Tag: ya lit

Posted in Reviews

FURYBORN by Claire Legrand

Posted on by unapologeticallyabooks
5/5 Stars

Furyborn is definitely one of my favorite reads this year. I am obsessed with this book and I can’t believe it took me this long to finally pick it up.

The book has such a great set-up for a thrilling, YA fantasy story: it’s told in two alternating points of view following amazing, badass women over a thousand years apart. The prologue sets up a prophecy of sorts, where the reader knows from the beginning how Rielle’s story will end. But then we get to follow her life leading up to this point and it’s so much dramatic irony and *ahhh* anti-hero feels. If you love dark, villainous plot points like I do, this timeline will send you to such an ideal cloud of reader bliss, let me tell you.

Then, the other storyline follows Eliana and it’s in the same world but *so much* has changed over these centuries that have passed. Eliana is so freaking cool and I love her (but I also love Rielle and like every single other character too??).

The romance is great and the twists are so unpredictable! The magic system is also super unique. There is so much I want to say but I also loved going into it not knowing much about what I was getting into and being so completely surprised. It’s a bit of a longer book but it is so worth it to set up the rich worldbuilding and what I’m sure is going to be a cinematic stage for the sequels.

I read this book literally in one day. I just couldn’t stop reading. I will definitely be picking Kingsbane very, very soon! Do yourself a favor and binge this series before the final book comes out in October.

Comparable titles:
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
The Young Elites by Marie Lu

***I received a free copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Posted in Recommendations

Autumn Book Recommendations!

Posted on by unapologeticallyabooks

Happy September 1st! This summer has flown by and now it already feels like the autumn vibes are coming with promises of pumpkin spice flavors, sweater weather, and, of course, Taylor Swift’s new folklore album (which may or may not have inspired this book recommendation list 😉). 

I decided to put together a little graphic of 8 books to help you get in the autumnal mood! From woodsy YA fantasies to NA magical stories, these books will be perfect to set the tone for September. Here is a list with links to learn more about each title:

Happy reading! 🍂🌳✨

Posted in Blog Tour

Happy Book Birthday to WHERE DREAMS DESCEND by Janella Angeles!

Posted on by unapologeticallyabooks

I loved this book and am so happy to be a part of the blog tour for its release and share how wonderfully whimsical it is with all of you!

You can check out my review from last week here, if you haven’t already! Here are some more exciting blurbs and praise, provided by the publisher, to get you hyped to read this book ASAP:

Jacket Copy:

In a city covered in ice and ruin, a group of magicians face off in a daring game of magical feats to find the next headliner of the Conquering Circus, only to find themselves under the threat of an unseen danger striking behind the scenes.

As each act becomes more and more risky and the number of missing magicians piles up, three are forced to reckon with their secrets before the darkness comes for them next.

The Star: Kallia, a powerful showgirl out to prove she’s the best no matter the cost

The Master: Jack, the enigmatic keeper of the club, and more than one lie told

The Magician: Demarco, the brooding judge with a dark past he can no longer hide

Where Dreams Descend is the startling and romantic first book in Janella Angeles’ debut Kingdom of Cards fantasy duology where magic is both celebrated and feared, and no heart is left unscathed.

Author bio:

JANELLA ANGELES is a Filipino-American author who got her start in writing through consuming glorious amounts of fanfiction at a young age—which eventually led to penning a few of her own, and later on, creating original stories from her imagination. A lifelong lover of books, she’s lucky enough to be working in the business of publishing them on top of writing them. She currently resides in Massachusetts, where she’s most likely to be found listening to musicals on repeat and daydreaming too much for her own good. Where Dreams Descend is her first book.


Early Praise:
“Janella Angeles steals the 2020 show with her fiercely imagined debut starring larger than life characters, a dangerous world alive with magic, and a dizzying dose of grab-a-fainting-couch-and-swoon-away romance!” – Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Gilded Wolves

“Where Dreams Descend is a glamorous dark gem of a tale, sparkling with romance, magic, and intrigue. Readers will be captivated by prima donna Kallia as the mystery is slowly unmasked. Bravissima!” – Julie C. Dao, author of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns

“Lavish and opulent in a way that feels warmly familiar yet demands your attention. There are secrets upon secrets, a girl who’s boldly ambitious, and truly riveting stage magic. I didn’t want the show to stop.” – Emily A. Duncan, New York Times bestselling author of Wicked Saints

“Vibrant imagery, jaw-dropping set pieces, sizzling romantic tension, and unstoppable heroine Kallia bring this ambitious debut novel to spectacular life. Fans of Caraval and The Night Circus will be delighted!” – Claire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn  

“[A] spellbinding melody of a book, and the true magic is how Angeles puts all the best parts of an enrapturing theatrical performance onto paper and ink. From the gripping twists in the first pages all the way to the final, heartbreaking crescendo, Where Dreams Descend will surge you to your feet in a standing ovation.” – Sara Raasch, New York Times bestselling author of the Snow Like Ashes trilogy

Buy Link: https://read.macmillan.com/lp/where-dreams-descend/
Social Links:  Twitter: @Janella_Angeles // Instagram: @Janella_Angeles

Posted in Blog Tour, Reviews

WHERE DREAMS DESCEND by Janella Angeles

Posted on by unapologeticallyabooks
4/5 Stars

I LOVED THIS BOOK!

