Fairyloot's 2023 Young Adult Line-Up

lunedì 19 febbraio 2024

Salve booklovers, come va? Oggi vi propongo un post molto semplice, ma d'effetto. Ecco a voi la fantastica line-up della Fairyloot a livello Young Adult per il 2023.

Cosa ne pensate?


JANUARY'S BOOK: "SPICE ROAD" BY MAIYA IBRAHIM


TRAMA:

The first book in an epic fantasy series for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Hafsah Faizal and Elizabeth Lim, set in an Arabian-inspired land. Raised to protect her nation from the monsters lurking in the sands, seventeen-year-old Imani must fight to find her brother whose betrayal is now their greatest threat.

In the hidden desert city of Qalia, secret spice magic awakens affinities in those who drink the misra tea. With an affinity for iron, seventeen-year-old Imani wields a dagger like no other warrior, garnering her the reputation as the next greatest Shield for battling the dangerous djinn, ghouls, and other monsters that lurk in the sands beyond city limits.

Her reputation has been overshadowed, however, by her brother who tarnished the family name after he was discovered stealing their nation's coveted spice - a tell-tale sign of magical obsession. He disappeared soon after, believed to have died beyond the Forbidden Wastes, and leaving Imani reeling with both betrayal and grief.

But when Imani uncovers evidence her brother may be alive and spreading their nation's magic beyond the desert, she strikes a deal with the Council to find him and bring him back to Qalia before he can reveal the city's location. Accompanied by Qayn, a roguish but handsome djinni, and Taha, a powerful beastseer whose magical talents are matched only by his arrogance, they set out on their mission.

Imani will soon discover there are many secrets that lie beyond the Forbidden Wastes - and in her own heart - but will she find her brother before his betrayals endanger the fate of all of Qalia?


...


FEBRUARY'S BOOK: "CITY OF NIGHTMARES" BY REBECCA SCHAEFFER



TRAMA:

Gotham meets Strange the Dreamer in this thrilling young adult fantasy about a cowardly girl who finds herself at the center of a criminal syndicate conspiracy, in a city where crooked politicians and sinister cults design and dreaming means waking up as your worst nightmare.

Ever since her sister became a man-eating spider and slaughtered her way through town, nineteen-year-old Ness has been terrified—terrified of some other Nightmare murdering her, and terrified of ending up like her sister. Because in Newham, the city that never sleeps and the only other home Ness has known, dreaming means waking up as your worst fear.

Whether that means becoming a Nightmare that is only monstrous in appearance but is otherwise able to live a semi-normal existence, to transforming into a twisted, unrecognizable creature that terrorizes the citizens of Newham, no one is safe. Ness will do anything to avoid becoming another victim, even if that means lying low among the Friends of the Restful Soul, a seedy organization that may or may not be a cult.

But being a member of the Friends of the Restful Soul has a price. In order to prove herself, Ness cons her way into what’s supposed to be a simple job for the organization—only for it to blow up in her face. Literally. Tangled up in the aftermath of an explosive assassination, Ness and the only other survivor—a Nightmare boy who Ness suspects is planning to eat her—must find their way back to Newham and uncover the sinister truth behind the attack.

...


MARCH'S BOOK: "SEVEN FACELESS SAINTS" BY MK LOBB


TRAMA:

In the city of Ombrazia, saints and their disciples rule with terrifying and unjust power, playing favorites while the unfavored struggle to survive.

After her father’s murder at the hands of the Ombrazian military, Rossana Lacertosa is willing to do whatever it takes to dismantle the corrupt system—tapping into her powers as a disciple of Patience, joining the rebellion, and facing the boy who broke her heart. As the youngest captain in the history of Palazzo security, Damian Venturi is expected to be ruthless and strong, and to serve the saints with unquestioning devotion. But three years spent fighting in a never-ending war have left him with deeper scars than he wants to admit… and a fear of confronting the girl he left behind.

Now a murderer stalks Ombrazia’s citizens. As the body count climbs, the Palazzo is all too happy to look the other way—that is, until a disciple becomes the newest victim. With every lead turning into a dead end, Damian and Roz must team up to find the killer, even if it means digging up buried emotions. As they dive into the underbelly of Ombrazia, the pair will discover something more sinister—and far less holy. With darkness closing in and time running out, will they be able to save the city from an evil so powerful that it threatens to destroy everything in its path?


...


APRIL'S BOOK: "SILVER IN THE BONE" BY ALEXANDRA BRACKEN


TRAMA:

Tamsin Lark didn’t ask to be a Hollower. As a mortal with no magical talent, she was never meant to break into ancient crypts, or compete with sorceresses and Cunningfolk for the treasures inside. But after her thieving foster father disappeared without so much as a goodbye, it was the only way to keep herself—and her brother, Cabell—alive.

Ten years later, rumors are swirling that her guardian vanished with a powerful ring from Arthurian legend. A run-in with her rival Emrys ignites Tamsin’s hope that the ring could free Cabell from a curse that threatens both of them. But they aren’t the only ones who covet the ring.

As word spreads, greedy Hollowers start circling, and many would kill to have it for themselves. While Emrys is the last person Tamsin would choose to partner with, she needs all the help she can get to edge out her competitors in the race for the ring. Together, they dive headfirst into a vipers’ nest of dark magic, exposing a deadly secret with the power to awaken ghosts of the past and shatter her last hope of saving her brother. . . .


...


MAY'S BOOK: "DIVINE RIVALS" BY REBECCA ROSS


TRAMA:

When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever.

After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.

To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish—into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love.

Shadow and Bone meets Lore in Rebecca Ross's Divine Rivals, an epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy novel filled with hope and heartbreak, and the unparalleled power of love.


