TTT: Favorite Covers of Books I've Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a Meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This week's TTT topic is Top Ten Covers of Books I've Read:

 Doll Bones: I'm so happy that I get to include this one. I just read the book over the weekend. I loved the creepiness of the cover before I read the book, and love it even more now. It fits the story so perfectly

The King of Attolia: I like how this cover encompasses so much of the story contained within and yet can be so misleading if you study it in a certain light.

Graffiti Moon: Another cover that I feel captures the contents of the book perfectly. I love the blurriness of the city in the background and the shadowed focus on Lucy and Ed. So symbolic of the story.

Wildwood Dancing: I have always loved Kinuko Craft's illustrations and this cover is a work of art. There is so much detail. You really need to see it up close to appreciate the full effect. Warning: It may cause you to want to stroke it and not stop looking at it.

Seraphina: They could have so easily gone with a photo of girl looking mysterious and angsty on the cover for this one and I can't tell you how happy I am that they chose this instead. It fits the world of the story so well.

Peaceweaver: I love that Hilde is in action on this cover, confronting the monster, sword in hand, in motion. Perfect.

The Boneshaker: This conveys the perfect amount of creepiness and horror to fit the book.

Meant to Be: The colors! London! I just love it all.

Stolen Magic: I love all the covers for the Kat books, but this one is so utterly prefect. That expression on her face is so perfectly Kat.

American Born Chinese: The bewildered expression of the boy clutching his transformer like a lifeline makes me want to hug him. The Monkey King buried under the rocks in the background is such a strange contrast to this that it draws you in and makes you want to know the whole story.

The Pirate's Wish

I had so much fun reading The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clark when it came out last year. (My thoughts.) The story continues in the sequel, The Pirate's Wish, and to add to the fun of pirates and assassins there is also a Manticore. I  mean come on, how can you not want to read a book with an assassin, a pirate, and a Manticore? I know I sure wanted to and was excited when I was able to read it early after being approved on NetGalley.

Warning: Spoilers for The Assassin's Curse ahead. Read it before read this.

Synopsis:
After setting out to break the curse that binds them together, the pirate Ananna and the assassin Naji find themselves stranded on an enchanted island in the north with nothing but a sword, their wits, and the secret to breaking the curse: complete three impossible tasks. With the help of their friend Marjani and a rather unusual ally, Ananna and Naji make their way south again, seeking what seems to be beyond their reach.
Unfortunately, Naji has enemies from the shadowy world known as the Mists, and Ananna must still face the repercussions of going up against the Pirate Confederation. Together, Naji and Ananna must break the curse, escape their enemies — and come to terms with their growing romantic attraction.

The Pirate's Wish is so much fun to read. It is a roller coaster ride full of adventure and action. It opens shortly after the previous book left off with Ananna and Naji stranded and looking for a way to break the curse. They have to complete three seemingly impossible tasks in order to do this, which seem even more impossible as they are stuck on an island. The unresolved and undiscussed attraction between them is not helping matters, particularly as Ananna is convinced this is one-sided and that Naji cares nothing for her. The story has a little bit of everything. There is pirate ships, sea battles, islands of magical creatures, and royal courts. The reader's interest is grabbed and kept from start to finish. I was concerned, and had been since it was mentioned in the first book, about how the portion of the curse where Naji had to create life from violence was going to happen. I LOVED what Clark did there. 

I was reminded of how much I appreciate Ananna's character. So  many books of this ilk try to make the main character more educated and better spoken through some unlikely twist than they otherwise would be. I love that Ananna is unashamedly who she is, a girl who grew up on a pirate ship and acts and talks like it. Naji continued to be difficult to connect with, again because the story is all from Ananna's perspective. I knew she was reading him wrong and at times I was frustrated and wanted them to just discuss it already and stop running from it. Still. I like the way their story and relationship resolved in the end.

It was nice to get more of Marjani's story in this volume and I loved the addition of Jeric's character. I would like to know more about him now. 

For any who enjoyed the first novel, this book is a must read. There were times when I felt it didn't all fit together perfectly, like when my son is doing a puzzle and he puts the right pieces together correctly but they aren't pushed in properly. It's a little uneven, yet so much fun and a great time. 