I have a weak spot for stories about circuses and competition. There is just so much potential for drama! and magic! and darkness! And Where Dreams Descend certainly delivered on this tall order!

Kallia is a protagonist who was very easy to root for. I genuinely liked her and wanted her to succeed! It was really refreshing to see the confidence she brought to her performances and life, even as she was facing so many unknowns (new places, judgmental people, and a society she knew nothing about) and while nobody believed in her but herself.

Jack and Demarco were also both interesting characters in very different ways. I feel like I know them a bit less than Kallia, mostly on account of the mystery surrounding their characters that was significant to the plot. I hope moving forward in the sequel that we get more candid looks at their values and motivations.

The storyline was a lot of fun. I just love the way competition-style plots create such a heightened, condensed arena for drama and intrigue. My one critique which held me back from giving it five stars was that the ending felt a bit rushed. It certainly captured the *wow* moment I was expecting from all the suspense throughout the rising action, but I wish we had a bit more time afterward to digest what just happened.

Altogether, though, this is certainly a book to look out for this summer/fall! I will definitely be recommending it to many friends and YA fantasy fans.

Comparable Titles:
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

***I received an e-ARC from Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review as a part of the blog tour!

Posted in Misc

My Unintentional Readathon!

Posted on by unapologeticallyabooks

A little over a week ago I lost power for several days! Can you imagine: no WiFi, no cell data, no A/C? (Yikes, the privilege in that statement– but I’m sure many of you can relate in this crazy tech-reliant, WFH world). While I try not to take these luxuries for granted, it is just so strange living without them suddenly! Luckily, though, this experience gave me plenty of time to read. So, here is my mini readathon from three days of my electricity-less summer:

Furyborn by Claire Legrand

I looooved Furyborn! I have already ordered the sequel from my library and will be starting it soon. Won’t say too much about it since I will be writing up a full review shortly, but a few words to sate your curious souls: Just wow. So much great worldbuilding and memorable characters and prophecies! Please pick this up if you haven’t already.

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

Spin the Dawn was a lot of fun and I’m so glad I finally read it. I noted it as one of my must-reads for the summer on my recent TBR post, so I am happy to say I have one item on there checked off. Loved the characters and concept. I will probably review this one too, so will give more of my thoughts then!

A Thief Among the Trees: An Ember in the Ashes Graphic Novel
by Sabaa Tahir, Nicole Andelfinger, & Sonia Liao

As a huge fan of An Ember in the Ashes series, this graphic novel was very entertaining. It was cool to get a look into Elias and Helene’s childhood. I’m not super into prequels, particularly because this one felt too close in time to the main series. I knew not much progress or character development could happen under those constraints. Still, I would recommend this quick read to any fans of the series!

Posted in Reviews

THE BETROTHED by Kiera Cass

Posted on by unapologeticallyabooks
4/5 Stars

Over the years, I have been a pretty big fan of The Selection series (It’s kind of my guilty pleasure series… it’s just so entertaining to reread). The Betrothed is definitely in the same vein as Cass’ first series as a relatively feel-good fantasy romance. In fact, at times it felt like the same world to me (although this one is much more high fantasy than dystopian futuristic). While I enjoy that Cass’ writing style is distinct and recognizable, I wish this book held its own a bit more. I will try to refrain from comparing the two series too much, but I felt it just had to be said since I think a large part of my enjoyment of this book stemmed from the sentimental factor that it brought me back those warm and fuzzy and jaw-dropping feelings!

I quite enjoyed the first half of the book, but then the ending felt rushed with so many plot twists thrown in there. I was a bit surprised to learn that there will be a sequel due to this hasty ending (it felt more like trying to wrap it up quickly for a standalone); I wish that the fall-out of the climax was more fleshed out rather than thrown in there for shock value. I’m sure it was a necessary plot point for the future progression of the story, but I found it rather jarring and didn’t quite find my footing again by the time the novel finished.

While I have many critiques, I am giving it such a high rating because of how darn enjoyable and entertaining it was to read! Please give this one a chance. I know I’ll be reading the sequel and maybe I’ll even reevaluate my feelings about the plot’s pacing once I see where it’s going!

Comparable titles:
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
Torn by Rowenna Miller
The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

Posted in Tag

Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag

Posted on by unapologeticallyabooks
  1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2020
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Daisy Jones & The Six was one of my favorite books of 2019, so I wanted to make sure to read some of Reid’s previous novels. I listened to Evelyn Hugo as an audiobook and could not help but feel sucked into the story. She is just such a compelling character and everything that happened in her life was enrapturing.