...


JUNE'S BOOK: "SING ME TO SLEEP" BY GABI BURTON


TRAMA:

In this dark and seductive YA fantasy debut, a siren must choose between protecting her family and following her heart in a prejudiced kingdom where her existence is illegal.

Saoirse Sorkova survives on lies. As a soldier-in-training at the most prestigious barracks in the kingdom, she lies about being a siren to avoid execution. At night, working as an assassin for a dangerous group of mercenaries, Saoirse lies about her true identity. And to her family, Saoirse tells the biggest lie of all: that she can control her siren powers and doesn't struggle constantly against an impulse to kill.

As the top trainee in her class, Saoirse would be headed for a bright future if it weren't for the need to keep her secrets out of the spotlight. But when a mysterious blackmailer threatens her sister, Saoirse takes a dangerous job that will help her investigate: she becomes personal bodyguard to the crown prince.

Saoirse should hate Prince Hayes. After all, his father is the one who enforces the kingdom's brutal creature segregation laws. But when Hayes turns out to be kind, thoughtful, and charming, Saoirse finds herself increasingly drawn to him-especially when they're forced to work together to stop a deadly killer who's plaguing the city. There's only one problem: Saoirse is that deadly killer.

Featuring an all Black and Brown cast, a forbidden romance, and a compulsively dark plot full of twists, this thrilling YA fantasy is perfect for fans of A Song Below Water and To Kill a Kingdom.


...


JULY'S BOOK: "THREADS THAT BIND" BY KIKA HATZOPOULOU


TRAMA:

In a world where the children of the gods inherit their powers, a descendant of the Greek Fates must solve a series of impossible murders to save her sisters, her soulmate, and her city.

Descendants of the Fates are always born in threes: one to weave, one to draw, and one to cut the threads that connect people to the things they love and to life itself. The Ora sisters are no exception. Io, the youngest, uses her Fate-born abilities as a private investigator in the half-sunken city of Alante.

But her latest job leads her to a horrific discovery: somebody is abducting women, maiming their life-threads, and setting the resulting wraiths loose in the city to kill. To find the culprit, she must work alongside Edei Rhuna, the right hand of the infamous Mob Queen—and the boy with whom she shares a rare fate-thread linking them as soul mates before they’ve even met.

But the investigation turns personal when Io's estranged oldest sister turns up on the arm of her best suspect. Amid unveiled secrets from her past and her growing feelings for Edei, Io must follow clues through the city’s darkest corners and unearth a conspiracy that involves some of the city’s most powerful players—before destruction comes to her own doorstep.


...


AUGUST'S BOOK: "BONESMITH" BY NICKI PAU PRETO




TRAMA:

Ready your blade. Defeat the undead.

In the Dominions, the dead linger, violent and unpredictable, unless a bonesmith severs the ghost from its earthly remains. For bonesmith Wren, becoming a valkyr—a ghost-fighting warrior—is a chance to solidify her place in the noble House of Bone and impress her frequently absent father. But when sabotage causes Wren to fail her qualifying trial, she is banished to the Border Wall, the last line of defense against a wasteland called the Breach where the vicious dead roam unchecked.

Determined to reclaim her family’s respect, Wren gets her chance when a House of Gold prince is kidnapped and taken beyond the Wall. To prove she has what it takes to be a valkyr, Wren vows to cross the Breach and rescue the prince. But to do so, she’s forced into an uneasy alliance with one of the kidnappers—a fierce ironsmith called Julian from the exiled House of Iron, the very people who caused the Breach in the first place…and the House of Bone’s sworn enemy.

As they travel, Wren and Julian spend as much time fighting each other as they do the undead, but when they discover there’s more behind the kidnapping than either of them knew, they’ll need to work together to combat the real danger: a dark alliance that is brewing between the living and the undead.


...


SEPTEMBER'S BOOK: "IF I HAVE TO BE HAUNTED" BY MIRANDA SUN




TRAMA:

Your first love will always haunt you…

The most haunting, heartwarming debut of 2023. Perfect for fans of strong female leads and supernatural stakes in Buffy, with all the sweetness and romance of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.

Cara’s just trying to stay on top of all her classes, excel at her extracurriculars, and prepare for college – which means not speaking to the dead, an ability she inherited from her grandmother. Ghosts are trouble, and Cara doesn’t need to add their problems to her own.

But then she stumbles upon the body of Zach – the super popular but very newly dead high school golden boy – in the woods, and guess what? He wants her to resurrect him.

Cue trouble.


...


OCTOBER'S BOOK: "THE FOREST GRIMM" BY KATHRYN PURDIE


TRAMA:

Where fairy tales come to life with dark, deadly twists...

"Tell me again, Grandmère, the story of how I die."

The Midnight Forest. The Fanged Creature. Two fortune-telling cards that spell an untimely death for 17-year-old Clara. Despite the ever-present warning from her fortune-teller grandmother, Clara embarks on a dangerous journey into the deadly Forest Grimm to procure a magical book - Sortes Fortunae , the Book of Fortunes - with the power to reverse the curse on her village and save her mother.

Years ago, when the villagers whispered their deepest desires to the book, its pages revealed how to obtain them. All was well until someone used the book for an evil purpose―to kill another person. Afterward, the branches of the Forest Grimm snatched the book away, the well water in Grimm’s Hollow turned rancid, and the crops died from disease. The villagers tried to make amends with the forest, but every time someone crossed its border, they never returned.

Now, left with no alternative, Clara and her close friend, Axel―who is fated never to be with her―have set their minds to defying fate and daring to accomplish what no one else has been able to before. But the forest―alive with dark, deadly twists on some of our most well-known fairy tales―has a mind of its own.


