I'm here with my post on the Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop blog tour, hosted by Shealea from Caffeine Book Tours! Very excited to share this one--Vanessa Yu is a wonderful novel and I had fun creating content for this tour. Thank you to Berkeley Publishing for sharing an ARC for my review. The Book and its AuthorBecome enamored with the splendor of Paris in this heartwarming and delightful story about writing one’s own destiny and finding love along the way. Vanessa Yu never wanted to see people’s fortunes—or misfortunes—in tea leaves. Ever since she can remember, Vanessa Yu has been able to see people’s fortunes at the bottom of their teacups. To avoid blurting out their fortunes, she converts to coffee, but somehow fortunes escape and find a way to complicate her life and the ones of those around her. To add to this plight, her romance life is so nonexistent that her parents enlist the services of a matchmaking expert from Shanghai. The day before her matchmaking appointment, Vanessa accidentally sees her own fate: death by traffic accident. She decides that she can’t truly live until she can find a way to get rid of her uncanny abilities. When her eccentric aunt, Evelyn, shows up with a tempting offer to whisk her away, Vanessa says au revoir to America and bonjour to Paris. While working at Evelyn’s tea stall at a Parisian antique market, Vanessa performs some matchmaking of her own, attempting to help reconnect her aunt with a lost love. As she learns more about herself and the root of her gifts, she realizes one thing to be true: knowing one’s destiny isn’t a curse, but being unable to change it is. Roselle Lim was born in the Philippines and immigrated to Canada as a child. She lived in north Scarborough in a diverse, Asian neighbourhood. She found her love of writing by listening to her lola (paternal grandmother's) stories about Filipino folktales. Growing up in a household where Chinese superstition mingled with Filipino Catholicism, she devoured books about mythology, which shaped the fantasies in her novels. An artist by nature, she considers writing as "painting with words." ReviewFor those of you who don’t know me, I was supposed to be in Paris this summer, and my trip was cancelled due to COVID-19. I expected reading this to be bittersweet, and I expected to feel hurt. Surprisingly, none of that happened! Instead, I completely fell in love with this love story. Vanessa’s “gift” is more of a curse to her, and she spends her life coughing up predictions at inopportune moments while lacking the dashing romance her aunts so desperately want her to have. That is, until she travels to Paris with her aunt Evelyn in hopes of taming her gift, for Aunt Evelyn is also a clairvoyant. This is a quieter romance, more introspective-contemporary than bodice-ripper, and we see a lot of Vanessa’s self-doubt come through while she adjusts her perspectives and considers the implications of her gifts. I enjoyed Vanessa’s character over the course of the novel, and I think her narration will be fun and engaging for many readers. My favorite part of the book, however, was the blend of magic and foodie culture in one of the most culinarily respected cities in the world. Food is important in the Yu family, so readers are treated to mouthwatering descriptions of dishes that Vanessa eats as she explores Paris. Lim’s worldbuilding is simply… magical, for lack of a better word! From the art museums Vanessa explores with her love interest to Evelyn’s well-stocked tea shop, I truly felt like I was exploring the Marais along with Vanessa. It’s one of my favorite districts in Paris for a reason—there’s so much to see and do! Even though the book is billed as a romance, it’s a bit on the subtler side as I stated earlier. Readers will appreciate the romantic tendencies, but those interested in a simple contemporary will also love Vanessa. I didn’t mind this too much, the lack of “heat,” so to speak, left room for the novel to explore family relationships and Vanessa’s mysterious gifts more fully. Sometimes a simmer works just as well! Overall, I quite enjoyed Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop! It’s a sweet summer read that will have every reader head over heels, as I’m sure Lim’s 2019 debut did as well—I’m for sure going to pick that one up soon. 4/5 stars for this lovely novel. Creative Content
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Hi all! Happy to share that I'm on TBR and Beyond's tour for A Wicked Magic by Sasha Laurens! Check out the rest of the tour schedule here, and don't forget to enter the giveaway down below.
The Book and its Author
Dan and Liss are witches. The Black Book granted them that power. Harnessing that power feels good, especially when everything in their lives makes them feel powerless.
