Being Together and Running Apart | An Ode to 2016

2016 was a year of contradictions. 


We said goodbye to many artists who made the world a better place, including but not limited to Prince, Carrie Fisher, George Michael, and Alan Rickman. 

We said hello to great movies and entertainment, like Stranger Things, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Moana. Also, Hamilton the Musical continued its streak into fame. 

We got an American Authors album that rocked my mind. 

We got a president-elect who is pushing the boundaries of our nation. 

The book blogging universe exploded several times from scandal, fraud, and dishonesty. Racism and poor representation burned through social media. The call for diverse books, authors, readers, and editors was met with strong disagreements. 

The book blogging universe exploded with support for one another. Events like DiversityDecBingo and Loveathon shared the blogger love. Countless bloggers campaigned for diversity and representation on every platform available. 

The highs and lows were reflected in every area of life, especially in my reading goals and accomplishments.

Genetically Engineered Humans, What Could Go Wrong? | The Ones by Daniel Sweren-Becker

The Ones 
By Daniel Sweren-Becker
The Ones #1 
Published September 6, 2016
304 Pages
Sci-Fi, YA

This book was provided to me from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I swear on my bookshelf that this has not affected my opinion of the book.

Cody has always been proud of being a One. She and her boyfriend James were two of the lucky babies from the 1% of the U.S. population that were randomly selected to benefit from genetic engineering. Now, she and the rest of The Ones are excelling. They are healthy, beautiful, and talented. They aren't otherworldly, just perfect. And to some, that's not fair. The Equality Movement, capitalizing on the growing fear and jealousy, gains political traction and actually outlaws their existence. Society shows its darker side as The Ones are marginalized. The line between right and wrong blurs in the face of injustice and Cody becomes closer to a group of radical Ones intent on fighting back. James begins to fear just how far she is willing to go for the cause.

The Best of Two Worlds | Alchemists of Loom by Elise Kova

I am very happy to present my stop on the Alchemists of Loom blog tour run by Xpresso Book Tours. I have been a fan of Elise Kova and her other series, Air Awakens, for a while now. So, I jumped on the chance to read this book, as you definitely should too. If you are a fan of fantasy, dragons, and dynamic heroes looking for revenge, then this is the perfect book for you.


Alchemists of Loom
By Elise Kova
Loom Saga #1
Published January 10, 2017
Fantasy, Young Adult



This book was provided to me from Xpresso Book Tours via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I swear on my bookshelf that this has not affected my opinion of the book.

Her vengeance. His vision. Ari lost everything she once loved when the Five Guilds’ resistance fell to the Dragon King. Now, she uses her unparalleled gift for clockwork machinery in tandem with notoriously unscrupulous morals to contribute to a thriving underground organ market. There isn’t a place on Loom that is secure from the engineer turned thief, and her magical talents are sold to the highest bidder as long as the job defies their Dragon oppressors.Cvareh would do anything to see his sister usurp the Dragon King and sit on the throne. His family’s house has endured the shame of being the lowest rung in the Dragons’ society for far too long. The Alchemist Guild, down on Loom, may just hold the key to putting his kin in power, if Cvareh can get to them before the Dragon King’s assassins. When Ari stumbles upon a wounded Cvareh, she sees an opportunity to slaughter an enemy and make a profit off his corpse. But the Dragon sees an opportunity to navigate Loom with the best person to get him where he wants to go. He offers her the one thing Ari can’t refuse: A wish of her greatest desire, if she brings him to the Alchemists of Loom.

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

How to Make Your Wallet Cry | A Gift Guide for Bookworms

Sometimes it can be hard to find presents for the people that you love in your life. Sure, you can always stick a gift card or some cash in an envelope and call it a day, but where is the fun in that? I am of the mentality that every person is unique, so everyone should get a unique and personalized gift. 

Fortunately, bookworms are extremely easy to shop for. There is no guessing what we want, I mean the word "book" is literally in the title. 

Sunday Street Team | Timekeeper by Tara Sim

The Sunday Street Team is a group of bloggers led by the marvelous Nori @ ReadWriteLove28 who aim to bring well-deserved attention to new and upcoming books and their authors. 

Timekeeper

By Tara Sim
Timekeeper #1
Released November 8, 2016
368 pages
Young Adult, Steampunk, Debut

This book was provided to me from ReadWriteLove28 in exchange for an honest review. I swear on my bookshelf that this has not affected my opinion of the book.