...


NOVEMBER'S BOOK: "THE SCARLET ALCHEMIST BY KYLIE LEE BAKER


TRAMA:

Zilan dreams of becoming a royal alchemist, of providing for her family by making alchemical gold and gems for the wealthy to eat in order to stay young forever. But for now, she’s trapped in her impoverished village in southern China, practicing an illegal form of alchemy to keep food on the table—resurrecting the dead, for a price.

When Zilan finally has the chance to complete her imperial exams, she ventures to the capital to compete against the best alchemists in the country in tasks she’ll be lucky to survive, let alone pass. On top of that, her reputation for raising the dead has followed her to the capital, and the Crown Prince himself seeks out her help, suspecting a coming assassination attempt.

The more Zilan succeeds in her alchemy, the more she gets caught in the dangerous political games of the royal family. There are monsters lurking within the palace walls, and it’s only a matter of time before they—and secrets of Zilan’s past—catch up with her.


...


DECEMBER'S BOOK: "WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS" BY ISABEL IBAÑEZ

TRAMA:

Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera belongs to the glittering upper society of nineteenth century Buenos Aires, and like the rest of the world, the town is steeped in old world magic that’s been largely left behind or forgotten. Inez has everything a girl might want, except for the one thing she yearns the most: her globetrotting parents—who frequently leave her behind.

When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez inherits their massive fortune and a mysterious guardian, an archeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Yearning for answers, Inez sails to Cairo, bringing her sketch pads and an ancient golden ring her father sent to her for safekeeping before he died. But upon her arrival, the old world magic tethered to the ring pulls her down a path where she soon discovers there’s more to her parent’s disappearance than what her guardian led her to believe.

With her guardian’s infuriatingly handsome assistant thwarting her at every turn, Inez must rely on ancient magic to uncover the truth about her parent’s disappearance—or risk becoming a pawn in a larger game that will kill her.


...






Italian Times | The Hidden Society delle sorelle Archer

giovedì 15 febbraio 2024

 Buongiorno booklovers, è con immenso piacere che vi dico di aver scoperto questo meraviglioso progetto tutto italiano dedicato al fantasy.

Quattro blogger/autorx si sono messx in gioco e grazie alla casa editrice Il Castoro hanno lanciato questo progetto, Hidden Society. Quattro romanzi autoconclusivi ma connessi.

Giusto martedì 23 gennaio, un po' sotto-traccia, è uscito Stelle e Ottone, che inizierò a leggere giusto questa settimana.


Vi presento Stelle e Ottone, che dalle vibes mi ha già incantata!


SCHEMA:

1. Stelle e Ottone, Jude Archer (p.s.giada)

2. TBA, Ella Archer (ella.archer_books)

3. TBA, Serena Archer (serenbookity)

4. TBA, Lou Archer (lucia__perrucci)




SCHEDA TECNICA:

Nome: Stelle e Ottone

Autore: Jude Archer

Uscita: 23 gennaio 2024

Genere: Dark Academia; Fantasy; Romance

Editore: Il Castoro OFF


TRAMA:

Ambra Valmori pensa che i suoi unici problemi siano l’imminente esame di Archeologia Persiana e la competizione spietata con il suo odiato rivale accademico, Ismael Sagredo. Ma gli astri hanno altri piani per il suo destino. Nel giro di una notte scopre che la magia esiste ed è ovunque intorno a lei, che gli insegnanti dell’Academia delle arti magiche di Seledia la considerano una minaccia alla loro segretezza e, peggio ancora, che il brillante mago che sarà costretto a farle da maestro è proprio Ismael. In una Venezia affascinante e inedita, insieme faranno luce sul misterioso passato di Ambra, che capirà di se stessa molto più di quanto aveva mai immaginato. E scoprirà che le stelle possono essere crudeli.

...


Leggerete questa serie? A me intriga tantissimo!

The Empyrean Series | Fourth Wing + Iron Flame

lunedì 12 febbraio 2024

Buongiorno booklovers, come si è palesato nelle nostre librerie HOFAS, è uscito in Italia anche il sequel del libro del 2023, la hit del BookTok. 

Si, sto parlando di Fourth Wing. E del suo sequel Iron Flame, uscito martedì 30.
Pensavo di recuperare la recensione del primo a febbraio inoltrato, ma mi dispiaceva non parlarne già adesso, perciò ecco a voi una scheda su FW e sullo stesso IF.


SCHEMA:

1. Fourth Wing

2. Iron Flame

3. TBA

4. TBA

5. TBA




SCHEDA TECNICA:

Nome: Fourth Wing

Autrice: Rebecca Yarros

Data: 07 novembre 2023 (ITA)

Genere: Romantasy

Editore: Sperling & Kupfer


TRAMA:

L'accademia militare di Basgiath è la famosissima scuola per diventare cavalieri di draghi più spietata ed elitaria che ci sia. Una volta entrati non si hanno altro che due possibilità: laurearsi o morire. Violet Sorrengail già si immaginava a passare i prossimi anni circondata dai suoi amati libri e immersa nel silenzio della biblioteca. Nulla di più lontano da ciò che le sta per accadere. Quella generalessa di sua madre le ha ordinato di unirsi alle centinaia di candidati disposti a qualunque sacrificio pur di diventare parte dell'élite di Navarra: i cavalieri di draghi. Ma Violet ha solo vent'anni e un corpo ancora poco allenato alla battaglia: la morte per lei potrebbe arrivare in un lampo. I draghi, infatti, non si legano agli umani «fragili», ma li inceneriscono. E la maggior parte degli studenti non si farebbe scrupoli nell'eliminare Violet pur di migliorare le proprie possibilità di successo. Senza contare che tutti gli altri la farebbero fuori volentieri pur di punire la temibile e potente madre, compreso Xaden Riorson, il cavaliere più forte e spietato del Quadrante. E così Violet ogni sera va a dormire con la sfida di riuscire a vedere l'alba del giorno dopo...