During a spell gone wrong, Liss’s boyfriend is snatched away by an evil entity and presumed dead. Dan and Liss’s friendship dies that night, too. How can they practice magic after the darkness that they conjured? Months later, Liss discovers that her boyfriend is alive, trapped underground in the grips of an ancient force. She must save him, and she needs Dan and the power of The Black Book to do so. Dan is quickly sucked back into Liss’s orbit and pushes away her best friend, Alexa. But Alexa has some big secrets she’s hiding and her own unique magical disaster to deal with. When another teenager disappears, the girls know it’s no coincidence. What greedy magic have they awakened? And what does it want with these teens it has stolen? Set in the atmospheric wilds of California’s northern coast, Sasha Laurens’s thrilling debut novel is about the complications of friendship, how to take back power, and how to embrace the darkness that lives within us all. Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Indigo
SASHA LAURENS grew up in Northern California, where she learned to drive on Highway 1’s switchback turns and got accustomed to the best weather in the world. After studying creative writing and literature at Columbia University, she lived in New York for years and, at various times, in Russia. She currently resides in Michigan, where she is pursuing a PhD in political science.
Website | Twitter | Instagram Review
A Wicked Magic really is like Sabrina in book form… as a massive fan of the popular TV series, though, I wish it had a little more magic and a little less drama. The book starts by introducing Dan, Liss, and Alexa, three high school seniors fighting magical disasters (and occasionally each other.)
Let’s start with the good:
And then, there’s the not-so-good:
Overall, I’d recommend reading A Wicked Magic if you’re a fan of witchy books (like those on this recommendation list I made!), but know that it’s not entirely a thriller—it has all the heart and emotion of any contemporary YA. GiveawayThank you to Feiwel & Friends for sharing a copy in exchange for my honest review.
High schooler Matt's father is rich, powerful, and seemingly untouchable—a criminal with high hopes that his son will follow in his footsteps. Matt's older brother Luke seems poised to do just that, with a bevy of hot girls in tow. But Matt has other ambitions—and attractions. And attraction sometimes doesn't allow for good judgement. Matt wouldn't have guessed that when he makes a new friend, one who is also carrying a secret. The boys' connection turns romantic, a first for both. Now Matt must decide if he can ever do the impossible and come clean about who he really is, and who he is meant to love. I dearly wish I could say more positive things about this book. The Friend Scheme was poised to be a twisty, dark, crime-filled novel about the son of a crime family, but unfortunately several things about it fell flat for me. One of the most enjoyable things for me was the Romeo and Juliet, enemies-to-lovers romance. I’m a sucker for this storyline, and I think it’s one of the finest ways to bring out character development. Matt and Jason’s relationship was hindered by Matt’s reticence to reveal anything about his family—being the heir to a criminal society means you spend a lot of time fearing discovery, I suppose. Matt’s relationship with his family was interesting for me—his love for them and his desire to live a more innocent life added tension to the story. My biggest disappointment was the writing style. The entire book felt flat and bland, with pages of meaningless and hollow dialogue occupying too much space. I wish the story could have been written in a more emotive way, because I think I would have felt more for the characters that way. I don’t want to be too much of a critic of writing style, because some of that is inherent to an author and part of what lends the book individuality, but in this case it seriously inhibited my enjoyment. I don’t know if I’m a terrible analytic reader, but I genuinely didn’t see the plot twist coming. The narrative had me fully convinced of its honesty, and then did a total 180 that left me reeling (and desperately hoping for Matt and Jason’s love story to survive). Despite being slightly dry from lack of interesting dialogue, I will say that The Friend Scheme is inherently readable. 4/5 stars, and I definitely recommend giving it a try! Aaaaaahhhh!!! I was able to purchase an August OwlCrate box last night, and I haven't stopped freaking out yet! I love OwlCrate, and their August book is one of my hotly anticipated releases (and in fact, I was lucky enough to be chosen for its blog tour so I've read an ARC--it's absolutely amazing). I love ordering OwlCrates because of the wonderful special editions they send as well as the goodies inside, so I couldn't be happier to score an August box. I highly recommend getting on their subscription waitlist if you haven't tried one yet!
