Leigh Bardugo Signing Event, Meeting the Book Bestie, and Currently Reading!

Hi everyone!!!! The blog post title is so long right? But it all weaves in together. On Monday September 26, Leigh Bardugo the author of The Grisha Trilogy and Six of Crows Duology, started her Troublemakers tour for her new release Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2). If you haven’t read Six of Crows, then please stop what you’re doing and buy it now! Lol no no no it’s okay, continue reading the post.

A few months back Leigh Bardugo mentioned her tour dates and when Lilly from Lair of Books and I found out that she was coming home (NYC), we immediately bought our tickets. Plus, Bardugo was coming to one of our favorite bookstores, Strand!!!

Lilly and I both left early that day from our full time jobs to meet up and get on the line early in order to get good seats (btw, yes we got great seats). I am not going to lie, I was pretty nervous meeting Lilly because it was our first time meeting up and I’m a anxious driven perfectionist so I was crossing fingers that it all went well. Let me tell you, it went perfect!!! After all these months of texting one another, chatting via ghat whilst working, following one another on social media, and hearing her husband snore via voice notes; it was like meeting with an old friend. She understood my sarcasm and wits from the beginning. We had such a blast!

Everyone meet my book bestie and I:

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So while we were on the line waiting to go upstairs to our seats, someone brought up a Kaz poster and I couldn’t resist the selfie. I had everyone on that whole block laughing. No shame at all. Heeeeyyyyyyy dirty hannnddddssss, how you doing *Wendy Williams voice*

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Also while standing on the line, Leigh Bardugo and Jesse The Reader (he’s a booktuber) came out of their cars and SHE WALKED RIGHT BY US!!!!! I was a total fangirl and Lilly was super starstruck. I told Lilly that I want to be like her when I hit her age lol. I was obsessing over her dress!!!

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Once we arrived up the stairs, the first thing that was handed to us were the books. I wanted to cry of happiness but I didn’t lol. While everyone was situating themselves, I got to take photos of the Inej and Jesper:

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Jesse The Reader asked Leigh Bardugo tons of questions, like what would the characters order from Starbucks, what would their youtube channels be about, what would their Hamilton songs be, etc. She also spoke about her writing process with each book and I learned so much from her as a writer myself. Bardugo is hilarious. She was also answering questions from the crowd. I would definitely go to another event from hers. She spoke about possibly writing more for the Grisha world and brushed up on the Wonder Woman book coming next year (which I cannot wait for). Us in the crowd wanted to know more about any future books but her publishers in the back were shaking their head no lol. Leigh Bardugo also talked about GEMS which is a charity for girls who have been victims of sexual slavery/exploitation. 10% of each book sale is going to the foundation. Now if you haven’t read Six of Crows and you’re wondering why this particular charity is the choice, it’s because of one of the characters in the book.

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After the Q&A and all the laughter, the event coordinator was calling us by numbers and Lilly and I were amongst the first 20 people. While waiting, we received a cookie and a bottle of water. We got into a line to meet Leigh Bardugo personally, have the book signed, and take a picture. I was clearly ecstatic when it was my turn cause:

She also mentioned how much she loved my lipstick. (Bow and Arrow liquid lipstick by Kat Von D). We also got a Crooked Kingdom pin and a card. The card I got was:

After we left the event, Lilly and I stood around the area and got a bit to eat at Chipotle since we skipped lunch. We spoke about how fun the event was and what was going on. I got to meet her snoring husband lol. It was a blast and I cannot wait to see Lilly again at ComicCon/BookCon next week!!

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After this whole post, guess what I’m reading?!?! I mean, isn’t it obvious? Crooked Kingdom!!!!

“No mourners, no funerals”

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Friend me on Goodreads: Gretchen (ChicNerdReads)

Empire of Storms Spoiler Free Book Review

Title: Empire of Storms (Book #5)
Series: Throne of Glass
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Fantasy, “YA”
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don’t.

As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

Aelin’s journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?

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Disclaimer: This is the 5th book in the series, if you haven’t read the series at all then it will come off as a spoiler to you. If you have read the series but not this book, then carry on =)

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My Initial Thoughts After I Finished:

My Thoughts Now That It’s Been A Few Hours:

It’s still a joke. Sarah has played us.
*screams*
*catches a tantrum*
*laughs hysterically*

I honestly feel like my 3 star rating is being generous on my end. I am so baffled that a very loved series for me has become a parallel universe to A Court of Mist and Fury. No, but seriously. HAVE YOU READ THAT ENDING??? LMFAO!!!!!!!! I sent Lilly from Lair of Books so many voicenotes after finishing this book, I probably sounded like a maniac #sorrynotsorry

Okay okay okay..on to the review.

