A Thousand Words A Million Books || A Young Adult Book Blog: Bisexuality

Title: Reign of the Fallen
Author: Sarah Glenn Marsh
Publication Date: January 23rd 2018
Publisher: Razorbill Books
Part of a Series?: Yes, Book 1 on 2 of the Reign of the Fallen Duology
I Got A Copy Through: PRH International (THANK YOU!)
Buy Links: Amazon US || Barnes and Noble || The Book Depository || Wordery || Foyles || Kobo || Books A Million || Chapters Indigo || Google Books

Blurb Description: Odessa is one of Karthia's master necromancers, catering to the kingdom's ruling Dead. Whenever a noble dies, it's Odessa's job to raise them by retrieving their souls from a dreamy and dangerous shadow world called the Deadlands. But there is a cost to being raised--the Dead must remain shrouded, or risk transforming into zombie-like monsters known as Shades. If even a hint of flesh is exposed, the grotesque transformation will begin.
A dramatic uptick in Shade attacks raises suspicions and fears among Odessa's necromancer community. Soon a crushing loss of one of their own reveals a disturbing conspiracy: someone is intentionally creating Shades by tearing shrouds from the Dead--and training them to attack. Odessa is faced with a terrifying question: What if her necromancer's magic is the weapon that brings Karthia to its knees?

Reign of the Fallen WAS AN LGBT NECROMANCER FILLED DARK FANTASY NOVEL with the added bonus of zombies (!), stabbing (!), the Dead (!) and SO MUCH MAYHEM that I fell in love within the first thirty pages and I NEED MORE.

I’d been hearing the hype for Reign of the Fallen for a WHILE before I requested it and the lovely folks at PRH International sent it to me. It took me a while to pick it up from my overflowing TBR Pile but now that I did, I am completely in AWE of this STUNNING, BADASS novel and world.

Let’s break it down:

1. Reign of the Fallen OFFICIALLY holds the record for Book that Made Me Fall In Love The Quickest (EVER) because within thirty pages I’d already connected with Evander and Odessa and ALREADY fallen in love with them as individuals and together.

2. THIS BOOK BROKE MY HEART. I fell in love and then a third into the book, it managed to break my heart as well. This book had such a powerful representation of grief, depression and that black pit of hopelessness and Sarah Glenn Marsh’s writing really made you feel it all.

3. A HUGE YES FOR SOME BRILLIANT BI REP, and a world where loving WHOMEVER you wanted was accepted as the norm. We rarely ever see this in fantasy novels but I LOVED IT SO MUCH. Yes for inclusive worlds and a bigger yes for accepting characters.

4. The supporting cast in this book were all SUCH fun to get to know. I loved Jax, Simeon, Meredy, Valoria and everyone else and I honestly wish that we had MORE of them.

5. THE MAGIC IN THIS BOOK WAS STUNNING. There were so many kinds of mages including Weather mages, mages with Sight over animals and of course, Necromancers. I loved the politics and magic that were so prevalent in this book, especially the debate of whether the Dead should be brought back and I loved every second of it.

Reign of the Fallen is a brilliant, dark, inclusive diverse book with different magic, zombies, the living Dead and everything you’ve been looking for in a fantasy.

Sarah Glenn Marsh writes young adult novels and children's picture books.

She lives, writes, and paints things in Virginia, supported by her husband, four rescued greyhounds, three birds, and many fish.

If she could, she'd adopt ALL THE ANIMALS.

Oh, and she'd love to be your friend here on Goodreads, or over on Twitter http://twitter.com/SG_Marsh!

What are some of your favourite Dark YA Fantasies?

What are some of your favourite Diverse Books with Great Representation?

Have you read/ are you excited for Reign of the Fallen? What did you think of it?

Hi Everyone!

