Sunday Post 8th July 2018

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer, it's a chance to post a recap on the past week, show the books we have received and share what we plan for the coming week. Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Reading Reality and the aim is to show our newest books and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops or downloaded on to their e-reader.

Last Week on the Blog:

• Independence Realm by Kevin J. Bernadt
• The Beach Read We All Deserve - Alex Approximately by Jenn Bennet

Books We Got This Week:

  

The Favourite Sister by Jessica Knoll: I know basically nothing about this but sisters combined with reality television makes for a book I HAD to buy. It also looks like a very Halloween read so I might save it! 

My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows: I've already read this and was a bit disappointed to be honest. This was probably one of my biggest excitements of the year and I just got nothing much from it. 

The War in the Dark by Nick Setchfield: Oh boy am I excited for this. This was a total surprise when I got it in the post from Titan Books and I am so pumped. It's spies and Europe and gorgeousness and I will for sure be reading this very soon. 

 

Smoke in the Sun by Renee Ahdieh: I had a super stressful meeting this week so obviously I went to Waterstones beforehand to relax and found these two beauties. I haven't actually read Flame in the Mist yet but I am excited about this duology so already owned it and was just waiting for this to be released and now I can binge them!!!

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik: SIGNED!! One of my favourite authors, in a beautiful hardcover of one of my most anticipated for the year and it's signed. Obviously I bought it immediately. And my Mum who was with me did her best to join in with my excitement even though she was probably thinking more "oh god not more books". Sorry Mum - I love you! 

Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria: Received via Netgalley. I only just went on Netgalley because I only just became able to read kindle books again and I am so excited to have been approved for this one. It looks so dark and intriguing! 

Reading Update:

 

The Young Elites/The Rose Society/The Midnight Star by Marie Lu: I still haven't fully decided on my ratings for any of these so I'm not going to risk it. Basically, I loved the first two but felt very disappointed by the third. I will have a series review of these going up next week, which I am excited for (maybe by then I will actually have decided how I feel??).

   

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett: 4 stars, I've read and reviewed this (review linked above posted on The Regal Critiques). It was fun and sweet with a lovely romance and a very, very summery plot. 

My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows: 2.5 stars, I already mentioned how disappointed I was with this. I buddy read it with my wonderful co-blogger Vera who posted a review for it yesterday here which you should check out! 

Queen by Josephine Boyce: 3.5 stars, This was a super dark, super intriguing novella. I really wish it had been a full length novel because I feel like there was more there to explore but I was so happy with the direction the story went in. 

 

Rebellion by Josephine Boyce: 3 stars, I liked this less than Queen. At first I loved it, the concept and the world creation were brilliant. But it was spoiled slightly by a badly handled sexual assault sub-plot which I found enormously triggering both the event and the way some of the characters reacted afterwards. 

Independence Realm by Kevin J. Bernadt: 3.5 stars, This was a good start to a series. My review is linked above. It lacked polish but the characters and story were entertaining and I definitely want more.

Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moira Fowley- Doyle: 4 stars, This was so beautifully written and I did enjoy the story a lot. I wish I'd felt more connection at the beginning of the novel but by the end I was fully invested.