Over the weekend, I caved and went to Barnes and Noble, where I picked up Starsight, the sequel to Skyward, and Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust. These are two of my most anticipated reads, and for once I'm happy about my TBR pile growing longer! I already started Starsight, and it's a worthy sequel. I loved Skyward more than anything else on Earth, so I can't really say it's better than that, but a fairly good contender. Spensa is always my favorite character, and Sanderson finds new ways to challenge her and push her to save her people. I know less about GST, but Emily A. Duncan (author of Wicked Saints and Ruthless Gods, some of my favorite books ever) loved it so that's enough for me. **I use an affiliate link in this post. Any purchase you make will send me a percentage as commission, which helps support this blog**
You know how it goes. You see a shiny new release on Bookstagram, or you’re browsing your local indie and find a book you just HAVE to have. And then you buy it. Because you wouldn’t just *leave it there,* right?? That’d be so sad! It might get lonely! Even though you already have… how many books at home? Reader, I understand. I’ve been there. Impulse purchasing on bookshop.org/shop/bookbaroness is my new best friend. I have 140 unread books on my shelf. However, amidst all my irresponsible spending and the excitement of new books, I’m gaining a little “shelf awareness,” let's say. Pardon the pun. What I mean is that I’m starting to read the things that I already own! Wow, what a concept! It goes like this: I use a random number generator to pick one of my six shelves, and then another to pick an unread book from that shelf. If I feel like reading it, it goes on the pile. If not, rinse and repeat. I like this method because it draws my attention to books I might otherwise overlook on my shelves, and also allows me some wiggle room to accommodate my mood-reading. Some of my recent reads from using this method include: King of Scars, Skyward, Wicked Fox, The Rattled Bones, and Dance of Thieves. Hopefully I can get from 140 down to 0 within a year or two! How do you choose which books you read? So true to my last Tuesday's Two, I spent most of my weekend watching Cursed. I like it so far! There's definitely some elements I would change (such as... why did they cast a white actress for a character illustrated in the book as racially ambiguous? Could have made a different choice there).
I've been into fantasy TV for a while now, because I'm getting bored with the usual sitcom offerings, so if anyone has any suggestions similar to The Witcher or Cursed, comment below! My second thing today is that 10 Things I Hate About Pinky by Sandhya Menon is out today!! Being on Sandhya's street team has been one of the greatest pleasures of my time as a blogger, and I love supporting her books! This is another novel in the Dimpleverse, so if you liked When Dimple Met Rishi, you should definitely order Pinky today! Hi all! Rebecca Sullivan, author of Night Owls and Summer Skies (out June 30 from Wattpad Books) here with a guest post on staying motivated as a writer. Welcome, Rebecca! --Shreya Getting Over Writer’s Block, Some Tips to Keep MotivatedI get asked all the time, how do I get motivation to write? Here’s what works for me and what may work for you.
1. Write Every Day or Create a Steady Routine That Works for You The hardest part of writing is sitting down and starting. One trick that has worked for me is making writing a part of my routine. The more you use that writing muscle, the easier it will be to find that creative space inside your head. The biggest challenge is that sudden surge of inspiration to write an entire novel one day and the next being disappointed that you’re not writing as quickly as you would like. Any progress is progress. Once you’ve set aside time for yourself, make a realistic goal. Maybe one day you can spend one-hour writing, so aim accordingly. Another day you might have fifteen minutes. It’s important to not compare your progress one day to the next. 2. Write First. Edit later. This is a mistake I’ve made a few times but I’m learning! Editing and writing uses different parts of your brain. If you’re constantly swapping between these modes, you will run out of steam and creative juices. At least, that’s what happens to me. Finish the draft, enjoy the process, try and ignore that editor’s voices in the back of your head until the words are on paper and then tackle the beast all you want. 3. Get Rid of Distractions Now this comes back to formulating a routine that works for you. Do you need some background noise like music when you write? Do you enjoy a cup of tea or like to snack on something while you write? Get those things ready before you sit down and begin to write. There’s nothing worse than when you’re writing something that’s going exactly the way you want and then you notice the painful silence or the rumbling of your stomach. It’s a distraction and distractions can be avoided. Now we all heard this advice before, but it works, I promise. Turn your phone on silent and turn it upside-down. Set an alarm and only look at your phone when the alarm goes off. What works for me is, half an hour writing, five-minute phone time, half an hour writing. Do what works for you! 4. Breaks Are Important I know I mentioned creating a routine, getting rid of distractions, and the hardest part of writing is sitting down and beginning, but sometimes, writer’s block can hold us hostage or we’re not in the proper headspace to produce anything on paper. That’s okay! There is absolutely no shame in taking a break from your book and the world you created for a few days. Sometimes a break can jump start your ideas and passion for your project. What if you take a break and still can’t get back into the story? Sometimes, a writer’s block can be because of your routine too. Change the font on your computer or the page colours or the environment you picked to write. Sure, routines are great, but that’s no reason not to have fun too. 5. Your System Everyone is different. Play around with different ways to help motivate yourself and if something doesn’t work for you? Move onto something new. Spensa's world has been under attack for decades.