  1. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2020
The ​Missing of Clairdelune by Christelle Dabos

I actually haven’t read that many sequels so far this year as I’ve been exploring a lot of new series and standalones. The second book in The Mirror Visitor Quartet (first book being A Winter’s Promise) was a lot of fun. I felt more connected with the characters and the world-building. I feel like this is a quieter series in the YA space, but it has a lot of really fun twists and turns!

  1. New release you haven’t read yet, but want to
The Damned by Renée Ahdieh

I recently reread The Beautiful, which has made me feel even more excited for this newly released sequel! I have heard exciting tidbits from attending Ahdieh’s virtual author tour events that this book explores the fantasy of this world to an extent that we haven’t seen yet so I’m feeling ready to dive in.

  1. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
A ​Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir

I adore the An Ember in the Ashes series, so that means I CANNOT WAIT for the finale coming out this December! Why yes, I have already preordered it.

  1. Biggest disappointment
Imagine Me by Tahereh Mafi

While I enjoyed the first three books, I have been pretty disappointed in the Shatter Me spin-off books. This final installment seemed a bit all over the place to me. In fact, it took away from some of my favorite moments in the early series. I’m still a fan of Mafi’s writing, but this one just didn’t do it for me!

  1. Biggest surprise
Witchyby Ariel Slamet Ries

I’ve written a review about this graphic novel, so I won’t go into too much detail. But, basically, I picked this one up on a whim and really enjoyed it.

  1. Favorite new author
Nnedi Okorafor

I read Okorafor’s novella Binti earlier this year and was really impressed by her unique, transformative writing style. Very excited to read more of her books!

  1. Newest fictional crush
Ruhn Danaan from House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

I recently posted my review of HOEAB, so make sure to check that out! I’ve always enjoyed Maas’ characters and I thought Ruhn was a really great one, so I’ll go with him! He also reminds me a bit of Dorian Havilliard…

  1. Newest favorite character
Sid from The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski

I LOVED THIS BOOK (review posted here), so I thought it would be a shame not to mention it. Sid stands out to me as a very memorable and beloved character as someone who is entertaining, snarky, and unafraid to speak their mind!

  1. Book that made you cry
Saga: Book Three by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples

I devoured the Saga comic series at the beginning of the pandemic and that last issue made me SOB LIKE CRAZY. I just got so attached to the characters and did not expect that emotional ending! Really hoping new volumes of this series are published soon.

  1. Book that made you happy
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

This webcomic turned published book is absolutely adorable. Whenever I read it, I feel giddy and absorbed into Nick and Charlie’s world. Rooting for them!

  1. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

I’m excited to read this one soon, not just because it has a gorgeous cover, but also because I adore Acevedo’s writing style! Will be picking this beauty up soon.

  1. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
Instant Karma by Marissa Meyer
Skyhunter by Marie Lu
Kind of a Big Deal by Shannon Hale

These are just a few anticipated books that I’d like to read by the end of 2020. I also have posted my summer TBR recently with some more choices I’d like to get to soon!

Posted in Blog Tour, Reviews

LOBIZONA by Romina Garber

Posted on by unapologeticallyabooks
4/5 Stars

I was very excited to be invited to be a part of the blog tour for Lobizona because I have been hearing buzz all over about this book (and also just look at that gorgeous cover!!!). I enjoyed reading this new spin on a paranormal fantasy school. The concept was cool and I found the beginning to be particularly gripping and difficult to put down. The narrative angle of Manu struggling with her identity of being viewed as an outsider (both within the grounded-to-reality immigration storyline and the fantastical structure of the society based around the bruja and lobizón) was a great launching point for the plot.

I did find that the balance between these two threads became much more lopsided in the paranormal school setting toward the latter half of the novel. From the onset of my reading, I wasn’t expecting this setting to be as present and it took away some of the urgency of the beginning of the novel to me. Obviously Manu was in a precarious situation with her hidden identity, but it didn’t have the same urgency as I felt during the exposition since the school was a bit of a safe haven (at least for her magical peers).

Altogether, I have pretty positive takeaways from this one and am interested to read more books from this author!

Comparable titles:
The Dysasters by P.C. Cast
The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh
Tithe by Holly Black

***I received an e-ARC from Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review.

Posted in Reviews

THE MIDNIGHT LIE by Marie Rutkoski

Posted on by unapologeticallyabooks
4/5 Stars

This has been one of my favorite reads of 2020 so far! I just adored the characters and couldn’t help but feel giddy at being taken back to the world of The Winner’s Curse series, which is one of my all-time faves. The Midnight Lie was a bit slow to start, but it really picks up and then you won’t be able to stop.

I thought this story set up the foundation for a great expansion of the fantasy world from The Winner’s Curse series. I liked the way it was a spin-off, yet it wasn’t necessary to read the original series, so anyone can just jump into this story. And it definitely had its own original fingerprint, apart from the previous series. The romance is so sweet and features two really distinct, multi-dimensional characters with bold, unforgettable voices of their own.

As always, I’m a huge fan of Marie Rutkoski’s writing and can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

Comparable titles:
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
The Falconer by Elizabeth May
The Brilliant Death by Amy Rose Capetta