Category: Sci-Fi

adult, ARC, contemporary, Five Star Book, mystery, Sci-Fi, ya

WWW Wednesday!

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Here’s another WWW Wednesday! This week is flying by! If you want to participate, this post is easy! Just answer the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you will read next?

What am I currently reading?

Second Star by JM Sullivan

This is a Sci-Fi Peter Pan retelling. My friend Sarah raved about it! I had a little trouble getting into it, but sci-fi isn’t really my thing. It’s picking up though!

What did I recently finish?

Evil Has a Name by Paul Holes and Jim Clemente

Finished the audio yesterday. I have become obsessed with the Golden State Killer, so I loved getting to see how the FBI profiled him and how they used genetics and ancestry to find him!

Don’t Read the Comments by Eric Smith

You can find my review here! My first five star read of the year!

What do I think I’ll read next?

The Wives by Tarryn Fisher

I’ve heard so many good reviews for this so I’m excited to dive in!

Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi

I’m hopefully starting this audio today! I thought audios weren’t my thing, but turns out I love a true crime audio!

What are your WWW’s? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

adult, ARC, contemporary, Erotica, fantasy, Memoir, middle grade, Sci-Fi, thriller, ya

January 2020 TBR

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Hey guys! Here’s my TBR for January! I have two books off my TBR list, a libby book, some arcs and other ebooks to read!

I said I was going to try to read 15 books a month, so here is what I plan on reading! 11 are for Book Battle criteria, and four will count as freebies – if I read them before the 26th! That’s when Battle ends.

Book Battle Reads

Freebies

So far, I am only 43% into Grey. It’s one of my TBR books and my libby hold came in, so I wasn’t thinking it would be my first book of the year. So far I’m not loving it. Grey makes me aggravated with this thoughts. But I feel like I’m too far in to DNF. So a more thorough review to come when I finally finish it.

I have a blog tour coming up for Cub on Jan 6. Be sure to come back and check it out!

Halfway to the Grave was recommended to me by my friend and fellow Book Battle and Words & Whimsy modmin, Jordan. I’m excited to read it! She always gives the best recs.

My ARCs for this month are: The Weight of a Soul, Every Other Weekend, Cub, Second Star, Lost Boy, Don’t Read the Comments, The Weight of the Stars, Center of the Universe, You Too?, A Beginning at the End and Say Something.

Here are the Goodreads links to the books I plan on reading this month!

  1. The Weight of a Soul by Elizabeth Tammi
  2. Halfway to the Grave by Jeanine Frost
  3. Every Other Weekend by Abigail Johnson
  4. Cub by Cynthia L. Copeland
  5. Grey by EL James
  6. Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
  7. Second Star by JM Sullivan
  8. Lost Boy by JM Sullivan
  9. Don’t Read the Comments by Eric Smith
  10. The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum
  11. Center of the Universe by Ria Voros
  12. The Wives by Tarryn Fischer
  13. You Too? by Janet Gurtler
  14. A Beginning at the End by Mike Chen
  15. Say Something by Cathy Morrison

Until next time…

adult, contemporary, Erotica, fantasy, Sci-Fi, ya

Down the TBR Part 1

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

So I saw this over at Devour Books with Dana and thought it was a perfect idea for me. My TBR dates back to 2015 and has 1988 books on it. Yep. Almost 2K. Too many. My tastes have changed a lot since 2015, so time for me to go down the TBR and see what to keep and what to delete!

So here’s what you do. Go to your Goodreads TBR shelf. Sort in ascending order. Take the first 5, 10, however many books you decide to do. Read the synopsis. Decide to keep or delete.

I have a lot, so I’ll do 10 a week, every Sunday. I will also try to fit at least one from this list in my TBR each month, starting in January! Yay for fun challenges!

The Host by Stephanie Meyer

  • Date Added: June 26, 2015
  • Thoughts: 100% added this because I loved Twilight around this time period. This still sounds good, but the 620 pages are a little daunting. It would be hard to read for a book battle.
  • Keep or Delete: I’ll keep. The synopsis still sounds great.

Hungry For Your Love by Lori Perkins

  • Date Added: June 26, 2015
  • Thoughts: This has super mixed reviews, but the prospect of zombie smut is somehow piquing my interests.
  • Keep or Delete: Keep – but reluctantly. I want to see what the zombie smut is about, but I’m scared this will be a DNF.

Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

  • Date Added: June 26, 2015
  • Thoughts: This sounds like a typical teenager-turned-vampire story. Nothing in the synopsis stuck out at me and made me want to read it.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

Micro by Michael Crichton and Richard Preston

  • Date Added: June 26, 2015
  • Thoughts: Parts of this sound great. The whole microorganisms appearing and trying to find a cure for them. But parts turn me off, like the robots, stuck in the wilderness. I don’t feel like there will be enough medicine/science/biology to keep me interested.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

Unbreakable by Kami Garcia

  • Date Added: June 26, 2015
  • Thoughts: This sounds like a spinoff of Supernatural. MC finds her mom dead, hot brothers save her from demon, tell her she has to join secret society to help kill demons. Not really my cup of tea anymore.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

Storm of Visions by Christina Dodd

  • Date Added: June 26, 2015
  • Thoughts: Eh. Sounds like a typical PNR series. Boy sees girl. Boy wants girl. Girl says no, finds out boy is paranormal, ends up saying yes. Plus there’s some bad reviews that are kind of turning me off.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete.

The Painted Man by Peter V. Brett

  • Date Added: June 26 ,2015
  • Thoughts: Adult fantasy which is so hit or miss for me. Humans battle demons in the night, hoping to not get wiped out to extinction. Three survivors decide to go beyond the magic wards to try to save humanity.
  • Keep or Delete: Keep. This is a debut novel that is striking my fancy.