IRON FLAME


SCHEDA TECNICA:

Nome: Iron Flame

Autrice: Rebecca Yarros

Data: 30 gennaio 2024 (ITA)

Genere: Romantasy

Editore: Sperling & Kupfer


TRAMA: 

Tutti si aspettavano che Violet Sorrengail morisse durante il suo primo anno all'accademia militare di Basgiath, compresa lei stessa. Ma la Trebbiatura è stata solo la prima, difficilissima prova per eliminare i candidati più insicuri, indegni e sfortunati. Ora inizia l'addestramento vero e proprio, e Violet già si chiede come farà a superarlo. Perché non sarà soltanto terribilmente estenuante, brutale e progettato per testare la capacità dei cavalieri di resistere al dolore oltre ogni limite. Il vero pericolo è il nuovo vicecomandante, che ha deciso di dimostrare a ogni costo quanto la ragazza sia inadatta al posto che si è guadagnata a fatica, a meno che non tradisca l'uomo che ama. Forse il corpo di Violet è più debole di quello degli altri, ma di certo non le mancano né l'ingegno, né una volontà di ferro. E soprattutto, il vicecomandante non tiene conto della lezione più importante di i cavalieri di draghi si fanno le regole da soli. Ma la determinazione a sopravvivere non sarà sufficiente quest'anno. Perché Violet conosce il vero segreto nascosto da secoli all'accademia militare di Basgiath e niente, nemmeno il fuoco dei draghi, potrebbe essere sufficiente a salvarli.

...

Avete letto FW? Se sì, cosa ne pensate?






Fairyloot Unboxing | "Regency & Scandals" January YA Box

giovedì 8 febbraio 2024

Ciao a tutti booklovers, finalmente posso raccontarvi della Fairyloot YA di gennaio e della meravigliosa adorazione che provo per i suoi colori pastello!


 BOOK OF THE MONTH: "A FRAGILE ENCHANTMENT" BY ALLISON SAFT



TRAMA:

In this romantic fantasy of manners from New York Times bestselling author Allison Saft, a magical dressmaker commissioned for a royal wedding finds herself embroiled in scandal when a gossip columnist draws attention to her undeniable chemistry with the groom.

Niamh Ó Conchobhair has never let herself long for more. The magic in her blood that lets her stitch emotions and memories into every dress she makes is the same one that will kill her—sooner rather than later—and she’s determined to spend the little time she has left guaranteeing a better life for her family. When she’s commissioned to design the wardrobe for a nearby kingdom’s royal wedding, she knows this is her one chance to make something of herself.

Niamh arrives in Avaland, where young nobles are making their debuts into society during the candlelit balls and elegant garden parties that fill the social Season. The only damper on the festivities is the groom himself: Kit Carmine, prickly, abrasive, and begrudgingly being dragged to the altar as a desperate political act. Beneath Avaland’s glittery façade, unrest is brewing, and an anonymous gossip columnist has been spreading rumors about corruption within the royal family. As Niamh grows closer to Kit, an unlikely friendship begins to blossom into something more…until the columnist starts buzzing about her chemistry with the prince, promising to leave her alone only if she helps uncover the royal family’s secrets. Niamh discovers that the rot at the heart of Avaland goes far deeper than she bargained for—but exposing it could risk a future she never let herself dream of, and a love she never thought possible.

Transporting readers to a Regency England-inspired fantasy world, A Fragile Enchantment is a sweeping romance threaded with intrigue, unforgettable characters, and a love story for the ages.




|  OGGETTI LIBROSI:  |

 

- Plant Pot rosa dedicato a Emily Wilde di Heather Fawcett 

- Case porta-cibo color lavanda ispirato da "The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels" di India Holton

- Spilla dedicata al libro del mese, A Fragile Enchantment

- Grembiule ispirato da Half A Soul di Olivia Atwater

- Tarot Cards (Tarocchi) del mese, con i disegni di Niamh e Kit da "A Fragile Enchantment" appunto. 



Il tema di questo mese è "A Moth to the Flame" e promette benissimo!

Teaser Tuesdays | Happy Release, Bride!

martedì 6 febbraio 2024

Buongiorno booklovers, come state? Happy release day ad Ali Hazelwood per il suo "Bride", il suo primo paranormal romance (ma non temete, un nuovo STEM romance è in uscita già a giugno).

 Vampira + licantropo + arranged marriage + enemies-to-lovers? I'M IN!






SCHEDA TECNICA:

Nome: Bride

Autore: Ali Hazelwood

Uscita: 06 febbraio 2024 (UK/US) - 13 febbraio 2024 (ITA)

Genere: Paranormal Romance

Editore: Sphere (UK); Berkley (US); SperlingKupfer (ITA) 


TRAMA (ENG):

A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance.

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.


TRAMA (ITA):

Misery Lark, l'unica figlia del più potente Consigliere dei Vampiri del Sud-ovest, è ancora una volta un'emarginata. I suoi giorni nell'anonimato tra gli Umani sono finiti: è stata chiamata a sostenere una storica alleanza per mantenere la pace tra i Vampiri e i loro più acerrimi nemici, i Lupi, e non vede altra scelta che arrendersi allo scambio.
I Lupi sono spietati e imprevedibili e il loro capo, Lowe Moreland, non fa eccezione. Governa il suo branco con severa autorità, ma non senza giustizia. E, a differenza del Consiglio dei Vampiri, non senza sentimento. È chiaro, dal modo in cui segue ogni movimento di Misery, che non si fida di lei. Se solo sapesse quanto ha ragione...
Perché Misery ha i suoi motivi per accettare questo matrimonio di convenienza, motivi che non hanno nulla a che vedere con la politica o le alleanze, e tutto a che fare con l'unica cosa che le sia mai importata. Ed è disposta a qualsiasi cosa pur di riavere ciò che le appartiene, anche se questo significa una vita nel territorio nemico... da sola con il lupo.