I'm SO EXCITED to be a part of my first ever publisher hosted blog tour for Amanda Hocking's latest book, Between The Blade and the Heart. This book is about the Valkyrie (if you saw Thor: Ragnarok, you'll know who they are) and I just wanted to welcome you to my stop!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Title: Between The Blade and the Heart
Author: Amanda Hocking
Publication Date: January 2nd 2018
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Part of a Series?: Yes, Book 1 on 2 of the Valkyrie Duology
I Got A Copy Through: eARC via NetGalley from St. Martin's Press
Buy Links: Amazon || Barnes and Noble || The Book Depository || Wordery || Kobo || Books A Million || Chapters Indigo || Google Books

Blurb Description: When the fate of the world is at stakeLoyalties will be tested
Game of Thrones meets Blade Runner in this commanding new YA fantasy inspired by Norse Mythology from New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking.
As one of Odin's Valkyries, Malin's greatest responsibility is to slay immortals and return them to the underworld. But when she unearths a secret that could unravel the balance of all she knows, Malin along with her best friend and her ex-girlfriend must decide where their loyalties lie. And if helping the blue-eyed boy Asher enact his revenge is worth the risk—to the world and her heart.

I HAVE THOUGHTS. SO SO MANY THOUGHTS.

I hadn’t heard about Between the Blade and the Heart until a lovely publicist from St. Martin’s Press pitched me the book as a part of a Blog Tour invite and the minute I read the word Valkyrie, I WAS SOLD.

If you haven’t seen me tweeting UNENDINGLY about just how brilliant Thor: Ragnarok was, YOU DON’T KNOW ME. I have seen that movie THREE TIMES in theatres, and I would’ve been there a fourth time if they hadn’t taken it off screens. If you have seen the movie, you’ll know that one of the main characters is a part of an ELITE FEMALE WARRIOR ARMY, the Valkyrie.

And so, I went into Between the Blade and the Heart with HIGH expectations. As I actually read the book, I found that each thing I loved also had an aspect that I didn’t like, which feels as confusing as it sounds, but let’s break it down:

1. THE MYTHOLOGY: As soon as I heard that this book was about a Valkyrie, I assumed that it would be filled with Norse mythology. And yet, there were so many OTHER cultures coming into play, including Indian, Sumerian and Indonesian. While I LOVED the diversity, I feel like if the book acknowledged all the different cultures, I would’ve enjoyed it more, instead of feeling like I was reading about X culture and an intruder Y showing up.

2. THE CREATURES: This book was FILLED with paranormal/ supernatural and mythical creatures ranging from fallen angels to vampires. While these are some of the well-known creatures, there were SO MANY MINOR MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURES THAT I’D NEVER HEARD OF, and it resulted in me DESPERATELY wishing for a glossary and reaching for the dictionary. I loved the fact that they were there, but it resulted in me being one CONFUSED reader.

Image result for between the blade and the heart

The GORGEOUS Book Two Cover

3. THE WORLD BUILDING: In relation to what I just wrote above, what I was expecting was Norse Mythology (most of my knowledge comes from the Thor movies) but I was drop-kicked into a world where paranormal and mythical creatures lived side by side, there was advanced technology, schools for children of mythical creatures and I just NEEDED a foreword or some kind of introduction before I was thrown into the deep end. Of course, it all made sense as I read on but STILL.

4. THE LOVE INTERESTS: I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THAT MALIN, OUR VALKYRIE MC WAS BISEXUAL and I loved that there were male and female love interests. It made this book so much more interesting because YAY for diversity. HOWEVER, I am NOT A BIG FAN of love triangles (well, more of a love square/ flowchart) with one minor and two major love interests. It made me groan, because didn’t we all get over love triangles/ squares/ flowcharts after Twilight?

5. THE ENDING: I LOVED THE ENDING SCENE OF THIS BOOK. I made me flail in excitement and scream out loud and just that ONE scene has me so excited about what is to come next!

Will I be picking up the next book? YES. That ending was fodder for my fangirl heart.

Between the Blade and the Heart was a diverse book filled with mythology and I’d definitely recommend digging in, even if it has its flaws! 3 stars.

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Amanda Hocking is the author of over twenty young adult novels, including the New York Times bestselling Trylle Trilogy and Kanin Chronicles. Her love of pop culture and all things paranormal influence her writing. She spends her time in Minnesota, taking care of her menagerie of pets and working on her next book.

Have you read any of Amanda Hockin's previous books? Is there anything I should start reading RIGHT AWAY?

What are your favourite books that have mythology as a major part of them?

I'd love to hear some recommendations!