Warning for Concerned Parents: This might not be the best pick for readers on the younger side of the YA spectrum who may not have the emotional maturity for this. There are instances of sex and swearing. (They are on a pirate ship.)

I read a galley of this title made available via the publisher, Angry Robot. The Pirate's Wish is available to purchase June 4 and to pre-order now.

Favorite Classics

Classic literature is on my mind a lot lately. All the talk about The Great Gatsby, which will never be a book I like, is part of it. Mostly though it is because I'm rereading so many in preparation to teach my High School English classes next year. So this month's Favorite Things list is dedicated to my favorite all time classic novels.

 In making this list I thought of so many Shakespeare plays I wanted to add that I decided to do a whole list just for him. Coming in July...

What about you? Do you have any classic novels you love to reread? What are the ones you don't like at all?

Waiting on Wednesday: Empire of Bones

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

 Cyrus and Antigone Smith have thwarted Dr. Phoenix's plans—for the moment. And they've uncovered a new threat from the transmortals and managed to escape with their lives. Their next adventure will take them deep into the caves below Ashtown, where they will look for help from those imprisoned in one of Ashtown's oldest tombs.

I love all of N.D. Wilson's books and his latest series is definitely my favorite of his books. The first two books, The Dragon's Tooth and The Drowned Vault, are amazing. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment which he has promised will feature the return of Leon, the giant immortal turtle. Excellent. Why does it not come out until October 22!?!

Summerkin

Last year I completely fell for a surly, mischievous, puck named Rook and a strong, kind-hearted, girl named Fer when I read Winterling by Sarah Prineas (my thoughts).  When my copy of Summerkin, the sequel, arrived it was no surprise that I lost interest in everything else in my TBR pile and had to read it right away. I am happy to say that I adored it and am more in love with the characters than ever.

Fer, who defeated the evil usurper who had murdered her parents and taken over the Summerland, now must come to terms with what it means to be the ruler. She is fiercely determined not to take oaths from her people knowing how they were abused when they did that before. Her refusal to do this has put her right to rule in question. The High Ones have requested that she come to compete in a competition. The winner will win the right to rule the Summerlands. Rook, now freed from his oaths to the evil Mor, has returned to his Puck brothers. They are determined to create mischief and what better place to create mischief than at a competition the High Ones have organized at the nave? And what better puck to send than Rook, who the Lady Gwynnefar foolishly trusts and calls friend? But there is a sinister presence at the nave ready to challenge Geynnefar and Rook finds himself torn between his duty as a puck and the strange bond that keeps forming between him and Fer.

Fer's journey to learn what sort of leader she wants to be and how to implement that proves how perfect she is for the job. Her strength under pressure, her compassion for all, and her ability to empathize make her a great leader. She wants to see the good in every one, but isn't afraid of standing up to those she sees as threatening her people. Yet she is so lonely because she is seen as the Lady by her people and as a half-human usurper by most of her peers. It is heart wrenching the ways she wants to trust Rook, but can't help doubting. Particularly when he keeps telling her not to trust him. At the same time it is heart wrenching to see Rook wanting to be what she needs but fighting it at the same time. He doesn't know how, it's against his nature. As much as I want to smack him sometimes I can't help but love him. He is obnoxious but endearing, because he is also noble and upstanding in his own way. I really love how the books in this trilogy are focusing on both of their character arcs and their relationship. It was lovely to see Fer's relationship with Fray and Twig growing as well.

There are some great new characters added to the story this time too. Two of Fer's competitors, Gnar and Lich, are fascinating and I would love to see more of them. Arenthiel makes the perfect villain, smarmy and insidious in all the right ways. All the other pucks in the story are a marvelous additon as well.

The competition aspect of the story kept the pacing moving quickly and makes for a riveting read. There is always something going on, something to discover, something to think about. All this builds up to intense moments. I continue to appreciate what Prineas is doing with faerie-lore in these books.

I'm ecstatic that we only have months to wait for Moonkind, which will release in January.