Now pilots are the heroes of what's left of the human race, and becoming one has always been Spensa's dream. Since she was a little girl, she has imagined soaring skyward and proving her bravery. But her fate is intertwined with that of her father's—a pilot himself who was killed years ago when he abruptly deserted his team, leaving Spensa the daughter of a coward, her chances of attending Flight School slim to none. No one will let Spensa forget what her father did, yet fate works in mysterious ways. Flight school might be a long shot, but she is determined to fly. And an accidental discovery in a long-forgotten cavern might just provide her with a way to claim the stars. I’m sure you all know by now that science fiction is not my favorite genre, so please take this five-star review as a GLOWING endorsement of Skyward. I have no words for how quickly I became obsessed with this novel after reading it (side note: I’m so frustrated that we have no book 3 news yet!), and I’m sure even the most hesitant of sci-fi readers will feel the same way. Where do I even begin… as I write this review I’m reminded that I didn’t even think I’d like the book at the outset. I found Spensa too hot-headed, and I felt like I was in for 500 pages of secondhand embarrassment. Let me tell you, Brandon Sanderson has a HABIT of writing characters that I think I’ll hate and then turning them into my favorite part of his books. I’m a #1 Spensa stan now, and nobody can take that away from me. I adore her. She changes her behavior over the course of the book and acknowledges the effect her actions have on others? What? I LOVE when that happens—literal growth is an underrated part of character development in my opinion. I found myself screaming out loud in support of her a couple times while reading, and I literally had to stop and flail. I can’t underscore enough how good of a heroine and narrator she becomes. Aside from my great love for Spensa, I also loved the world building and plot. They tied together perfectly, and I could visualize Spensa’s experience in flight school and piloting her ship to save Alta Base from the Krell. (In summary—Spensa’s planet, Detritus, is under attack by a well-armed alien species called Krell, and she wants nothing more than to defeat them and prove herself as a great hero). Sanderson is a master at world building that’s integrated with plot, so the pacing is well executed. There’s no laggy info-dumping, and there are even little diagrams of starships and flight maneuvers to break up the book’s sections. I always love a good diagram! I think it’s also important to mention that Skyward is romance-free! This is so important in YA, because we don’t need romance for a story to be enjoyable and valid. I love that non-romance arcs are taking priority in more and more books, not only because we shouldn’t assume all readers want to read romantic arcs, but also because some books are genuinely better without them! I loved that page time in Skyward was devoted to Spensa’s character and the war she fights in—it left lots of room for flying scenes, which were some of my favorites in the book. I basically think Skyward is perfect, and I’m very excited for more news on books 3 and 4 so that I can pick up the sequel without fear of a reading slump afterwards! 5/5 stars—if you haven’t read anything by Brandon Sanderson, I highly recommend his work.
Okay, okay, okay! It's the middle of the year (give or take a few weeks), so I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon and do the Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag. I haven't been tagged to do this, per se, but I figure it's all in good fun and I'd like to join. Ok, so! Onto the questions (which I've modified slightly to include some extras I thought were fun).
