Review: The Half-Drowned King by Linnea Hartsuyker

Lekeisha The Booknerd6 Comments

32600758Published: August 1st 2017

Publisher: Harper

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mythology

Source: ARC via Publisher

My Rating: 4 Stars

Since the death of Ragnvald Eysteinsson’s father in battle, he has worked hard to protect his sister Svanhild and planned to inherit his family’s land when he comes of age. But when the captain of his ship tries to kill him on the way home from a raiding excursion, he must confront his stepfather’s betrayal, and find a way to protect his birthright. It is no easy feat in Viking-Age Norway, where a hundred petty rulers kill over parcels of land, and a prophesied high king is rising.

But where Ragnvald is expected to bleed, and even die, for his honour, Svanhild is simply expected to marry well. It’s not a fate she relishes, and when the chance to leave her stepfather’s cruelty comes at the hand of her brother’s arch-rival, Svanhild is forced to make the ultimate choice: family or freedom.

Drawing from the Icelandic Sagas, The Half-Drowned King takes inspiration from the true story of Ragnvald of Maer, the right hand man of King Harald Fairhair, first king of all Norway, and his sister, Svanhild, as she tries to find freedom in a society where the higher her brother rises, the greater her worth as a political pawn.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes&Noble

Read More »

{Blog Tour} Review: The Inevitable Collision of Birdie & Bash by Candace Ganger

Lekeisha The Booknerd12 Comments

The_Inevitable_Collision_of_Birdie_and_Bash_Blog_Banner

About The Book

 

31450675Published: July 25th 2017

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Source: ARC via Publisher/Netgalley

My Rating: 4andahalfstars-blk

Birdie never meant to be at the party. Bash should have been long gone. But when they meet, a collision course is set off they may never recover from.

Sebastian Alvaréz is just trying to hold the pieces together: to not flunk out, to keep his sort-of-best friend Wild Kyle from doing something really bad, and to see his beloved Ma through chemo. But when he meets Birdie Paxton, a near-Valedictorian who doesn’t realize she’s smoking hot in her science pun T-shirt, at a party, an undeniable attraction sparks. And suddenly he’s not worried about anything. But before they are able to exchange numbers, they are pulled apart. A horrifying tragedy soon links Birdie and Bash together—but neither knows it. When they finally reconnect, and are starting to fall—hard—the events of the tragedy unfold, changing both their lives in ways they can never undo. Told in alternating perspectives, The Inevitable Collision of Birdie & Bash by Candace Ganger is a beautiful, complex, and ultimately hopeful teen novel that will move you to the very last page.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Review

Of all the books that I’ve read in 2017, Birdie & Bash is the one that nearly did me in! And when I get the materials for this blog tour, I find out that the author didn’t just make up this story, she lived it! Okay, so not word for word, but she has been living with a family tragedy and wanted to bring some closure/healing to everyone involved. And while I was falling hard for this adorable couple, I was a teary mess. Parts of this hit a little too close to home, and I found myself hesitant to continue, but I did. And I’m truly glad about it. If this book isn’t on your TBR, please add it. You won’t regret it, I promise!

How can love blossom under so much weight pressing down on it? That is the only thing that kept going through my mind. Sebastian (Bash) was involved in something very scary and tragic. Birdie is basically living a nightmare. I can’t spoil how these two are linked, but they somehow end up entwined with each other at a party. Bash was in danger of going gray, what with the big “secret” that he keeps from Birdie. And while he endures self struggles and family sickness, Birdie is equally, if not more, broken. All of this is going down and these two find comfort in each other. I can’t tell you how hard that is because there’s not a word for it. 

I love Birdie’s character. She is smart and witty, and it totally meshed well with the story itself. This could have been such a downer (in a good way), but the author did an amazing job of bringing out the funny things when it got a little too heavy. What’s that saying? The good and the bad. This book fits perfectly with that phrase.

Candace Ganger has now been added to my list of “must-read” authors. She has sold me completely with her debut. The writing is seasoned, the story is captivating, and I love the message that it delivered. It is tragic, but it is also hopeful. As of right now, this is the second best YA debut of the year for me; with THUG rolling in at number one. I really recommend this book. Steal it if you must! Okay, don’t steal it. I haven’t been this torn up over a YA book in a long time. Probably since TFIOS; so if you love John Green then this book will definitely hit the spot.

 

 

 

About The Author

View More: http://merindabuchananphotography.pass.us/candaceCandace Ganger is a feisty author with a passion for Tweeting cat memes. Her YA debut is THE INEVITABLE COLLISION OF BIRDIE & BASH (St. Martin’s Griffin, July 25th, 2017), about two teens who fall in love, not knowing of each other’s connection to a horrific tragedy.

