Book mail and updates

CROW MOUNTAIN by Lucy Inglis

While on holiday in Montana, Hope meets local boy Cal Crow, a ranch hand. Caught in a freak accident, the two of them take shelter in a mountain cabin where Hope makes a strange discovery. More than a hundred years earlier, another English girl met a similar fate. Her rescuer: a horse-trader called Nate.

In this wild place, both girls learn what it means to survive and to fall in love, neither knowing that their fates are intimately entwined. 

Isn't that cover BEAUTIFUL?! I may have stroked it once or twice when it came out of the packaging. Thank you to Chicken House Books who sent me the copy to review! I think I'll be taking this baby on holiday with me to read. After how amazing CITY OF HALVES was, this is going to be a stunning book as well. I can feel it.

So, I'll be announcing my co-blogger tomorrow. I'm really rather excited to introduce you to who will be joining me in bookish adventures! Hopefully next month I shall be back in business with constant updates and reviews. Things are rough right now. Gah.

ARC REVIEW: The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

Nix’s life began in Honolulu in 1868. Since then she has traveled to mythic Scandinavia, a land from the tales of One Thousand and One Nights, modern-day New York City, and many more places both real and imagined. As long as he has a map, Nix’s father can sail his ship, The Temptation, to any place, any time. But now he’s uncovered the one map he’s always sought—1868 Honolulu, before Nix’s mother died in childbirth. Nix’s life—her entire existence—is at stake. No one knows what will happen if her father changes the past. It could erase Nix’s future, her dreams, her adventures . . . her connection with the charming Persian thief, Kash, who’s been part of their crew for two years. If Nix helps her father reunite with the love of his life, it will cost her her own.

Title: The Girl From Everywhere

Author: Heidi Heilig

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Published: 16th February 2016

Rating: A trillion stars

 A massive thank-you to the lovely Heidi herself who sent me the ARC!  

"It was the kind of August day that hinted at monsoons and the year was 1774, though not for very much longer."

These types of reviews are so incredibly difficult. There is so much you want to say about this book, yet you can't. It's even worse when the book in question, like this one, is beyond amazing.

 When I entered Heidi's book, I had no idea what to expect. But truthfully? THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE blew me away. I was like a plastic bag caught in an F5 tornado, sucked in and whirled around and around. This book has everything and more.

Nix is a thoroughly enjoyable character and I adore her! Throughout the book she faces such hard choices and I applaud Heidi for making her feel so real. There were many times while reading where I choked up or my heart clenched in pain for her. There's also the incredibly sexy Kashmir who stole my heart and promptly ran away with it. And another guy that I won't name right now. Let's call him B.

This book is magical and I wish I could tell you guys all about it. After you've finished you'll have a burning desire to visit Hawaii, warning you right now!

"This wasn't a fairy tale."

How about a feel for this book in pictures since I can't use more words?

 Yes, they all make an appearance. And this is only a very small fraction of what appears in this glorious book.

So! Five gigantic hearts to this book. It's one to watch, that's for sure. Easily one of my most favorite reads this year. Heidi has crafted a masterpiece and I am very anxiously awaiting book 2.

Full review to come nearer to publication date. Aka gushing. A lot of gushing.

ARC REVIEW: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. 

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. 

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first. 

Title: Six of Crows (The Dregs #1)

Author: (Queen) Leigh Bardugo

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Published: 29th September, 2015

Rating: A gigatrillion stars.

A massive thank-you to Jo Volpe for the ARC! And Louisse for jumping out and proclaiming that you were my Threadsister. 

"When everyone knows you're a monster, you needn't waste your time doing every monstrous thing."

First of all, it's no great secret that I am a massive Grisha fan. Leigh's writing is superb and intricate, her characters worming their way into your heart with ease.

Secondly, because many have asked, you CAN read SIX OF CROWS before the Grisha Trilogy! There are some spoilers, but minor ones that wouldn't affect you reading SIX OF CROWS first. The biggest spoiler for a person who has read SoC first is two words: King Nikolai. And a few other bits such as a passing mention of events that happened in Ruin and Rising. None of the characters from Grisha are, sadly, in the story. But Book Two I certainly have my fingers crossed! 

I totally put my book down at the mention of King Nikolai so I could fist-pump at the air. He rules! Literally.

SIX OF CROWS did not disappoint. I'll keep this review short and sweet for now until the book is out. There is a LOT to talk about. So. Much. Returning to the world of the Grisha was bittersweet at first.The pain of leaving behind a bunch of beloved characters in favor of another crew! But very, very quickly these new characters joined the ranks of the Grisha gang.

The story was a roller-coaster of emotions and action. There was not a single dull moment or time that you wanted to skip ahead. Each character was sublime and played their part exceptionally well. Kaz is the kind of man you both want to love but run the heck away from. Each character is so brutal, yet broken in their own way. Rough gems that, once polished, will shine and sparkle. Book Two is going to be explosive. And that's not an exaggeration. I am terribly in love with Matthias and Kaz. And Nina and Inej. And Wylan and Jesper. Whoops, I seem to have listed the entire crew. 

Kaz leaned back. "What's the easiest way to steal a man's wallet?"

"Knife to the throat?" asked Inej.

"Gun to the back?" said Jesper.

"Poison in his cup?" suggested Nina.

"You're all horrible." said Matthias.

I'll leave this teaser of a review here for now. Until September, gang! This isn't a book that you want, it's a book you NEED. No life is complete without the Dregs in it.

Co-Blogger Wanted!