A thing to know: This year, I've read 83 books. 1. Best book you've read so far in 2020
This... is a loaded question. I'm just going to limit myself and pick four. Burn Our Bodies Down, Just Breathe, Serpent & Dove, and The Shadow Glass.
2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2020
I'm sorry, there's no other correct answer to this other than Ruthless Gods by Emily A. Duncan. I was lucky enough to read an ARC, and I maintain it's one of the only second books in a trilogy that didn't make me want to completely rip the book to shreds. It was exciting and dangerous and dark and a perfect sequel!
3. New release you haven't read yet
Legitimately think it's a crime that I haven't been able to find A Song of Wraiths and Ruin in stock yet!! I want a hard copy, which is why I haven't requested it from Libby yet. It's a gorgeous fantasy, complete with an enemies to lovers romance, which I LOVE, so obviously this book will be much loved when I can finally get my hands on it.
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
I need Star Daughter to be out. Right now. I need everyone else to read it and marvel at this beautiful story. I also can't wait to read Blood & Honey, since I loved Serpent & Dove back in March. Other excitements: The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, Horrid, and The White Coat Diaries.
5. Biggest disappointment
I finally picked up Sisters of Shadow and Light by Sara B. Larson, and I was really sad because I couldn't help but make constant comparisons to Strange the Dreamer. I wanted it to be fresh and different, but I just couldn't see it. I can't decide whether or not to pick up the sequel and see if the story gets better from here.
6. Biggest surprise
7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)
Gabby Noone's Layoverland is like a YA form of The Good Place, and she perfectly captured the surrealism and humor of a corporate and strangely human afterlife. For this reason, I'm definitely picking up whatever she writes next. If she can write that mood, she can do anything.
8. Newest favorite character
Everyone in King of Scars! In the main trilogy I was never particularly attached to Nikolai or Zoya, but I enjoyed reading their new dynamic and I can't help but feel protective over them since they're main characters now. (I also think they should kiss. But that's separate. Leigh, if you're reading this, ð¥ºð¥ºð¥º, please can we have it??)
9. Best reread
I reread the first half of the Throne of Glass series in a group read with several friends, which brought me back to some early YA feels. I can't stand reading past Queen of Shadows, so I kind of... stopped there, but I'm glad I could chat with my friends about my endless adoration for Aelin and Rowan while it lasted. Yes, I'm a VERY hardcore Rowaelin shipper and this will stay with me forever. (Yes, I've written fanfic. No, you can't see it).
10. Book that made you cry
Surprisingly, I'm going to go with Save the Date on this one! The last chapter or so was surprisingly emotional, and I found myself crying a little. I had thought it was a rom com, but it's more family-focused contemporary and less romance. OF COURSE a Morgan Matson book would make me cry, but it's been a few years since I've read one, so I guess I forgot.
11. Book that made you happy
Let's mix it up! I really loved Toil & Trouble, an anthology on YA witches, and I was really invested in some of the stories in there--more than I thought I would be. It's lighthearted but emotional, magical but grounded, and everything I needed to be reading.
12. âMost beautiful book youâve bought so far this year (or received)
13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
My goal is to make my way through my 140 unread books that are taking up shelf space, so I don't necessarily think there are any specific books I have in mind. I'd like to finally do a shelf-clean up, so when I finish this in the next year or so, all the ones with low ratings will go. Otherwise, here's my current Netgalley situation, and I talk about the books I plan to review there.