In an alternate Victorian world controlled by clock towers, a damaged clock can fracture time—and a destroyed one can stop it completely.
It’s a truth that seventeen-year-old clock mechanic Danny Hart knows all too well; his father has been trapped in a Stopped town east of London for three years. Though Danny is a prodigy who can repair not only clockwork, but the very fabric of time, his fixation with staging a rescue is quickly becoming a concern to his superiors.
And so they assign him to Enfield, a town where the tower seems to be forever plagued with problems. Danny’s new apprentice both annoys and intrigues him, and though the boy is eager to work, he maintains a secretive distance. Danny soon discovers why: he is the tower’s clock spirit, a mythical being that oversees Enfield’s time. Though the boys are drawn together by their loneliness, Danny knows falling in love with a clock spirit is forbidden, and means risking everything he’s fought to achieve.
But when a series of bombings at nearby towers threaten to Stop more cities, Danny must race to prevent Enfield from becoming the next target or he’ll not only lose his father, but the boy he loves, forever.
The stunning first novel in a new trilogy by debut author Tara Sim, Timekeeper is perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare and Victoria Schwab.

Queen of Chaos by Kat Ross | Cover Reveal and Fangirl Session

Over the past year, Kat Ross has become one of my favorite authors. I have devoured three of her books this year, including The Midnight Sea, Blood of the Prophet, and The Daemoniac. All three of them were 5 stars for me, which is incredibly rare for any author, especially one who is so underrated. Ross is my go-to recommendation for those looking for unique fantasy (and historical fiction) books. The Fourth Element series should be on every YA fantasy fan's TBR. 

Today, I have the pleasure of fangirling about The Fourth Element Series as well as revealing the breathtaking cover of Queen of Chaos, the last book in the series.

The Unrealistic Expectations of Perfection | Crit Your Faves

This post is a part of the #CritYourFaves event Aentee from Read at Midnight.

(P.S. There will be spoilers for the Divergent series by Veronica Roth in this discussion. You have officially been warned.)

Perfection is abundant in YA, or at least at first glance, it seems so. There is always the stunningly handsome love interest who is somehow smart, funny, popular, and well, perfect. There is always the "flawed" main character who can ace her classes, fight monsters, all while still getting the boyfriend at the end. Perfection has become a standard in YA, and one of my favorite book series is a major culprit. 

Waiting on Wednesday | October 2016

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme (or monthly in my case), hosted by the amazing Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Over four years blogging, and I still have not participated in Waiting on Wednesday. 

But that is going to change today as I debut my first ever WOW post. I hope you are as excited as I am because I got some great books to share with you today. Just so you know, all of these books will be releasing in November 2016.

How to be a strong independent witch | Spells and Sorcery by S. Usher Evans

Welcome to my stop on the Spells and Sorcery blog tour hosted by Xpresso Book Tours. My post consists of a spoiler-free review of this magical tale, as well as TWO giveaways for a chance to win this great book. I hope you are ready for a dose of magic for your day!

Spells and Sorcery
By S. Usher Evans
Lexie Carrigan Chronicles #1
Released on October 4th, 2016

386 pages
Young Adult, Fantasy




This book was provided to me from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. I swear on my bookshelf that this has not affected my opinion of the book.

You have magic.
One sentence, three words, four syllables. Enough to change my life forever. And I'm not talking about the whole spells and sorcery thing.
Lexie Carrigan thought the weirdest thing about her was she preferred watching documentaries and reading the newspaper to reality TV and Twitter. But on the eve of her fifteenth birthday, her aunt and sisters drop a bomb--she's magical.
Now the girl who never made waves is blowing up her nightstand and trying to keep from wreaking havoc on her school. When a kind stranger shows up with all the answers, Lexie hopes he'll be able to help her control her newfound powers. But Gavon may not be as kind as he seems, and soon Lexie finds out that being magical is the least weird thing about her.
Spells and Sorcery is the first YA fantasy from S. Usher Evans, author of the Razia series, the Madion War Trilogy and Empath.

Amazon * Barnes and Noble * iBooks * Kobo

Heir to the Sky by Amanda Sun | When adventure falls flat

Heir to the Sky

By Amanda Sun

Published April 26, 2016

293 pages

Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

As heir to a kingdom of floating continents, Kali has spent her life bound by limits—by her duties as a member of the royal family, by a forced betrothal to the son of a nobleman, and by the edge of the only world she’s ever known—a small island hovering above a monster-ridden earth, long since uninhabited by humans. She is the Eternal Flame of Hope for what’s left of mankind, the wick and the wax burning in service for her people, and for their revered Phoenix, whose magic keeps them aloft.
When Kali falls off the edge of her kingdom and miraculously survives, she is shocked to discover there are still humans on the earth. Determined to get home, Kali entrusts a rugged monster-hunter named Griffin to guide her across a world overrun by chimera, storm dragons, basilisks, and other terrifying beasts. But the more time she spends on earth, the more dark truths she begins to uncover about her home in the sky, and the more resolute she is to start burning for herself.