With life being totally and utterly insane right now, I'm drastically falling behind on updating. I never thought that I'd need one, but... yep, I need a co-blogger! Previous experience with blogging and/or writing reviews is preferable. And of course, someone who actually reads books and knows how a blog operates.



I'm looking for someone who:

• Is familiar with reading and reviewing YA books. 
• Active and reliable.
• Will post at least twice a week. 
• Writes reviews that are a good length, not a short paragraph.
• Who will not just give up and/or leave with no warning.
• Who will visit and blog on other blogs.
• Who genuinely wants to help the blog reach greater heights!

Of course, if you are chosen you can use the stats to get ARCs. Also, you'll gain a friend who also loves books!

Interested? Drop me an email at QueenOfTheBookshelves (at) gmail (dot) com with the following information:

• Well... do we know each other? Have we spoken before, even if it's just in passing?
• Your name and age
• Any previous experience with blogging
• Your Twitter and any other social networks such as Goodreads
• Your current blog (If you have one!)
• Genres you mostly read..
• Links to a few of your reviews. A mix of ratings, please. (Like 1 negative rating and 1 positive rating)
• How much time would you be willing to commit to the blog, and what would you participate in? (reviews, features, interviews, memes, discussions, blog tours and blitzs)
• Tell me about yourself! Do you write in your spare time?
• Why do you want to join Queen of the Bookshelves?
• Any additional comments.

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY: IVORY AND BONE by Julie Eshbaugh

And it's that time of the week again. So, what am I waiting on this week?

IVORY AND BONE by Julie Eshbaugh

The only life seventeen-year-old Kol knows is hunting at the foot of the Great Ice with his brothers. But food is becoming scarce, and without another clan to align with, Kol, his family, and their entire group are facing an uncertain future. 

Traveling from the south, Mya and her family arrive at Kol’s camp with a trail of hurt and loss behind them, and hope for a new beginning. When Kol meets Mya, her strength, independence, and beauty instantly captivate him, igniting a desire for much more than survival. 

Then on a hunt, Kol makes a grave mistake that jeopardizes the relationship that he and Mya have only just started to build. Mya was guarded to begin with—and for good reason—but no apology or gesture is enough for her to forgive him. Soon after, another clan arrives on their shores. And when Mya spots Lo, a daughter of this new clan, her anger intensifies, adding to the already simmering tension between families. After befriending Lo, Kol learns of a dark history between Lo and Mya that is rooted in a tangle of their pasts.

When violence erupts, Kol is forced to choose between fighting alongside Mya or trusting Lo’s claims. And when things quickly turn deadly, it becomes clear that this was a war that one of them had been planning all along.

No cover just yet I'm afraid, but hopefully soon! This book contains mammoths. MAMMOTHS! How insane and amazing is THAT? IVORY AND BONE is going to be massive. Mammoth you could say. The whole premise is certainly an eye-catcher and I'm SUPER excited to read this beauty and immerse myself within a brand-new world.  I've never even SEEN a YA book set during the Ice Age, so this one is certainly a fresh new face on the scene that will certainly be attracting a wealth of attention as the publishing date nears. Slated for publication during 2016, we sadly have quite a wait ahead of us.  But in the meantime, make sure to follow Julie! She is an absolutely lovely person who you should all definitely press that follow button on Twitter at @JulieEshbaugh. 

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Fun fact: The first time I read what this book was about, I read it in Manny the Mammoth's voice! 

And I will no doubt read the entire book in his voice when I get it now because of that. This book is very near the top of my mammoth-sized list of most anticipated books coming from authors debuting in 2016. 

2016 is shaping up to be an AMAZING year book-wise already! And a very expensive year. Time to start buying lottery tickets I think.

Until next week, folks! Are you excited to read IVORY AND BONE as well? Sound off in the comments!

TOP TEN TUESDAY: 2016 debuts

Yes, yes, I've been missing on here for almost two weeks. Why? CRAZY busy. Plus, Camp NaNoWriMo! The writing juices have been flowing smoothly for once, so I decided to take advantage of that. But ANYWAY, TOP TEN TUESDAY!

Today's Top Ten Tuesday is a special one. Why? Because it's featuring the Fledgling Authors Chat 2016 (#FAC16) books! What is that, exactly? Basically, these books are from authors debuting in 2016. And YES, many of them look super SUPER cool. Want to read more about this and enter a cool giveaway? Click here. 

The following are NOT in order. Simply because trying to put them in some sort of order about KILLED me. Click the names to go to their Goodreads page!

1) THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE by Heidi Heilig

2) BURNING GLASS by Kathryn Purdie

3) FLASHFALL by Jenny Moyer

(NO COVER JUST YET! D: )

4) INTO THE DIM by Janet B Taylor

5) BRIDE OF DUSK AND GLASS by Roshani Chokshi

(NO COVER YET! D:)

6) BLACKHEARTS by Nicola Castroman

7) IVORY AND BONE by Julie Eshbaugh

(NOPE, NO COVER YET. SNIFFLES)

8) ASSASSIN'S HEART by Sarah Ahiers

9) THE CROWN'S GAME by Evelyn Skye

(NOPE, NO COVER AGAIN. YET. SOBS)

10) THE ABYSS SURROUNDS US by Emily Strutskie

And there we have it! Ten UTTERLY amazing looking and sounding books that are coming in 2016. Again, there are so many more than what I've posted here. Just narrowing the pretties down to ten... *sniffles*

Until the next Top Ten Tuesday!