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!

Our Violent Ends – blog tour (ARC review + giveaway!!)

Author: Chloe Gong
Series: These Violent Delights (#2)
Publication date: November 16, 2021
Genre: YA historical fantasy/retelling, romance
My rating: 4/5

Crackling with tension and filled with (surprise, surprise) violence, Our Violent Ends is a deliciously dark* conclusion to the These Violent Delights duology. The first book in the series smashed onto the YA scene with much fanfare, a loose retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in Shanghai in the 1920’s, substituting rival gangs for feuding houses and adding a mysterious, monstrous illness. (Also, the author was literally still in undergrad when she published it, so uh…what am I doing with my life???) In this second installment, the stakes–both personal and political–are higher than ever, and the result is an action-packed, emotional whirlwind.

*I feel obligated to point out that this exact phrase, “deliciously dark,” was also used by Natasha Ngan in describing this book. I wrote this intro before looking at her quote in the official blurb. So…if two independent minds both came up with those words, you can pretty reasonably assume it’s a valid assessment.

Like most tour posts, I’ve got a review for you, a smattering of excellent quotes from the book, and, if you stick around until the end, a giveaway that you can enter to win a copy of both books in the duology for yourself! Let’s get started.

Untethered – blog tour (including a giveaway!)

Author: KayLynn Flanders
Series: Shielded #2 (click here for my review of book 1)
Publication date: July 20, 2021
Genre: YA fantasy

Hello, friends! Here we are with another blog tour for the lovely folks at TBR and Beyond Tours! Today’s book: Untethered by KayLynn Flanders, the sequel to Shielded, which was one of those “this is quite good, why is nobody reading it?” kind of books from last year. While Shielded followed the princess Jennesara, this sequel follow’s Jenna’s brother, as well as another kingdom’s princess whom Jenna befriended in book 1. These new main characters are quite different from Jenna, but they are no less lovable, and the back-and-forth of their dual-perspective narration lends a new dynamic to the story. With rogue mages, secret journeys, court intrigue, assassination attempts, and more, this is certainly a worthwhile follow-up. Stick with this post to the end for information on how you can win a copy of this book for yourself, too!

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!

Blog Tour – Chaos on CatNet (promo + giveaway!)

Author: Naomi Kritzer
Series: CatNet (#2 ) (check out my review of #1)
Publication date: April 27, 2021
Genre: YA contemporary sci-fi

I’m so excited to be a part of the blog tour for this book, the follow-up to Catfishing on CatNet, which was one of my surprise favorites of last year. This is a series full of queer goodness, quirky AI, and themes that are darkly and disturbingly close to the reality we’ve all been living in the past couple years. Due to a combination of final exams and some assorted technical difficulties, I’m not quite done with this bad boy yet, but so far, so great, and I have high hopes for the ending. Stay tuned for a little more on the book and a chance to win a copy for yourself!

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!

The Sky Blues – blog tour (ARC review + giveaway!)

Author: Robbie Couch
Publication date: April 6, 2021
Genre: YA contemporary
My rating: 3/5 stars

Cute, diverse, and full of both the best and the worst of small-town life, The Sky Blues is an ode to friendship, young love, and the importance of being yourself. While I wouldn’t call it a perfect read, it is a fast, fun read that will certainly appeal to younger YA fans, especially fans of “leaked romantic feelings” stories like To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Stick with this post past the review, and you’ll find info on how you could win a copy of this book for yourself!

Sweet & Bitter Magic – blog tour (review, quotes + giveaway!)

Author: Adrienne Tooley
Publication date: March 9, 2021
Genre: YA fantasy
My rating: 4/5 stars

Today is my stop on TBR and Beyond’s blog tour for Sweet & Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley, a debut fantasy full of darkness, witchy magic, love bargains, and two girls who are polar opposites learning to work with each other to save their world–and fall for each other in the process. Read on for a brief review and some of my favorite quotes from this lovely slow-burn!

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!

Unspeakable: A Queer Gothic Anthology – blog tour (review, quotes, giveaway, yay!)

Editor: Celine Frohn
Cover artist: Jenni Coutts
Cover designer: Charlie Bramald
Publication date: February 28, 2020
Genre: adult, speculative fiction, paranormal/supernatural, gothic
My rating: 4/5 stars

It’s here. It’s queer. Its creepiness levels range from minimal to severe. It’s Unspeakable, the queer gothic anthology that you didn’t know you needed until just now. From beginning to end (minus a handful of “meh” moments), it is a fun-filled read, especially for those of us who like an extra dash of the paranormal, dark, and/or macabre in our stories. Plus, it is positively bursting with queer rep of all shapes and sizes! Stick with this post to the end, and you’ll find a nice little giveaway for a copy of the book, too.