The Daemoniac by Kat Ross | Historical fiction at its finest

Welcome to my stop on The Daemoniac blog tour hosted by Xpresso Book Tours. I am so happy to share with you my third Kat Ross book of the year. All I can say is that they keep getting better and better. If you stay to the end, you can also enter in our giveaway!

The Daemoniac

By Kat Ross 
A Dominion Mystery #1
Published on October 12, 2016
Historical Fiction, Mystery, Young Adult

This book was provided to me from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. I swear on my bookshelf that this has not affected my opinion of the book.

It’s August of 1888, just three weeks before Jack the Ripper will begin his grisly spree in the London slum of Whitechapel, and another serial murderer is stalking the gas-lit streets of New York. With taunting messages in backwards Latin left at the crime scenes and even more inexplicable clues like the fingerprints that appear to have been burned into one victim’s throat, his handiwork bears all the hallmarks of a demonic possession.But consulting detective Harrison Fearing Pell is convinced her quarry is a man of flesh and blood. Encouraged by her uncle, Arthur Conan Doyle, Harry hopes to make her reputation by solving the bizarre case before the man the press has dubbed Mr. Hyde strikes again.From the squalor of the Five Points to the high-class gambling dens of the Tenderloin and the glittering mansions of Fifth Avenue, Harry and her best friend, John Weston, follow the trail of a remorseless killer, uncovering a few embarrassing secrets of New York’s richest High Society families along the way. Are the murders a case of black magic—or simple blackmail? And will the trail lead them closer to home than they ever imagined?

Amazon * Barnes and Noble * iBooks * Kobo

Celebrating October | Book Heist Giveaway

There is no better way to kick off the season of pumpkins, fuzzy sweater, hot chocolate, and candy than with a huge giveaway. Thanks to YA Bound Book Tours, I am bringing you the Book Heist giveaway, featuring 19 YA authors and their stunning novels. 

Without further ado, I am going to turn you over to the authors of the Book Heist Giveaway.

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Young Adult books come in all shapes and sizes. Some star werewolves or vampires. Some feature magic. Sometimes the world is new. Sometimes it’s a twist on everything you know. There is family. Friendship shows up in spades. Most of the time, you can be sure you’ll fall in love.

It’s a world of literature that so many miss out on because they think the name describes the reader’s age. In reality, YA books are for those who appreciate the wonders of youth. They strive for the optimism and the courage in the face of danger. Yes, teens read these stories in droves, but they aren’t the only ones who can learn from the perpetual hope these characters see. To see the world through the eyes of someone who wants to make it better is an astounding thing.

Nineteen young adult authors have banded together to show their little corners of the world, their hope and courage and optimism. It is shown through the actions of teenagers who are ever changing. They love with the same fierceness that they hate and forgive easily. They believe they can do anything. Who doesn’t want a piece of that?

Top Ten Tuesday | Books that I need to read with a pumpkin muffin

Top Ten Tuesday is a list based meme hosted by the wonderful ladies at The Broke and the Bookish.

As much as I hate to admit it, summer is over. The popsicles and swimming suits have been packed away. My shorts have been shoved aside for pants and I can't go outside without grabbing a jacket.

But fall definitely has its perks, such as pumpkin muffins (which I firmly believe are heaven with frosting), fuzzy sweaters, Halloween candy, Thanksgiving festivities, and crisp apples. Fall also means that I get to curl up with a blanket and a book in my (limited) free time. 

As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, I tend to gravitate toward darker and more disturbing books. I never really read outright horror, but more dark fiction and mysteries creep into my bookshelf. Scary stories that give me goosebumps are perfect to keep me up on Halloween night. Mystery books also give me something to think about while I sip my hot apple cider.

Lucky for you, I have a list of all of the book that will keep me warm and entertained this fall.

Blood of the Prophet by Kat Ross | Underrated Fantasy for the Win

Blood of the Prophet

By Kat Ross

The Fourth Element Series #2

Published on September 12, 2016

Fantasy, Young Adult






This book was provided to me from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. I swear on my bookshelf that this has not affected my opinion of the book.

Visionary. Alchemist. Savior. Saint.The Prophet Zarathustra has been called many things. Now he spends his time drawing pictures of weird-looking goats. That’s what happens when you’ve been stuck in a prison cell for two hundred years. But the man who might be mad, and is definitely supposed to be dead, has suddenly become very valuable again…It’s only been a few weeks since Nazafareen escaped the King’s dungeons with her daēva, Darius. She hoped never to set foot in the empire again, but the search for the Prophet has led them to the ancient city of Karnopolis. They have to find him before Alexander of Macydon burns Persepolae, and Darius’s mother with it. But they’re not the only ones looking.The necromancer Balthazar has his own plans for the Prophet, and so does the sinister spymaster of the Numerators. As Nazafareen is drawn in to a dangerous game of cat and mouse, her newfound powers take a decidedly dark turn. Only the Prophet understands the secret of her gift, but the price of that knowledge may turn out to be more than Nazafareen is willing to pay…

Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Kobo 

You can catch up on the series with the first book, The Midnight Sea. If you are still not convinced that you need to give this series a shot, then check out my glowing review of The Midnight Sea.

