them that Devlen and Ulrick have swapped bodies so now Devlen has free reign of the Citadel and is as trusted as Ulrick would have been. Opal doesn't know what his goals are but she knows that nothing good can possibly come of them and since she's the only one who knows what's going on it's up to her to stop him. First she needs to find Ulrick and figure out a way to put his soul back in his own body but what if Ulrick wasn't quite the innocent victim in all this? Will he even want Opal's help?

While I think I prefer the Study series I'm still really enjoying the Glass books and I love being able to dive back into the world of Ixia. Although this is Opal's story we still get to see some familiar faces along the way and Janco in particular has a starring role in this story but I also loved catching up with Leif and of course Yelena too. Opal has always seemed much more innocent than Yelena, she is younger, more trusting and less able to stand up for herself, particularly in Storm Glass and during the beginning of this book. I was really pleased to see how much progress she makes in this novel though, she still has her moments but it was great to see her starting to gain confidence now that she's beginning to understand how her magic works and I was glad that she is standing up for herself more now. In fact by the end of the book she'd become pretty impressive. I actually like the fact that Opal and Yelena are so different and it's always fun to see how the two of them interact with each other.

There is a lot going on in Sea Glass, Opal finds herself in a whole heap of trouble and she has more than one enemy to deal with. We get to see more of the different Sitian clans which was interesting but at times it did feel like there was a little too much travelling going on. I would have liked to spend more time with some of the clans seeing Opal making use of her new found magical abilities. That's a fairly minor niggle though because there was so much going on that I was certainly never bored and I could happily have devoured the whole book in one sitting if only there were more hours in the day. One thing Opal really has to learn throughout this story is not to blindly trust people, even those who she feels closest to. There are a lot of people who aren't quite what they seem and that doesn't make it easy for her to figure out who are allies and who are enemies but that is something she is starting to get better at. She needs to learn to trust her gut instincts a little more and that is definitely something she is improving at.

There are some revelations at the end of Sea Glass that are going to make things very interesting for Opal in the future and I can't wait to read Spy Glass to see what happens to her next.

Source: Received from Mira Ink in exchange for an honest review

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