Lo leggerete, booklovers?

It's a Blogging Time | February Hopefuls

venerdì 2 febbraio 2024

Buongiorno cari booklovers, come state? Come va la vita?

Oggi, come ben sapete, è il giorno della rubrica mensile "It's A Blogging Time" per questo mese di febbraio! Inizio ad elencarvi i miei Hopefuls in libri, manga, serie TV e chi più ne ha, più ne metta!


HOPEFULS - NEXT RELEASES:


6/02 - Bride, Ali Hazelwood. 

6/02 -  Love Me, Love Me: Amore Senza Fine, Stefania S. (ITA)

13/02 - An Education In Malice, ST Gibson.

13/02 - The Warm Hands of Ghosts, Katherine Arden.

13/02 - Magnolia Parks: Into The Dark, Jessa Hastings.

20/02 - The Brothers Hawthorne, Jennifer Lynn Barnes. (ITA)

27/02 - A Fate Inked In Blood, Danielle L. Jensen.

29/02 - Empire Of The Damned, Jay Kristoff.


HOPEFULS - BOOKS (CATCHING-UP):

Per quanto riguarda gli hopefuls in catching-up, mi sembra ovvio che debba recuperare i libri della bookish box del mese scorso (ovvero: A Fragile Enchantment per la Fairyloot e Voyage of The Damned per l'Illumicrate).

Inoltre ho compiuto un piccolo ordine su Amazon, in cui ho recuperato "The Graham Effect", primo spin-off sequel della Off-Campus di Elle Kennedy con protagonista femminile Giselle Graham, figlia di Garrett e Hannah di "The Deal"... ma anche "Ogni Corsa è L'ultima" di Leila Awad, un F1 romance, e mi basta dire che il MMC Niccolò è George Russell coded. 


Inoltre continuerò a seguire il FreFreLunarGDL, leggendo Winter di Marissa Meyer; i Mattoni Americani con Moby Dick e La Libreria Morisaki BookClub con "Storia di una Gabbianella e del Gatto che le insegnò a volare".


HOPEFULS - MANGA:

Coi manga mi sto un attimo limitando a seguire le serie preferite, e in questo caso dovrei continuare con Ice Guy & Cool Girl 8, tenendo conto che mi sono recuperata l'intero box set di Mermaid Melody.


HOPEFULS - BOOKISH BOX:

Confermate per questo mese la Fairyloot YA (il tema è A Moth To The Flame) e l'Illumicrate (Caged Hearts).


I libri dovrebbero essere:

- Fairyloot: The Crimson Moth di Kristen Ciccarelli

- Illumicrate: To Cage A God di Elizabeth May


Ricordo inoltre ~

- Loonari: No Box 

- DreamerWhale: No Box


HOPEFULS - TV SERIES:

A parte completare True Detective: Night Country, al momento non ho nessuna serie che mi interessi (a parte magari la stagione 6 di DriveToSurvive su Netflix).


HOPEFULS - BUYING:

La situa è molto CBIB (Cose Brutte Impaginate Belle) coded...


8/02 - The Fake Mate (Fairyloot) - 23£

8/02 - A Sea of Letters Extra-Box (Loonari) - 55€

12/02 - The Spanish Love Deception (Fairyloot) - 24£

14/02 - Check & Mate Leftover Stock (Afterlight) - 21£

20/02 - Fairy Trove Restock (The Dead Romantics) - 20£

22/02 - Emily Wilde & The Map of The Otherlands (Fairyloot) - 23£

26/02 - An Education In Malice (Fairyloot) - 24£

28/02 - Howl's Moving Castle (Fairyloot) - 23£


Ah, febbraio sarà anche il mese di San Valentino, ma per me è:


13 febbraio - presentazione SF24 (Scuderia Ferrari)

14 febbraio - presentazione W15 (Mercedes AMG)

21 febbraio - inizio test pre-stagione

29 febbraio - 02 marzo: primo race weekend in Bahrain


IT'S LIGHTS OUT AND WE GO (anche con i corsi in uni)!

Come passerete questo mese?


Ana.











January Bookish Wrap-Up

giovedì 1 febbraio 2024

 Buongiorno booklovers, come state? Oggi è il primo giorno di febbraio, e come ben sapete è anche il giorno del consueto wrap-up del mese passato!

Cosa ho letto quindi lo scorso mese?

PS: Non spaventatevi per il numero 19!



I LIBRI CHE HO LETTO:


1. What The River Knows di Isabel Ibañez (Historical Fantasy-Romance; YA; English)


TRAMA:

Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera belongs to the glittering upper society of nineteenth century Buenos Aires, and like the rest of the world, the town is steeped in old world magic that’s been largely left behind or forgotten. Inez has everything a girl might want, except for the one thing she yearns the most: her globetrotting parents—who frequently leave her behind.

When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez inherits their massive fortune and a mysterious guardian, an archeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Yearning for answers, Inez sails to Cairo, bringing her sketch pads and an ancient golden ring her father sent to her for safekeeping before he died. But upon her arrival, the old world magic tethered to the ring pulls her down a path where she soon discovers there’s more to her parent’s disappearance than what her guardian led her to believe.