Nemesis by Anna Banks | Don't judge an author on their past books

Nemesis 

By Anna Banks
Nemesis #1
368 pages
Published on October 4, 2016
Young Adult, Fantasy




This book was provided to me from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I swear on my bookshelf that this has not affected my opinion of the book.

Princess Sepora of Serubel is the last Forger in all the five kingdoms. The spectorium she creates provides energy for all, but now her father has found a way to weaponize it, and his intentions to incite war force her to flee from his grasp. She escapes across enemy lines into the kingdom of Theoria, but her plans to hide are thwarted when she is captured and placed in the young king's servitude.

Tarik, also known as the Falcon King, has just taken over rulership of Theoria, and must now face a new plague sweeping through his kingdom and killing his citizens. The last thing he needs is a troublesome servant vying for his attention. But mistress Sepora will not be ignored. When the two finally meet face-to-face, they form an unlikely bond that complicates life in ways neither of them could have imagined.

Sepora's gift could save Tarik's kingdom from the Quiet Plague. But should she trust her growing feelings for her nemesis, or should she hide her gifts at all costs?

Diversity is not a bad word

I know a lot of bad words. Words that would make your grandmother blush and have your mother wash your mouth out with soap. Words that destroy, devastate, and hurt. Four letter words that cannot be said on television or public radios. Most of us know some, if not all, of these words. They are imbued in our society so that everyone recognizes these words of hatred and pain.

But in the plethora of curses, insults, and swears that exist in our cultures, diverse is not a bad word.

Diverse is a word that uplifts and gives voices to the quiet. It gives hope to the hopeless. It has the power to change the book publishing industry, and hopefully our world, for the better. A single word can make our community better and improve us as readers and people.  

There are so many ways that diversity improves our world, and I am not just talking about in literature. Films, music, and every field should be diversified to represent the real people. The world is not full of the same type of people, so why does our media suggest that? 

Diversity is a big and heated topic in our community and world right now, and one post and one opinion will not do it enough justice. I plan on writing many more posts to campaign for greater representation for all people in literature through a series of blog posts.

But for now, I have complied some inspiring tweets, posts, and other resources to show that we are not alone in the fight for diversity.

     

What do you think about diversity in literature? How do you campaign for diversity? What are your favorite diverse books and authors? Are there any posts about diversity that you would like to see from me?

Top Ten Tuesday | Our Outer Space Favorites

Top Ten Tuesday is a list based meme hosted by the wonderful ladies at The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday was open-ended, so we here at Crazy for YA decided to take it in a direction we find is rare in YA--to outer space! Because interplanetary exploration is slightly rare in YA novels these days, we may have recommended slightly fewer than 10 books this week, but all of our recommendations feature some of the most unique YA settings out there.

5 Lessons I Learned from A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

5 Lessons is a feature here at Crazy for YA designed to share explain some books that deserve more than just a review. You can see the other posts in this feature here. 

There will be spoilers in this post, so if you have not read both ACOTAR and ACOMAF, then you should avoid this post. Or a least don't complain when you "stumble" on some surprising tidbits of information later in this post. 

A Court of Mist and Fury is the second installment of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. I was wary of this novel when I first read it because I was exposed to many spoilers before I decided to pick it up. 

Sarah J. Maas does some magical things in this novel that you will not be able to fully understand until you read it for yourself. Which brings us to lesson #1.

Jackaby by William Ritter | The American Doctor Who

Jackaby
By William Ritter
Jackaby #1
299 pages
Published September 16, 2014

Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary--including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it’s an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain it’s a nonhuman creature, whose existence the police--with the exception of a handsome young detective named Charlie Cane--deny.

Doctor Who meets Sherlock in William Ritter’s debut novel, which features a detective of the paranormal as seen through the eyes of his adventurous and intelligent assistant in a tale brimming with cheeky humor and a dose of the macabre.

Top Ten Tuesday | Series that I really need to start

This is a weekly list meme hosted by the wonderful bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish.

I am going rogue this week and writing about a different topic. This week's topic was supposed to be books set outside the US, but I did that a couple of months ago for a freebie. So, I am doing an old topic that I missed.

I am talking about series that I really need to start reading. Some of these are classics that everyone and their mother have been harassing me to read, and others are just ones I never seemed to get to.