Musing Mondays (51) Random Weekly Questions

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Jenn at Books and a Beat, that asks you to muse about something book related each week.

My Musings for the Week...

This week, there won't be any Other Musings since I don't have anything I want to specifically talk about, but I am answering two random weekly questions.

Random weekly question from April 18th: Name your least favorite plot device employed by way too many books that you actually enjoyed, otherwise.

Well, I think most plot devices (or tropes) can be okay when used in the right way to benefit the story rather than hinder it. However, one that annoys me the most is the lack of female friendships between the main character and others around her. Sometimes this works, but at other times no reason is ever given for such open hostility (and at other times the reason seems almost trivial; just my opinion of course). Either way, it is a plot devices that gets on my nerves, but otherwise, I won't dislike a good book because of it.

However, lately, I have read some books where female friendships  played a bigger role, and the main character wasn't just surrounded by guys for no explicable reason. So, that was pretty great, and I look forward to finding more books that display some spectacular and also diverse friendships.

Today's Random Weekly Question: Name any 5 books from your “to be read” pile (even if it’s a “virtual” pile).

Well, this makes it easier on me. Normally, I could go on and on about the books I want to read, but just five on my current TBR is ridiculously easy to choose—because I already have them on my shelf. I don't know when exactly I'll read the books, but it'll definitely be sometime soon...

The first is Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett. I've had this book for a long time, and it's part of my goal to revisit some old novels I enjoyed.

The next one is The Traitor in the Tunnel by Y.S. Lee. Like Wintersmith above, The Triator in the Tunnel is part of my goal, and the last book I have by Y.S. Lee. I do want to get the last book in the series to see how it all ends.

Next is The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black. I've read several of Black's other novels, and I have thoroughly enjoyed them. So, I'm looking forward to finally reading The Darkest Part of the Forest. 

And then there is Need by Carrie Jones. I did read this book a very long time ago. I remember that I liked it but I don't remember much of the details (not even how the book actually ended). So, I look forward to this one again soon.

And, last but not least, In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters. I'm pretty excited for this one.

That's about it for today. What are some of the books off your TBR pile? 

The Friday 56 (59) Dead Is a State of Mind by Marlene Perez

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Welcome to Nightshade, California—a small town full of secrets. It’s home to the psychic Giordano sisters, who have a way of getting mixed up in mysteries. During their investigations, they run across everything from pom-pom- shaking vampires to shape-shifting boyfriends to a clue-spewing jukebox. With their psychic powers and some sisterly support, they can crack any case! There’s a gorgeous new guy at Nightshade High: Duke Sherrad, a fortune-teller claiming to have descended from Gypsies. Even though she’s psychic herself, Daisy is skeptical of Duke’s powers. But when a teacher who was the subject of one of his predictions ends up dead, she begins to wonder if Duke is the real deal after all. Maybe if Daisy can track down the teacher’s killer, she can find out the truth. The only trouble is, all signs point to the murderer being of the furry persuasion. Is Daisy any match for a werewolf? Maybe she is . . . in more ways than she bargained for!

"After school, I ran to Slim's for a couple of deli sandwiches an an order of fries. As Poppy requested, I made the call to Chelsea, who said she'd drop the yearbook by the house over the weekend"--Dead Is a State of Mind by Marlene Perez

What are you reading this week?

Review: The Wide-Awake Princess by E.D. Baker

Title: The Wide-Awake Princess
Author: E.D. Baker
Source/Format: Purchased, ebook
More Details: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Retellings
Publisher/Publication Date: Bloomsbury USA Childrens, May 11, 2010

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

In this new stand-alone fairy tale, Princess Annie is the younger sister to Gwen, the princess destined to be Sleeping Beauty. When Gwennie pricks her finger and the whole castle falls asleep, only Annie is awake, and only Annie—blessed (or cursed?) with being impervious to magic—can venture out beyond the rose-covered hedge for help. She must find Gwen's true love to kiss her awake.

But who is her true love? The irritating Digby? The happy-go-lucky Prince Andreas, who is holding a contest to find his bride? The conniving Clarence, whose sinister motives couldn't possibly spell true love? Joined by one of her father's guards, Liam, who happened to be out of the castle when the sleeping spell struck, Annie travels through a fairy tale land populated with characters both familiar and new as she tries to fix her sister and her family . . . and perhaps even find a true love of her own...

