Violet Made of Thorns – blog tour (ARC review + awesome quotes!)

Author: Gina Chen
Series: Violet Made of Thorns duology (#1)
Publication date: July 26, 2022
Genre: YA fantasy
My rating: 4.5/5 stars

Fantasy politics. Morally questionable main character. Lies and prophecies and the blurry lines between the two. The girl who wants to kill Prince Charming instead of flirt with him. Enemies-to-lovers romance. Have I convinced you yet? Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen was one of my most-anticipated books of 2022, and reader, it delivered. This is the sort of debut that makes me incredibly excited about this author’s future works (and has me chomping at the bit for the sequel!). Read on for my review of this riveting title, along with a (somewhat lengthy) list of quotes I loved from it.

The Words We Keep – blog tour (ARC review + quotes + mental health rep)

Author: Erin Stewart
Publication date: March 15, 2022
Genre: YA contemporary
My rating: 4.5/5 stars

By turns painfully real and softly hopeful, The Words We Keep is a striking exploration of the effects of mental illness not just on an individual, but on an entire family. It addresses the pervasiveness of mental health struggles across all types of individuals–social butterflies, high-achieving academic types, and nonconformist artists. And it does so through the eyes of anxious girl doing her best not to come unraveled even as her world seems to be falling apart around her. I couldn’t get over how much this story resonated with my own memories of high school and college–through those years of my life, so much of this main character’s experience could have been my own–and I sincerely hope this book is picked up by students working their way through high school today, as the stakes and anxieties have only gotten higher the past few years. Read on for a full review, as well as some quotes from this book that I really appreciated.

Sundial – blog tour (feat. giveaway!)

Author: Catriona Ward
Publication date: March 1, 2022
Genre: horror

As some of you may recall (at least those of you who follow me on other platforms–I’ll admit, I’ve been slacking somewhat on this blog, though my Bookstagram and Goodreads are far more lively), The Last House on Needless Street was one of my favorite books of 2021. With its creepy atmosphere, shocking twists, and psychological complexity, I was completely hooked–so, of course, when I heard that the author had a new book coming this year, I had to read it and promote it as widely as possible. School has been absolutely destroying me lately, so this is just a promo post, but it does have a giveaway at the end, and more info on what is sure to be a chilling, mind-bending read. Stay tuned for a review from me in the very near future, too–I just started the book, and I’m already hooked!

All the Right Reasons – blog tour (ARC review + EDS rep!)

Author: Bethany Mangle
Publication date: February 15, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary
My rating: 4/5 stars

Fans of Gilmore Girls, this book was basically made for you. A story of a single mother and her daughter, both struggling to find love, propelled by hefty doses of sarcasm and coffee, this is a great read if you’re looking for something sweet, fast, and fun. And, more importantly, it has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome representation! Read on for more about the book and my thoughts on it.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess – blog tour (ARC review + quotes!)

Author: Sue Lynn Tan
Publication date: January 11, 2021
Genre: fantasy, mythology, YA retelling
My rating: 4.5/5 stars

Come for the gorgeous cover and Chinese mythology; stay for the gorgeous writing and epic scope. This book has been on my radar since it was first announced, so naturally, I was thrilled when Turn the Page Tours presented me with the opportunity to read it for their blog tour! This book is romantic, heartbreaking, and beautiful, with lush details and a strong heroine who grows from naivete into her own person. Read on for my review, as well as a sampling of some lovely quotes from the book.

Fire with Fire – blog tour (ARC review + quotes + giveaway!!)

Author: Destiny Soria
Publication date: June 8, 2021
Genre: YA fantasy
My rating: 4/5 stars

It seems like dragon books are making a comeback, and folks, I am here. for. it. Fire with Fire blends a contemporary setting in rural Tennessee (complete with usual teenage relationship difficulties) with a hidden world of dragons and sorcerers. With strong themes of sisterhood, loyalty, and defining yourself, this was a captivating read with a pair of compelling protagonists. In this post, you’ll find a review, some quality quotes, and–you guessed it–a giveaway for a copy of your own. Let’s go!

The Helm of Midnight – blog tour (review + giveaway!)

Author: Marina Lostetter
Publication date: April 13, 2021
Genre: fantasy
My rating: 5/5 stars

Magic masks. A serial killer. Political intrigue. Mysterious gods. Folks, this is my favorite fantasy novel I’ve read this year–a deliciously dark tale with intricate worldbuilding, memorable (and diverse!) characters, and a nuanced portrayal of the impacts of trauma on the human psyche. I’m so grateful to Jean Book Nerd for having me as a host on this tour. Stick around for my review, more info on the book, and a giveaway you don’t want to miss!

Bloodsworn – blog tour (promo for a book I’m really freaking excited about)

Author: Scott Reintgen
Publication date: February 16, 2021
Genre: young adult fantasy

Listen up, y’all: Ashlords was a freaking fantastic book and I loved it when I read it last year. Phoenix horses, alchemy, the fantasy equivalent of “social media celebrities,” and of course, the first seeds of a good old-fashioned revolution against an oppressive upper class. I’ve been stoked for the sequel since I turned the final page. And when, during a live chat, the author started talking about the sequel even more, my interest was piqued even more: promises of technology and magic, with the added interest of interfering gods. Now the sequel is here, gorgeous cover and all. I’m reading it right now and loving it so far; a review will be headed your way as soon as I’m done. In the meantime, here’s a little promotional material from the lovely team at TBR and Beyond Tours.

Wench: blog tour (promo + giveaway!)

Author: Maxine Kaplan
Publication date: January 19, 2021
Genre: YA fantasy

Hello, friends! Time for another fun-filled blog tour, this time for a fast-paced, feminist YA fantasy. Huge thanks to the team at TBR and Beyond Tours for allowing me to be a part of this tour! Because my life is chaotic, this is just a promo post, but you should definitely check out the other stops on the tour HERE for reviews, quotes, mood boards, and more!

All or None – blog tour (feat. some cool quotes)

Author: Aurora Lee Thornton
Publication date: August 2020
Genre: adult, fantasy

Hello, friends! It’s your friendly neighborhood K-Specks, coming to you with another blog tour. This is my first time working with Caffeine Book Tours, so huge thank you to them for allowing me to be a part of this. On the docket for today: a self-published, super-queer, #OwnVoices high fantasy. It’s got demisexual characters. It’s got polyamorous soulmates (yep, you read that correctly). It’s got trans characters, gay characters, lesbian characters, multiple species of humanoid creatures, magic transferred through intimacy, assassins…and that’s just the beginning. Let’s get started!