14. Reading goals for the rest of the year
I'm not a reading-goal oriented person, as we saw during the Reading Challenge Fail of 2018, so I only have two:
1. Read alllll the fantasy books. 2. For the nostalgia, reread Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I plan to order the new Illumicrate box, because I love the series so much, so when that comes in November I'll do a reread. Hi all! Coming to you today with my post on the Mayhem blog tour, ran by Wednesday Books, featuring my review, a moodboard, and a letter from the author. The Book and its AuthorIt's 1987 and unfortunately it's not all Madonna and cherry lip balm. Mayhem Brayburn has always known there was something off about her and her mother, Roxy. Maybe it has to do with Roxy's constant physical pain, or maybe with Mayhem's own irresistible pull to water. Either way, she knows they aren't like everyone else. But when May's stepfather finally goes too far, Roxy and Mayhem flee to Santa Maria, California, the coastal beach town that holds the answers to all of Mayhem's questions about who her mother is, her estranged family, and the mysteries of her own self. There she meets the kids who live with her aunt, and it opens the door to the magic that runs through the female lineage in her family, the very magic Mayhem is next in line to inherit and which will change her life for good. But when she gets wrapped up in the search for the man who has been kidnapping girls from the beach, her life takes another dangerous turn and she is forced to face the price of vigilante justice and to ask herself whether revenge is worth the cost. From the acclaimed author of This Raging Light and But Then I Came Back, Estelle Laure offers a riveting and complex story with magical elements about a a family of women contending with what appears to be an irreversible destiny, taking control and saying when enough is enough. Estelle Laure, the author of This Raging Light and But Then I Came Back believes in love, magic, and the power of facing hard truths. She has a BA in Theatre Arts and an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults, and she lives in Taos, New Mexico, with her family. Her work is translated widely around the world. ReviewThank you to Wednesday Books for sharing a copy in exchange for my honest review. This novel astonished me from the start. From the twisted relationship between Mayhem and her family, to the winding magic that grips the whole book, everything about it was a fun read. Mayhem plays with reality and un-reality at the same time, teetering on the edge of confusion but balancing fabulism in exactly the right way. The strongest thing about the book for me was Mayhem herself. We learn about her almost symbiotic relationship with her mother, and the abuse they’ve suffered by her step-father, Lyle, at the same time as Mayhem discovers who she really wants to be on the coast of California. I liked narration from her point of view because she was both new to the world and moved about it with ease, making the pacing feel super smooth. As far as worldbuilding goes… magic abounds in Santa Maria, and of course the Brayburns are at the center of it all. For fear of spoilers, I won’t share exactly what’s involved, but if you’ve seen The Lost Boys you can probably guess (minus the vampires). This was used as a tool to help Mayhem become close to the rest of her family, and I quite liked her relationship with her aunt Elle, Roxy’s sister. There’s also a smidge of romance, as each of the Brayburn women have one true love. I liked Mayhem’s relationship, but I do think the book would have been fine without it. A couple of other readers have noted direct similarities to The Lost Boys, a movie I haven’t seen but know enough about. I personally don’t have a super one-sided opinion on this, as the book is supposed to be a feminist retelling of sorts focused on matriarchal family lines and the power of women. I forgive any transgressions, but you’ll have to read and form your own opinion. Overall, an enjoyable reading experience! I finished the book in only a couple of days, as I was desperately invested in Mayhem’s journey and exploring Santa Maria. 4/5 stars. MoodboardLetter from EstelleDear Reader,
Like Mayhem, I experienced a period of time when my life was extremely unstable. I can still remember what it was like to be shaken so hard I thought my head would come off, to watch the room vibrate, to feel unsafe in my own home, to never know what was coming around the next corner. I wanted to run. I always wanted to run. I ran to friends, but also movies and books, and although girls were more passively portrayed in movies like The Lost Boys back then, that feeling of teenagers prowling the night, taking out bad people, being unbeatable . . . that got me through it. I guess that’s what I tried to do here. I wanted girls who feel powerless to be able to imagine themselves invincible. And yes, I used a rape as the seed for that fierce lineage, not without thought. For me, there is nothing worse, and I like to think great power can rise up as a result of a devastating trespass. Please know I took none of this lightly. Writing this now, my heart is beating hard and my throat is dry. This is the first time I not only really looked at my own past, the pain of loss, the pain of the loss of trust that comes when someone puts hands on you without permission, the pain of people dying, the shock of suicide, and put all of it to paper in a way that made me feel victorious, strong, and warrior-like. It is also terrifying. I know I’m not the only one who had a scary childhood, and I know I’m not the only one who clings to stories as salve to smooth over burnt skin. I am so sick of girls and women being hurt. This was my way of taking my own vengeance and trying to access forgiveness. Thank you for reading and for those of you who can relate, I see you and you are not alone. Estelle Laure |
The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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