With her guardian’s infuriatingly handsome assistant thwarting her at every turn, Inez must rely on ancient magic to uncover the truth about her parent’s disappearance—or risk becoming a pawn in a larger game that will kill her.

RATING: 5/5


2. The Bridge Kingdom di Danielle L. Jensen (Fantasy Romance; Adult; English)



TRAMA:

A warrior princess trained in isolation, Lara is driven by two certainties. The first is that King Aren of the Bridge Kingdom is her enemy. And the second is that she’ll be the one to bring him to his knees.

The only route through a storm-ravaged world, the Bridge Kingdom enriches itself and deprives its rivals, including Lara's homeland. So when she’s sent as a bride under the guise of peace, Lara is prepared to do whatever it takes to fracture its impenetrable defenses. And the defenses of its king.

Yet as she infiltrates her new home and gains a deeper understanding of the war to possess the bridge, Lara begins to question whether she’s the hero or the villain. And as her feelings for Aren transform from frosty hostility to fierce passion, Lara must choose which kingdom she’ll save… and which kingdom she’ll destroy.

RATING: 3.25/5


3. My Roommate Is A Vampire di Jenna Levine (Paranormal RomCom; Adult; English)


TRAMA:

Cassie Greenberg loves being an artist, but it’s a tough way to make a living. On the brink of eviction, she’s desperate when she finds a too-good-to-be-true apartment in a beautiful Chicago neighborhood. Cassie knows there has to be a catch—only someone with a secret to hide would rent out a room for that price.

Of course, her new roommate Frederick J. Fitzwilliam is far from normal. He sleeps all day, is out at night on business, and talks like he walked out of a regency romance novel. He also leaves Cassie heart-melting notes around the apartment, cares about her art, and asks about her day. And he doesn’t look half bad shirtless, on the rare occasions they’re both home and awake. But when Cassie finds bags of blood in the fridge that definitely weren’t there earlier, Frederick has to come clean...

Cassie’s sexy new roommate is a vampire. And he has a proposition for her.


RATING: 2.75/5


4. N.E.O. - I due castelli di Michel Bussi (Distopia; YA; Italiano)


TRAMA:

La tribù del tepee e quella del castello si sono unite formando un’unica grande comunità odiata e osteggiata dalla strega Mordelia. I misteri però rimangono. Chi ha avvelenato gli animali prima della fuoriuscita del sangue giallo? Chi era davvero Maria Luna, l’ultima adulta sopravvissuta al passaggio della nube? Quali segreti racchiude la sua tomba, affannosamente cercata da tutti? I “figli della nube” hanno ormai quattordici anni, sono in piena adolescenza e con la responsabilità di un mondo nuovo da ricostruire, ma ciò non impedisce che ragazzi e ragazze scoprano l’amore, inventino un nuovo modo di vestirsi chiamato Lollymoda, creino un rivoluzionario modo di suonare chiamato new world music e addirittura organizzino un grande ballo. Eppure la domanda che tutti si pongono è: sono soli su questa Terra o esistono altri sopravvissuti come loro? Ogenor e il consiglio decidono allora di organizzare una spedizione esplorativa con l’Albatros, un veliero rimesso in sesto e incaricato di scendere la Senna fino al mare, e ciò che scoprono cambierà per sempre il corso normale delle cose.


RATING: 2.25/5


5. Un Attimo Soltanto di Paola Chiozza (Sport Romance; Adult; Italiano)



TRAMA:

Ricco, sfacciato e con una pessima fama da seduttore, Troy Reynolds è tutto quello da cui le brave ragazze dovrebbero stare alla larga. Ha ventitré anni, una carriera da velista in ascesa e due nessuna esitazione e nessuna distrazione. Per realizzare il sogno di entrare nel team velico Zefiro e vincere l’America’s Cup, Troy non può permettersi di infrangerne nemmeno una.Almeno finché non incontra lei.Alizée De Rosa ha vent’anni e detesta una sola categoria di quella di cui fa parte Troy Reynolds. Non importa che lui abbia un sorriso capace di spedirla all’inferno e l’aria di chi ottiene sempre ciò che vuole, sono incompatibili. Lei viene da un quartiere popolare, non ha un soldo e lavora come cameriera, lui gira a bordo di una Ferrari e, quel che è peggio, vuole entrare nel team e portare via il posto al migliore amico di Alizée.In una sola off-limits.Ma l’aria diventa elettrica quando si sfiorano. Perché dietro alle apparenze di Troy c’è un mondo fatto di mare, onde e vento. Lo stesso in cui Alizée è cresciuta e che si è lasciata alle spalle. E se la tentazione fosse troppo grande per resistere? Se la tempesta fosse una sottile linea tra odio e amore, sarebbero disposti a superarla insieme, con il rischio di naufragare e lasciarci il cuore?

RATING: 5/5


6. Ice Guy & Cool Girl - Volume Seven di Miyuki Tonogaya (Manga; Josei)



TRAMA:

Fuyutsuki e Komori hanno pianificato un soggiorno alle terme e hanno invitato anche Himuro e Saejima, che accettano di accompagnarle! Ma quando Saejima confida al collega le sue intenzioni di dichiararsi a Komori. Himuro non riesce a tenere a bada il nervosismo.

RATING: 4.75/5

 

7. The Traitor Queen di Danielle L. Jensen (Fantasy Romance; Adult; English)


TRAMA:

A queen now in exile as a traitor, Lara has watched Ithicana be conquered by her own father, helpless to do anything to stop the destruction. But when she learns her husband, Aren, has been captured in battle, Lara knows there is only one reason her father is keeping him alive: as bait for his traitorous daughter.