I was really happy when I got my copy in the mail and at first I was loving it and breathing it in. We get different perspectives from the characters which I always tend to love books with multiple POV. Some of my all time favorite characters from this book are Manon Blackbeak, Aedion Ashryver, Lysandra, and Elide. I couldn’t get enough of Manon. If Sarah had written a whole book about her, I would read it. I wouldn’t read Sarah’s grocery list but I would read a book about Manon. I would also read a book about Aedion and Lysandra because they’re total babes and I want to protect them forever.

This book follows the quest of Aelin returning to her throne in the mist of a war that’s brewing and centered around her. She is the key to all of this that’s going on. She must also gain allies to win this war and take back what’s rightfully hers.

Whatever. The whole plot of this book just really confused me and SJM was adding all this extra stuff to the plot that made no sense. I mean the writing was good and fast paced. I felt like for a nearly 700 page book, I finished it quickly considering I have a full time job and child (my dog!! my child is my dog).

However, SJM was doing the thing again and that thing is: summarizing.
SHE WAS SUMMARIZING IN A NEARLY 700 PAGE BOOK! You want to know why? Cause she was busy hooking everybody up and writing all these unnecessary sex scenes. Listen, the sex scenes in A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Court of Mist and Fury are freaking fine by me because it’s New Adult Fantasy being told as a Beauty and The Beast/Hades and Persephone retelling. THIS SERIES DOESN’T NEED THAT THOUGH!!!

These characters are in the middle of a war, flirting, thinking about body parts, getting all hot between the legs. And SJM pretty much wrote the same romance for each of the couples. Trust me, I love romance and I love all the steamy stuff but reading some of this was awkward. Can you not? Can we focus on killing Erawan, Maeve, and winning the throne back? Can we focus on the plot? Can we focus on Aelin getting her court and throne in order? Can we?

What SJM should’ve done was focus on the plot rather than summarizing it and writing those lengthy sex scenes.

OH-MY-GOSH and what was up with everyone snarling, growling, and hissing? Are you a savage or human/fae? Cause this is what I pictured:

Aelin was really annoying to me in this book particularly. I disagreed with a lot of her choices, disagreed with how she treated some of the characters, and I most definitely didn’t like her “holier than thou” attitude. Like miss fire breathing bitch queen needs to humble herself and learn a thing or two. Cause last time I checked she was running through like an assassin.

Overall, this book is forgettable and my least favorite. I liked the pacing, I liked reading about certain characters, and I like the world that SJM has created. However, I just didn’t like the ACOMAF 2.0 she pulled, they are way too similar. Maybe if you haven’t read A Court of Mist and Fury, this book will be up there for you.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

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Follow me on Twitter: @ChicNerdReads
Friend me on Goodreads: Gretchen (ChicNerdReads)

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking The Spine. On every Wednesday you discuss a book that you are highly anticipating.

This week’s pick is Midnight Hour (Shadow Falls: After Dark #4) by C.C. Hunter. This book releases October 25th, 2016. I am super excited for this book because every single C.C Hunter book has been a favorite.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

After captivating millions across the globe, the Shadow Falls saga reaches its final—and most unforgettable—chapter yet! Prepare to fall in love all over again…

Being a dyslexic witch is a curse in itself, but Miranda Kane’s time at Shadow Falls has helped her harness her magical powers. Now, just as she’s finally mastered them and is preparing to graduate with her friends, a near-death experience threatens to ruin it all.

Miranda awakens in the hospital with a mysterious tattoo that no one can explain. As she struggles to make sense of it – and questions her feelings for a certain irresistible shape-shifter and a hot new guy – the strange markings begin to spread all over her body, leaving her desperate to find answers. But before she can solve that problem, a new one arises: her sister is missing.

Has her sister been kidnapped? Miranda will risk her life to find out. Will she live to share the day she’s worked so hard for with her friends? When the clock strikes midnight, will Miranda make it to her graduation at Shadow Falls?

C.C. Hunter brings The Shadow Falls saga to a spectacular conclusion in this thrilling finale: Midnight Hour!

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Since this is the 4th book to a SPIN-OFF series, I wanted to give you a little background of the original story. C.C. Hunter first started the Shadow Falls series which follows Kylie and her quest of finding herself within the paranormal. She doesn’t know what group of paranormal creatures she belongs too because she can change into anything.

Kylie is sent off to a boarding school but in this school we find Vampires, Werewolves, Witches, Fae, Ghost Whisperers, Shapeshifters, and the like. Kylie rooms with Della, our Chinese-American ass kicking vampire, and Miranda our dyslexic witch.

The spin-off series, Shadow Falls: After Dark follows both Della and Miranda’s story separately. Which I really love because all those girls needed their stories told when we meet them in Born At Midnight (Shadow Falls #1).

Shadow Falls Series:

Shadow Falls: After Dark Series:

Almost Midnight is a bind up of Novellas that I would suggest reading through publication order of the books because they play an important role in this wholes series.

Have you read this series? What do you think of it?