10 Things I Loved About Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White

Jessamin moved away from her sunny, familiar island home of Melei for the education she can only receive in Albion. But life in Albion is cold, dreary, and difficult. Even school isn't everything she had hoped it would be. But when she comes into contact with Finn, a mysterious and infuriating young man, and starts getting followed by creepy birds, she finds herself sucked into a world of intrigue and magic that she never knew existed.

This book is Kiersten's best to date. She continues to grow as an author and I am so excited to talk about this book! So here are the 10 Things I Loved about Illusions of Fate.

1. Jessamin - She is feisty and strong and smart, but not afraid to be feminine and love dresses and looking nice. I love her obsession with math (especially since I know Kiersten hates math :). I love that she does not define herself by the guys that come into her life, but she doesn't hate men either. She's such a real, well defined main character and I love her!
2. Sir Bird - I think Sir Bird is my all time favorite non-human companion in a book. And a bird that can turn into a book? How brilliant is that?
3. The setting - I love how fully realized these cultures are. I really feel like Melei and Albion are real places, that's how realistically they are developed while the story is never bogged down in the details. Kiersten is so good at weaving these details into the narrative in a natural fashion.
4. Larger issues - Kiersten also addresses the complex and complicated issues of colonization without feeling at all preachy or political.
5. Eleanor - I want to be her friend so badly. I absolutely adore Eleanor. I love that she uses the under-estimation of women to her advantage. I love her spirit. I seriously would love a novella or companion novel from her perspective. It would be so much fun.
6. Finn's house - How cool is a house with different door that lead to different cities? I mean, I know it's been done before, but Kiersten makes it her own in the story.
7. Finn - He's the right balance of mysterious and slightly obnoxious, yet caring. I can't say more without risking spoilers, but I liked the fact that he wasn't immediately just likable.
8. Twists and turns - There were definitely things that I didn't expect and I liked that I was surprised by events (but never in a bad way).
9. The letters - Every letter between Jessamin and her mother with Jessamin's added commentary cracked me up every time.
10. Lord Downpike - I loved the way he was drawn as a villain. I didn't love the character, but I liked how utterly creepy he was.

Happy reading!

Falling for Fall

It's the saddest day of the year for me, today is the  last day of Summer.  I hate the change of seasons.  I'd be happy with 80 degree weather and sunshine year round.

Rather than sulk around over the impending chill of fall and dread of winter that looms ahead, I decided to focus on some of the good things that I am looking forward to this fall and asked the BWOBNY crew to share what they're looking forward to.

I can't get enough pumpkin spice lattes or pumpkin spiced anything for that matter.  I'm also really looking forward to picking up the new jazz album that combines the talents of Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga which is available tomorrow.  Plus, the fall signals the return of some of my favorite TV shows such as The Good Wife and The Big Bang Theory.  And the new show Forever, which features an immortal medical examiner, looks intriguing. 

Kiersten White has a new book coming out called Illusions of Fate that I'm really really looking forward to. Every book she does is so different and the cover for this one is absolutely gorgeous! I'm also excited about The Maze Runner movie. Not only did I really enjoy the book but the previews I've seen look like they do the book justice. And Dylan O'Brien is a phenomenal actor.  I'm looking forward to a bunch of my favorite TVshows coming back, but for new shows I'm most excited about CW's The Flash and, after seeing quite a few previews in the past couple of weeks Gotham looks really intriguing.  

Kimbra's new album The Golden Echo just came out and I will be listening to it all fall in preparation of seeing her in November! I also can't wait for the final installment of the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan. 

The Piano Guys newest release Wonders will be coming out in October. It includes their cover of Let it Go which is AMAZING!!!! 

I'm excited to watch Arrow and The Flash.  I'm really unaware of what books are coming out because I keep reading old dead things. I think Lemony Snicket's new book is coming out soon, which will be exciting to read. And I'm excited for Piano Guys too. I lurve them.
  
Eileen is also looking forward to the new Piano Guys album and adds "Houdini  and the new season of Doctor Who are my TV picks for this fall. I also cant wait to see The Maze Runner film." She is also interested in checking out 
Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography by Laura Ingalls Wilder, which comes out in November. 



What are you most excited for this fall?  Share with us! 