And it is bait she fully intends to take.

Risking her life to the Tempest Seas, Lara returns to Ithicana with a plan not only to free its king, but for liberating the Bridge Kingdom from her father’s clutches using his own weapons: the sisters whose lives she spared. But not only is the palace inescapable, there are more players in the game than Lara ever realized, enemies and allies switching sides in the fight for crowns, kingdoms, and bridges. But her greatest adversary of all might be the very man she’s trying to free – the husband she betrayed.

With everything she loves in jeopardy, Lara must decide who – and what – she is fighting for: her kingdom, her husband, or herself.

RATING: 3.75/5


8. Il Buio Oltre La Siepe di Harper Lee (Classic; Adult; Italiano)

- La Libreria Morisaki's January 2024 Pick.



TRAMA:

In una sonnolenta cittadina del profondo Sud degli Stati Uniti l'avvocato Atticus Finch è incaricato della difesa d'ufficio di un afroamericano accusato di aver stuprato una ragazza bianca. Riuscirà a dimostrarne l'innocenza, ma l'uomo sarà ugualmente condannato a morte. Questo, in poche righe, l'episodio centrale di un romanzo che da quando è stato pubblicato, oltre cinquant'anni fa, non ha più smesso di appassionare non soltanto i lettori degli Stati Uniti, ma quelli di tutti i paesi del mondo dove è stato tradotto. Non si esagera dicendo che non c'è americano che non l'abbia letto da bambino o da adolescente e che non l'abbia consigliato a figli e nipoti. Eppure non è un libro per ragazzi, ma un affresco colorito e divertente della vita nel Sud ai tempi delle grandi piantagioni di cotone, dei braccianti neri che le coltivavano, delle cuoche di colore che allevavano i figli dei discendenti delle grandi famiglie dell'Ottocento, della white trash, i "bianchi poveri" abbrutiti e alcolizzati; e anche, purtroppo, delle sentenze sommarie di giurie razziste e degli ultimi linciaggi americani della storia. Quale il segreto della forza di questo libro? La sua voce narrante, che è quella della piccola Scout, la figlia di Atticus, una Huckleberry Finn in salopette (dire "in gonnella" sarebbe inesatto, perché Scout è una maschiaccia impertinente e odia vestirsi da donna) che, ora sola ora in compagnia del fratello maggiore e del loro amico più caro (ispirato all'autrice dal suo amico d'infanzia Truman Capote), ci racconta la storia di Maycomb, Alabama, della propria famiglia, delle pettegole signore della buona società che vorrebbero farla diventare una di loro, di bianchi e neri per lei tutti uguali, e della vana battaglia paterna per salvare la vita di un innocente.


RATING: 4.5/5


9. La Banalità del Male di Hannah Arendt (Historical Non-Fiction; Italiano)

TRAMA:

Otto Adolf Eichmann, figlio di Karl Adolf e di Maria Schefferling, catturato in un sobborgo di Buenos Aires la sera dell'11 maggio 1960, trasportato in Israele nove giorni dopo e tradotto dinanzi al Tribunale distrettuale di Gerusalemme l'11 aprile 1961, doveva rispondere di 15 imputazioni. Aveva commesso, in concorso con altri, crimini contro il popolo ebraico e numerosi crimini di guerra sotto il regime nazista. L'autrice assiste al dibattimento in aula e negli articoli scritti per il "New Yorker", sviscera i problemi morali, politici e giuridici che stanno dietro il caso Eichmann. Il Male che Eichmann incarna appare nella Arendt "banale", e perciò tanto più terribile, perché i suoi servitori sono grigi burocrati.


RATING: 5/5


10. Wicked Beauty di Katee Robert (LGBTQ Retelling; Greek Myths; MFM;Adult; English)


TRAMA:

In Olympus, you either have the power to rule...or you are ruled. Achilles Kallis may have been born with nothing, but as a child he vowed he would claw his way into the poisonous city's inner circle. Now that a coveted role has opened to anyone with the strength to claim it, he and his partner, Patroclus Fotos, plan to compete and double their odds of winning.

Neither expect infamous beauty Helen Kasios to be part of the prize...or for the complicated fire that burns the moment she looks their way.

Zeus may have decided Helen is his to give away, but she has her own plans. She enters into the competition as a middle finger to the meddling Thirteen rulers, effectively vying for her own hand in marriage. Unfortunately, there are those who would rather see her dead than lead the city. The only people she can trust are the ones she can't keep her hands off—Achilles and Patroclus. But can she really believe they have her best interests at heart when every stolen kiss is a battlefield?

RATING: 1/5


11. The Book Thief di Markus Zusak (Historical Fiction; New Adult; Italiano)


TRAMA:

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will be busier still.

By her brother's graveside, Liesel's life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, left behind there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordian-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are books to be found.

But these are dangerous times. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jew in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened up, and closed down.

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.

RATING: 4.75/5


12. Ruthless Vows di Rebecca Ross (Fantasy Romance; YA; English)


TRAMA:

Two weeks have passed since Iris Winnow returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over. Roman is missing, and the city of Oath continues to dwell in a state of disbelief and ignorance. When Iris and Attie are given another chance to report on Dacre’s movements, they both take the opportunity and head westward once more despite the danger, knowing it’s only a matter of time before the conflict reaches a city that’s unprepared and fracturing beneath the chancellor’s reign.

Since waking below in Dacre’s realm, Roman cannot remember his past. But given the reassurance that his memories will return in time, Roman begins to write articles for Dacre, uncertain of his place in the greater scheme of the war. When a strange letter arrives by wardrobe door, Roman is first suspicious, then intrigued. As he strikes up a correspondence with his mysterious pen pal, Roman will soon have to make a decision: to stand with Dacre or betray the god who healed him. And as the days grow darker, inevitably drawing Roman and Iris closer together…the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war.