Candace is also a ghost-writer for award-winning nonfiction and best-selling fiction authors and contributing writer for Teen Vogue, Romper, Hello Giggles, Bustle, TWLOHA, XO Jane, and more. She’s worked previously as assistant editor for phys.org and her various creative endeavors (literally hundreds) are sprinkled all over the globe.

When she’s not writing for other people’s fame or stress baking, you can find her training for marathons in cemeteries or taming her two weird kids (not to be confused with her two weird cats) while consuming way too many Milky Way lattes. You can follow her obsessive cat picture posting shenanigans via @candylandgang on Twitter!

 

Review: The Unlikelies by Carrie Firestone_ @CLLFirestone @TheNovl

Lekeisha The Booknerd14 Comments

31078124Published: June 6th 2017

Publisher: Little, Brown BfYR

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary

Format: ARC via NOVL 

My Rating: 4 Stars

Five teens embark on a summer of vigilante good samaritanism in a novel that’s part The Breakfast Club, part The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, and utterly captivating.

Rising high school senior Sadie is bracing herself for a long, lonely, and boring summer. But things take an unexpected turn when she steps in to help rescue a baby in distress and a video of her good deed goes viral.

Suddenly internet-famous, Sadie’s summer changes for the better when she’s introduced to other “hometown heroes.” These five very different teens form an unlikely alliance to secretly right local wrongs, but when they try to help a heroin-using friend, they get in over their heads and discover that there might be truth in the saying “no good deed goes unpunished.” Can Sadie and her new friends make it through the summer with their friendships–and anonymity–intact?

This rich and thought-provoking novel takes on timely issues and timeless experiences with a winning combination of romance, humor, and wisdom.

Add To Goodreads

Review

I kicked off my Summer reading back in April, so I’ve been drowning in contemporary. Particularly, YA contemporary. The Unlikelies was a quick and fun read. While the beginning was traumatic, the story itself brought about diverse characters and unquestionable loyalty among the group. How likely would the situations these kids found themselves in happen in the real world? Not likely, but I enjoyed the story for what it was. It is fiction after all.

Sadie is a character that I think everyone should meet. She is so relatable because she reminds me of my co-worker, Shekanah. The one who loves to brighten your day, even when you don’t want to smile. She is so thoughtful and seems way more mature for her age. No wonder she hung out with the seniors. What happens to Sadie in this story is very heartbreaking. And the aftermath is even more so. I love that the author addressed racism where Sadie’s character is concerned; and also how wrong the idiots dishing it out were. Sadie isn’t even Arab! 

The fun side to this story involves Sadie and a few of her Homegrown Hero friends on a good samaritan mission. I can’t explain the Homegrown Hero without spoiling anything but……. I spent the first half of the book wondering if people actually do this sort of thing. And if so, why aren’t they doing it in my neck of the woods?!! These kids are so complex. Even just getting to know them through Sadie’s eyes you get good characterizations. They set out to do some good, starting with bullies, but end up on the wrong side of Izzy’s heroin addiction. Along with all of this, there’s also time for romance.

 Another thing that I loved about this are the parents. Yes, people, we have parents!! And Sadie’s parents are just what this story needed. Also, grandparents are involved in Sadie’s life. It is so rare to read YA these days and have attentive adults running amok. So, props to the author for delivering.

The Unlikelies is the perfect summer read. I read it in one sitting, if that tells you anything. I enjoyed the story and all the messages it delivered. I definitely recommend picking this one up if you enjoy this genre.

4-stars

Review: Bang by Barry Lyga @TheNovl @lbkids

Lekeisha The Booknerd12 Comments

31420736Published: April 18th 2017

Publisher: Little, Brown BFYR

Genres: YA, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction

Source: ARC via NOVL for review

My Rating: 4.25 Stars

A chunk of old memory, adrift in a pool of blood.

Sebastian Cody did something horrible, something no one–not even Sebastian himself–can forgive. At the age of four, he accidentally shot and killed his infant sister with his father’s gun.

Now, ten years later, Sebastian has lived with the guilt and horror for his entire life. With his best friend away for the summer, Sebastian has only a new friend–Aneesa–to distract him from his darkest thoughts. But even this relationship cannot blunt the pain of his past. Because Sebastian knows exactly how to rectify his childhood crime and sanctify his past.

It took a gun to get him into this.

Now he needs a gun to get out.

Unflinching and honest, Bang is as true and as relevant as tomorrow’s headlines, the story of one boy and one moment in time that cannot be reclaimed.

Add To Goodreads

Read More »