10 Things I Love About Kiersten White's The Chaos of Stars

1. The cover - Seriously though. How fantastic is that cover? And having read the book it is very fitting to the story as well.
2. Isadora - Kiersten White has this way of crafting really interesting main characters. Her female leads are never boring, they always have clearly defined personalities and interests and unique voices. And Isadora is no exception. She is strong, but flawed. She has a temper, but isn't mean. I loved her penchant for interior design as well. It was a great aspect to her character that also played a significant role in the plot.
3. Ry - He's just as unique as Isadora with just enough mystery to make him interesting without him falling into brooding, bad-boy territory.
4. The relationship. I really liked that Ry and Isadora's relationship moved through different stages. They aren't just suddenly attracted to each other - there's a lot more to the story, and their friendship develops as they spend time together. Even when Isadora isn't happy about him being around.
5. The mythology - So many people have recently spent time playing with various mythologies. I really liked the background that is woven in with the Egyptian gods without that being too overpowering so it was still mainly Isadora's story.
6. Isadora's family history - I really liked the little snapshot sections of Egyptian mythology at the beginning of the chapters. Not only did it give enough of the mythology to help establish the background for people not really familiar with it, but having it in Isadora's voice made it perfect.
7. I know this is a little detail, but I loved the way the chapters were numbered.
8. Tyler - She is the perfect foil for Isadora. She stands out, but doesn't overshadow the story or Isadora.
9. Food - I really liked how Ry is obsessed with all these little eateries and how he wants to share that experience with Isadora. I was hungry through a lot of this book. And Isadora's obsession with all food unhealthy was hilarious.
10. Family - I liked the development of Isadora's understanding of family and her relationships with the various people (and gods) in her family. It was poignant without being too hit-you-over-the-head-with-a-moral-ish.

So go check out The Chaos of Stars and, if you haven't read Mind Games yet, you should because Perfect Lies comes out next month!

Laydown Lowdown

Did everyone enjoy their 3 day weekend?  Or did you have to work on President's Day?  If you didn't have a long weekend I hope, you'll find some time to unwind with a good book, such as one of this week's new releases.

A lot of Valentine's must've gone awry last week as there are no new releases in the genre today.

Meanwhile, over in Mystery, you'll find "Dogstar Rising: A Makana Mystery," by Parker Bilal, "A Good Death," by Christopher R. Cox, "Perfect Hatred," by Leighton Gage, and "Border Run," by Simon Lewis.

Skip over to Sci-Fi/Fantasy and you'll see "Trinity Rising," by Elspeth Cooper, "The Arena Man," by Steve Englehart, "Blood's Pride," by Even Manieri, "Firebrand," by Gillian Phillip, and "Elsewhens," by Melanie Rawn.

If you prefer Young Adult, you may want to check out "Mind Games," by Kiersten White or "Neferet's Curse," a "House of Night," novella by PC Cast.

What are you reading this week?  Share with us!  Remember to support your local bookstores whenever possible.  Happy Reading!

Laydown Lowdown

We've been getting a lot of summer storms lately which is a perfect excuse to curl up with a good book.  Perhaps one of today's new releases will make your list.

If summer sleuthing is up your alley you'll be excited by the new mysteries today such as Tana French's latest, "Broken Harbor," the fourth in the "Dublin Murder Squad" series.  James Patterson's frequent co-author, Peter de Jong has a solo book out today, "Buried on Avenue B."  Other new mysteries include "Judgement Call," by J.A. Jance, "Black List," by Brad Thor, and "Let the Devil Sleep," by John Verdon.

Or, if summer lovin' is your thing, you'll want to check out "Sleepwalker," (now in paperback) by Karen Robards, or "The Golden Leopard," by Lynn Kerstan.

Others may wish to spend their summer in sci-fi with new releases like "Thirteen," the latest "Women of the Underworld," novel by Kelley Armstrong or "Darksiders: The Abomination Vault," by Ari Marnell.

If you're on a summer break, the latest YA novels may be for you.  Kiersten White releases the third novel in her "Paranormalcy" series, "Endlessly," today.  "Cold Fury," by T.M. Goeglein, "I Am Number Four: The Lost Files: The Legacies," by Pittacus Lore, and "Something Strange and Deadly," by Susan Dennard are also available today.

Other new releases in fiction include "Where We Belong," the latest novel by best-selling author Emily Giffin, the paperback release of 11/22/63 by Stephen King and "A Simple Thing," by Kathleen McCleary.  Danielle Steel also has a new, non-romance, novel out today, "Friends Forever."

Will any of these new releases make your reading list?  I'm pretty excited about the new Emily Giffin but for  now, I need to get back to my book-club book.  Remember to support your local bookstores whenever possible.  Happy Reading!