RATING: 4.75/5


13. Fairest di Marissa Mayer (Novella; Retelling; Distopia; English)


TRAMA:

Mirror, mirror, on the wall.
Who is the Fairest of them all?

Pure evil has a name, hides behind a mask of deceit, and uses her "glamour" to gain power. But who is Queen Levana? Long before she crossed paths with Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress in The Lunar Chronicles, Levana lived a very different story--a story that has never been told . . . until now.

New York Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer reveals the story behind her fascinating villain in Fairest, an unforgettable tale about love and war, deceit and death. This extraordinary book includes a special full-color image of Levana's castle and an excerpt from Winter, the exciting conclusion to The Lunar Chronicles.

RATING: 3.75/5


14. Believe Me di Tahereh Mafi (Novella; Distopia; Romance; English)

TRAMA:

Juliette and Warner fought hard to take down the Reestablishment once and for all. Life in the aftermath isn’t easy, as they and their friends at the Sanctuary work with their limited resources to stabilize the world.

Warner has his sights set on more than just politics. Since he proposed to Juliette two weeks ago, he’s been eager to finally marry her, the person he loves more than anything and has endured so much to be with. But with so much chaos around them, it’s been nearly impossible for them to have a wedding. And even Juliette has been distracted by everything they need to do.

At long last, Warner and Juliette’s future together is within reach, but the world continues to try to pull them apart. Will they finally be able to be happily, officially, together?

RATING: 4/5


15. House Of Earth & Blood di Sarah J. Maas (Fantasy Romance; Adult; English)


TRAMA:

Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life-working hard all day and partying all night-until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She'll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose-to assassinate his boss's enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he's offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.

As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City's underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion-one that could set them both free, if they'd only let it.

With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom-and the power of love.

RATING: 3.25/5


16. Il Pugnale Dei Poeti: Il Volo del Gheppio di Chiara Zanini (Cozy Fantasy; Young Adult; Italiano)


TRAMA:

Nel Regno delle Cinque Capitali regna la pace da oltre mille anni. Qui i Poeti, dispensatori di bellezza, creano opere d’arte capaci di incantare gli abitanti, al solo scopo di rendere l’esistenza più gradevole. Un esercito misterioso, però, minaccia i Poeti e i villaggi dove risiedono. Le Làoian, le spietate donne a capo dei soldati, vogliono catturare ogni membro della Casta, e per farlo sono disposte a tutto. Il giovane Poeta Auren, affiancato dal suo Sigillatore, Gylleal, e dall’impertinente figlia del capo villaggio, Iria, sarà costretto a un viaggio attraverso l’Evèria. Nel difendere i suoi amici, Auren scoprirà un potere nascosto nelle trame della sua magia, una forza di cui non conosceva l’esistenza. La magia dei Poeti non crea solo bellezza, ma può essere usata per altri scopi: perché nessuno, neanche il suo maestro, gliel’ha mai insegnato? Cosa si nasconde dietro il potere dei Poeti? Durante la fuga, i tre compagni scopriranno dell’esistenza di Vilènd’ara, la Città segreta dei Poeti, nuova meta da raggiungere prima che la Strega dell’Acqua metta fine all’esistenza della Casta. Prima che la verità sul suo potere venga persa per sempre.


RATING: 3.5/5


17. Insomniacs After School, Vol. Uno di Makoto Ojiro


TRAMA:

Nakami e Isaki sono persone molto diverse ma quando si ritrovano per caso nel planetario in disuso della scuola scoprono di soffrire entrambi di insonnia. Dopo aver stabilito di poter dividere il loro rifugio i due si renderanno conto di avere molto di più in comune che un disturbo del sonno.

RATING: 4/5


18. House of Sky and Breath di Sarah J. Maas (Fantasy Romance; Adult; English)


TRAMA:

Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar are trying to get back to normal―they may have saved Crescent City, but with so much upheaval in their lives lately, they mostly want a chance to relax. Slow down. Figure out what the future holds.

The Asteri have kept their word so far, leaving Bryce and Hunt alone. But with the rebels chipping away at the Asteri’s power, the threat the rulers pose is growing. As Bryce, Hunt, and their friends get pulled into the rebels’ plans, the choice becomes clear: stay silent while others are oppressed, or fight for what’s right. And they’ve never been very good at staying silent.

In this sexy, action-packed sequel to the #1 bestseller House of Earth and Blood, Sarah J. Maas weaves a captivating story of a world about to explode―and the people who will do anything to save it.

RATING: 4/5


19. House of Flame & Shadow di Sarah J. Maas (Fantasy Romance; Adult; English)


TRAMA:

Bryce Quinlan never expected to see a world other than Midgard, but now that she has, all she wants is to get back. Everything she loves is in Midgard: her family, her friends, her mate. Stranded in a strange new world, she's going to need all her wits about her to get home again. And that's no easy feat when she has no idea who to trust.

Hunt Athalar has found himself in some deep holes in his life, but this one might be the deepest of all. After a few brief months with everything he ever wanted, he's in the Asteri's dungeons again, stripped of his freedom and without a clue as to Bryce's fate. He's desperate to help her, but until he can escape the Asteri's leash, his hands are quite literally tied.

In this sexy, breathtaking sequel to the #1 bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, Sarah J. Maas's Crescent City series reaches new heights as Bryce and Hunt's world is brought to the brink of collapse-with its future resting on their shoulders.

RATING: 4.5/5


E voi, cosa avete letto questo mese?


 
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