Waiting On Wednesday: The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh

“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine, and it gives you a chance to spotlight a book that you are eagerly waiting to be released.

This week, I picked:

The Rose & The Dagger

By Renee Ahdieh

Publication Date: April 26, 2016

From Goodreads:

The much anticipated sequel to the breathtaking The Wrath and the Dawn, lauded by Publishers Weekly as "a potent page-turner of intrigue and romance."
I am surrounded on all sides by a desert. A guest, in a prison of sand and sun. My family is here. And I do not know whom I can trust.
In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse—one that might keep them apart forever. Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid's empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan.

While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn't yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love.

Why I picked it:

1. With the way the last book ended, I am super excited to see how things go in the sequel.
2. I want to know hoe Shahrzad handles things now that she isn't with Khalid, and her family and Tariq are plotting against him,

if you would like to read this book, click here to put your name on the hold list

Monday Meme: Rainy Day Reads

We all know this is the truth of spring in Indiana! So here are a few summery books to make you remember the warmth and the sun!

The Wrath and the Dawn, Renee Ahdieh: If you haven't read this one yet, NOW IS THE TIME. The duology will be complete in May, and I know you don't want to miss this rich retelling of 1001 Nights. It's not what you expect, I'm sure. I'm also pretty sure you'll love being whisked away to the dry, warm setting of Arabia. Click here to put it on hold!

Mosquitoland, David Arnold: That doesn't sound like a great place, I know. But this girl's odyssey from her home in Mississippi to see her sick mother in Ohio is one you shouldn't miss. It's a warm ride, and you'll be cheering for Mim the entire way. Click here to get yourself a copy.

The Good Girls, Sara Shepard: When a group of friends who have fantasized about killing a bully find he has been murdered in exactly that way, they have to wonder if they're being framed...especially when someone else winds up dead who was also on their hate list. Will more people die? Or will it be them next? Find out by getting your copy here.

Monday Meme Spotlight: Awesome Box!

 We all want to be awesome. It's the life goal of many people in one way or another- they want themselves to be awesome, their kids to be awesome, or their products to be awesome. Well, here at KHCPL, we want to know what you think is awesome. That's why we have the AWESOME BOX. This is a box at return location where you can put your books, CDs, or movies to let us know just what you love. Here are a few YA selections that have been recently placed in the Awesome Box.

1. Frostfire- Amanda Hocking: A girl trying to be a warrior, a forbidden romance (well, two, I think) and a unique world, Frostfire is the first in the Kanin Chronicles, a series we carry here at the library. I've heard a lot of feedback about this novel but haven't actually read it myself, so if you want to check it out and tell me what you thought, click this link. 

2. The Wrath and the Dawn- Renee Ahdieh: This novel is a retelling of One Thousand and One Nights, the classic story of a girl who keeps herself alive by weaving tales every night. And let me tell you, this is one tale you want to read. Right now, go pick it up, and read it. You won't put it down, I promise. The eloquent writing, the beautiful scene-setting, and the rich details make for a book that grabs you, sucks you in, and keeps you there with dizzying descriptions of setting, vivid characters, and electrifying turns. You'll want to click on this link and order a copy from the library.

3. Rook- Sharon Cameron: This is another page-turner, as well as another book inspired by a classic. The Scarlet Pimpernel was a big influence on the writing of this novel, and I very much enjoyed this tale of a Luddite society reverting to the methods of the French Revolution. With danger, deception, and lots of action, Rook carries itself through any doubt that a standalone novel is somehow less than, say, a trilogy. And you get a satisfying ending without having to wait three years for it. Click here to hold a library copy.

4. Ashes to Ashes- Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian: A tale of love, revenge, and deception, Ashes to Ashes marks the third book in the Burn for Burn series. Although I haven't read it, it was put in the Awesome Box, so it must be stellar. There's no excuse for falling in love in this novel- and if you fall for the wrong person, you'll have to pay. It sounds great, right? Find the whole series by clicking here. 

You can find more recently awesome picks, as well as 'most awesome' by going to this website in your browser: http://khcpl.awesomebox.io/. Once you're there, you can scroll through everything that's been named awesome at any of the three KHCPL branches. Thanks for reading! And remember that puppy says:

Monday Meme Spotlight: Book Worlds

 

      Have you ever been so immersed in a book that you forgot it wasn't real? Have you ever found yourself surprised because you reached the last page and you don't know how it happened? Have you ever been awake until the early morning hours because you had to know what happened? I have. It's a great feeling, isn't it? To know that there are writers out there who can so fully tug at your heart and really make you want to live in the world they created. Here are a few books that made that happen for me.

1. The Wrath and the Dawn- Renee Ahdieh: This book came out very recently. The moment I saw the cover, I felt that it was something special, and I was right- that book sucked me in and didn't let me go until I had turned the last page. And then I yelled at it, because it wasn't supposed to end so soon. I loved everything about it- the characters were all so engaging, the settings were elegantly described, and the writing was so beautiful that I couldn't breathe during some of the more intense scenes. I like a lot of books, I do. But this one surpassed them all. As soon as I put it down, I wanted to turn it back over and read it again, just like that (but it was past midnight, so I only read a few of my favorite parts again before I fell asleep). If you would like to be entranced by an elegant retelling of One Thousand and One Nights, click this link.

2. The Winner's Curse- Marie Rutkoski: This is a novel that I affectionately call a time-melter. The reason for that is because the first time I picked it up to read a few chapters, I read for what I thought was ten minutes and turned out to be almost forty-five. The world was reminiscent of a Roman empire, and the interwoven stories made for an intriguing, exceptional read. Rutkoski's writing sweeps over you in original, beautiful descriptions of the opulence and decadence that surrounds Kestrel (the main character) at every turn, as well as the discontent of the Herrani slaves and their plans for revolt. You can get it here.

3. Some Quiet Place- Kelsey Sutton: Admittedly, this book takes place in the present, with one small exception- the main character does not feel emotions, but sees them, as well as elements like Fog, Mist, Nightmare, etc., as physical manifestations. People. And she can interact with them, too- like Fear. Fear is one of her best friends, in a strange twisted way. He's fascinated with why she can't feel his influence, and he makes it his mission to find out why. The novel, although short, grabs you and shakes you and makes you want to see emotions as well, and then leaves you with a new perspective after the last page. If you think it sounds interesting, you can put a hold on a library copy by clicking right here.

     These are just three of the books that I've found to totally drown you in their engaging detail, creative worlds, and unique perspectives. What books do that for you?