Tag Archives: ya

Links: Reading Recs, Recaps, and Animals

Workspace with computer, journal, books, coffee, and glasses.

Both Sarah and I are traveling, and we hope you all are doing something equally as enjoyable. If not, or if you just need a moment to slow down, hopefully these links can help. … Just in case you need to add a few more books to your TBR pile before 2017 is over, Barnes & Noble has a great list of anticipated LGBTQA young adult releases. A good majority of the covers are amazing! … Continue reading Links: Reading Recs, Recaps, and Animals

Book Review

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

Three Dark Crowns

I should be in bed right now. I should be getting a good night’s sleep before I start my work week tomorrow, but I’m not. All hope of being productive today or tomorrow went by the wayside when I started Three Dark Crowns this afternoon. Since I started the book I’ve done nothing but read, and now I’m reviewing it late at night because OMG YOU GUYS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS. I am literally sweating right … Continue reading Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

Other Media Review

Uppercase Subscription Box

Uppercase subscription logo

I subscribe to three literary subscription boxes: Lit Cube, Owlcrate, and Uppercase Box. Sometimes they all arrive on the same day and I’m all: The only person who loves subscription boxes more than me is Dewey, my cat, because boxes tissue paper vibrating cock rings Two of the subscription boxes I get feature YA books – Owlcrate and Uppercase Box. I’ve already reviewed Owlcrate so it’s Uppercase Box’s turn now. Uppercase Box is a monthly … Continue reading Uppercase Subscription Box

Other Media Review

OwlCrate Subscription Box Service

OwlCrate is a YA subscription box service that ships out one book a month, plus several gift items, all sticking with a theme. Now, I’m a fan of YA lit and I’m a fan of getting shit in the mail and I know a lot of people who would enjoy something like this as a gift, so I wanted to check it out. I am sad to report that OwlCrate is not actually delivered by … Continue reading OwlCrate Subscription Box Service

Links: Cats, Carrie Fisher, and YA Authors

Workspace with computer, journal, books, coffee, and glasses.

Happy Wednesday! For all of the Bitchery members in the States, I hope you all had a safe and happy 4th of July! But now it’s back to the daily grind! … This links comes to us from Reader SB, whose “freelance and full-time streams crossed” when she was asked to copyedit this piece on a woman’s research on the romance world: I meet such interesting and energized women, gorgeously decked out in all manner of flirty … Continue reading Links: Cats, Carrie Fisher, and YA Authors

Book Review

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

Passenger

I’m pretty sure everyone at Smart Bitch HQ is sick of hearing about Passenger by Alexandra Bracken because I’ve been talking about it incessantly. Normally I don’t dig YA very much–lots of navel gazing, lots of love triangles–but this book worked for me on all the levels. It’s a time traveling non stop action adventure tale with romance and swashbuckling. Swashes are buckled, you guys. The heroine of this story is 17-year-old Etta Spencer, a violin … Continue reading Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

Books On Sale

Fantasy Romance with Gorgeous Covers, Fairy Tale Retellings, & More

Books on Sale: This Crumbling Pageant by Patricia Burroughs & More

READER RECOMMENDATION: This Crumbling Pageant by Patricia Burroughs is 99c! This is a fantasy romance set in historical England. A reader sent us a glowing recommendation of the book:

One of the very best books I’ve read in a while is on sale for a ridiculous ninety-nine cents for Kindle. I can’t understand it because it is worth so very much more. It is volume one in a trilogy and I pray this silly price means volume two is on its way because I would pay full price for volume two because volume one was that good. I believe I gave it a four star review.

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Books On Sale

Adult & YA Paranormal from Kenyon, Cole, & More

Books on Sale: Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost & More

RECOMMENDED: Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost is $1.99. This is the first book in the Cat & Bones/Night Huntress series, and Sarah reviewed it back when it came out in 2007:

This nocturnal badassery comes to a screeching halt when Cat is kidnapped by an exceptionally strong nosferatu named Bones, who is really, really old, really, really strong, and really, really, really sure that Cat is working for someone, someone who wants him dead.

When Cat, sure her end is about two seconds away, tells him the truth about her life and mission, Bones refuses to believe her, until Cat’s emotions get the better of her and her eyes glow green. Bones, who is not a dumbass after many hundreds of years of existence, makes her an offer: train with him, and work with him as a vampire bounty hunter, or die.

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Books On Sale

YA from Carriger, Han, & More

Books on Sale: Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger & More

RECOMMENDED: Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger by $1.99! This is the first book in the Finishing School series, which both Carrie and I highly recommend. This is young adult with a steampunk historical setting. And would you look at that cover. Readers loved the creative, whimsical setting, though some expressed difficulty in reading a lot at one time. They had to take breaks every few chapters because of the overwhelming twee-ness. The book has a 3.7-star rating on GoodReads and, if you’re looking to binge read the series, the next two books are also on sale for $1.99. Curtsies & Conspiracies ( A | K | G | AB ) and Waistcoats & Weaponry ( A | K | G | AB | Au ).

 

 

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Books On Sale

YA Fantasy Featuring Lunar Chronicles Series

Books on Sale: Cinder by Marissa Meyer & More

Cinder by Marissa Meyer is $2.99! This is the first book in the Lunar Chronicles series. Set in New Beijing, a fictional world of the future, Cinder is influenced by several fairy tales, so if you’re a sucker for retellings, you may want to give this is a try. The first book does end on a cliffhanger, but the next one is on sale! The original, scifi setting really shines according to readers, though the “plot twists” are a little predictable. It has a 4.1-star rating on GoodReads.

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Books On Sale

Books on Sale: Paranormal Romances & Scifi Titles

Books on Sale: The Bees by Laline Paull & More

RECOMMENDEDThe Bees by Laline Paull is $1.99! I LOVED this book. Margaret Atwood, whom I worship like a saint, tweeted about the book, calling it a mix between a Cinderella story and an Arthurian tale. I knew I had to read it. On GoodReads, I gave it a 4-star rating and a mini review:

This book was unlike anything I’ve read before, and I found it both unique and mesmerizing. However, the last fifty pages seemed to lack the care and craft of the ones before it. The ending was over in a rush and I felt Flora’s story should have continued on with more detail. Regardless, I was impressed with Paull’s storytelling and her ability to make bee life interesting.

Also, it’s legitimately about bees. Like bees that think and talk and exist in their strange bee society. It so weird, but so good. That’s all I can say.

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