I don’t recall ever having read a book by E.D. Baker. However, The Wide-Awake Princess has been sitting unread for a long time. So, since I’m trying to get to some of the older releases this year, I decided to give this one a try.

The story is focused on Annie, who after an unfortunate incident is left awake while everyone else in the castle is asleep. She sets out in search of her sister's one true love with the hopes that she can help her family. I really do enjoy retellings. The Wide-Awake Princess had many common attributes I look for in these kinds of books. Baker included details common to stories like Sleeping Beauty, but she also added enough changes to keep the story from seeming too close to the original tales.

I liked the fact that Baker decided to put a different spin on the various princes, and focused on the fact that being magically gifted wasn’t everything. That magic also wasn’t the miraculous fix for poor personalities, and even worse habits (and questionable sources of motivation). The first few pages were enough to grab my interest, and I kept reading to see how the story turned out. Right off the bat, I had questions regarding who the true culprit was. I really had no idea who it could be. In that way, Baker did a good job of setting up the mystery and presenting a plausible situation suited for Annie’s involvement.

Annie made the best of her so called gift. She was often left to be by herself, just based off circumstance she couldn’t control. I did like her attitude about it and how she focused on the things she could do, rather than the things she hadn’t been given through magic. Along Annie’s adventures was Liam, a guard. He was perfectly caring, and ready to help where he could.

Basically, I really enjoyed The Wide-Awake Princess, and I would definitely consider checking out the other books in the series.

Release Day Blitz & Giveaway: The Rose & The Dagger by Renée Ahdieh

Today, I'm excited to take part in the release day blitz for Renée Ahdieh's The Rose & Dagger. There's also an excerpt and a giveaway farther down in the post. But first, more about the book...

Title: THE ROSE & THE DAGGER

Author: Renée Ahdieh

Release Date: April 26, 2016

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Pages: 432

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, & audiobook

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iBooks 

The much anticipated sequel to the breathtaking The Wrath and the Dawn, lauded by Publishers Weekly as "a potent page-turner of intrigue and romance."

I am surrounded on all sides by a desert. A guest, in a prison of sand and sun. My family is here. And I do not know whom I can trust.

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse—one that might keep them apart forever. Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid's empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan.

While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn't yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love.

Praise for The Rose and the Dagger...

“Above all there is the shattering, triumphant catharsis of love… In a story about stories, love is ‘the power to speak without words.’ Thrillingly full of feeling.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Fiery romance, a spirited heroine, shifting loyalties… With more than a few heartrending twists and turns.”—Booklist 

Excerpt...

About the author...

Renée lives in North Carolina (Go Heels!) with her husband Victor and their dog Mushu. Her YA fantasy novel, THE WRATH AND THE DAWN, will be published on May 12th, 2015. In her spare time, she likes to cook, dance salsa, and wreak havoc on the lives of her characters. She’s also a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, as well as an active member of theScience Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America.

Website| Twitter | Facebook| Goodreads | Tumblr  |Pinterest | Instagram

And now for the giveaway. One winner will receive a paperback of The Wrath & the Dawn, a hardcover of The Rose & the Dagger, and a His Calipha candle from The Melting Library’s Etsy Store (Prizes also pictured below). This giveaway is US Only and ends on May 3rd at Midnight EST! Now, go forth and enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Friday 56 (58) The Illustrated Compendium of Amazing Animal Facts by Maja Säfström

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

Synopsis from Goodreads...

An artfully playful collection of unexpected and remarkable facts about animals, illustrated by Swedish artist Maja Säfström.

Did you know that an octopus has three hearts? Or that ostriches can't walk backward? These and many more fascinating and surprising facts about the animal kingdom (Bees never sleep! Starfish don't have brains!) are illustrated with whimsical detail in this charming collection...

"A Tarantula can survive for more than 2 years without food! They have retractable claws on their "feet"--just like cats!"--The Illustrated Compendium of Amazing Animal Facts by Maja Säfström

Comments: I never wanted to know that much about spiders because I don't like them. Still, it's an interesting fact...I guess. What are you reading this week? Or, are there any books coming out soon that you're really looking forward to reading?