Heroes of the Valley by Jonathan Stroud

  • Date Added: June 26, 2015
  • Thoughts: YA fantasy about a boy waking up a long since put to rest blood feud. Just not sounding like something I’ll want to read.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

Orcs: Bad Blood by Stan Nicholls

  • Date Added: June 26, 2015
  • Thoughts: This sounds like a spin-off to a previous series. One that I don’t feel I would be too invested in.
  • Keep or Delete: Delete

Edge of Hunger by Rhyannon Byrd

  • Date Added: June 26, 2015
  • Thoughts: Paranormal romance. Both MC have the same ~sexy~ dreams of each other before meeting. They meet and have to defeat an enemy. I’m here for it.
  • Keep or Delete: Keep

Conclusion

I deleted 6 of 10 books, bringing my TBR to 1981. Not anywhere near manageable, but still at least 6 less. I am going to try to fit one of these into my TBR this month too, I think. I have four to choose from! Probably not The Host though. That one is so long. I’ll have to do that one over a vacay.

Also, all of my books were added June 26, 2015. Is this the day I created by GR account? Is there any way to check that? Someone let me know!

Are any of these on your TBR? Have you read any of them? Loved or hated them? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time…

ARC, Four Star Book, Sci-Fi

Contagion ARC Review

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You
  • Title: Contagion
  • Author: Teri Terry
  • Publisher: Charlesbridge Teen
  • Publish Date: July 9, 2019
  • Book Form: E-ARC
  • Pages: 416
  • Genre: YA, Sci-Fi, Dystopia
  • Rating: ★★★.5

An epidemic is sweeping the country. It spreads fast, mercilessly. Everyone will be infected. . . . It is only a matter of time. You are now under quarantine. 

Young teen Callie might have been one of the first to survive the disease, but unfortunately she didn’t survive the so-called treatment. She was kidnapped and experimented upon at a secret lab, one that works with antimatter. When she breaks free of her prison, she unleashes a wave of destruction. Meanwhile her older brother Kai is looking for her, along with his smart new friend Shay, who was the last to see Callie alive.

Amid the chaos of the spreading epidemic, the teens must find the source of disease. Could Callie have been part of an experiment in biological warfare? Who is behind the research? And more importantly, is there a cure?

– Goodreads

This was a fast paced sci-fi mystery with some medicine elements that I loved!

The attire for most of the book. Thanks, giphy!

What I liked:

This was a page turner for sure. The chapters were short, which was also nice. I always like to stop reading at the end of a chapter, so this book made it easy to do that. I loved the medical aspects of the novel. The virus, how it started, how it spread, looking for a cure. As a nurse, I love a book with a good medical backdrop. There was also some suspense! Part 4 had my heart beating out of my chest!

What I didn’t like:

The beginning was hard to get into. Around part 2 it really picked up for me and had me reading quickly. This almost felt like two different novels meshed together – one where the focus was finding the lost girl and one with a killer flu like virus. It all ends up coming together, but the start didn’t mesh well for me. Some of the conversation didn’t flow very naturally. There was also a part about family lineage that I felt like was thrown in only for shock value? Maybe in the second or third book it will be explained. While I liked the medical aspects of the book, at times it was a little too science-y. She started talking about matter, anti-matter, particle accelerators and I was just as lost as could be. I do realize some people could feel this way about the medical aspect though.

All in all, it was a pretty solid read. Not a full four stars because I think it got too science-y and the start was hard to get into.

Thank you to Netgalley and Charlesbridge Teen for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Would I recommend?

I would! I actually included it in this month’s Book Battle recs for multi-pov! It was a good story with a solid start. I can’t wait to read the next books in the series!

Get this novel here:

| Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble |
| Kobo|

Until next time…

ARC, Four Star Book, Romance, Sci-Fi, ya

BLOG TOUR! Within Ash and Stardust by Chani Lynn Feener

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

Guys! It’s my first blog tour and I am so freaking excited! So here I’m going to give you info on Within Ash and Stardust, give my review, and share a give away! Exciting! Let’s jump right in!

Book Details

  • Title: Within Ash and Stardust
  • Author: Chani Lynn Feener
  • Series: Xenith Trilogy #3
  • Publisher: Swoon Reads
  • Publish Date: July 16, 2019
  • Genre: Sci-Fi, YA
  • Rating: ★★★★

Having gone from kidnapped faux princess to the legitimate heir to an intergalactic throne, an impulsive, sarcastic teen must take charge of her own destiny in this epic YA novel.

On Earth, Delaney is a normal teenager who recently graduated high school with a fantastic best friend and a loving boyfriend.

But Delaney isn’t on Earth. She’s on Xenith, a war-torn planet half a galaxy away. Originally mistaken for an alien princess, Delaney has gone from kidnapped imposter to the recognized heir to an alien throne. Oh, and she’s engaged to the prince of an enemy nation whose ruthless father is on the warpath.

Torn between two planets, two fates, and two loves, Delaney is finally ready to choose her own destiny in Within Ash and Stardust, the stunning conclusion to Chani Lynn Feener’s Xenith Trilogy.

– Goodreads

Thank you to Swoon Reads and Xpresso Book Tours for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Guys. This series was so good. As I’ve said before, I’m not a huge fan of sci-fi, but this was like a back drop of space. Not in your face look at me space which I am so a fan of.

I love the technology elements. I love the political intrigue. I love how I was fearing for Delaney, Trystan, AND Ruckus’ lives! This book was fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t wait to see them win against the Rex!

My most favorite part was the love triangle. Of course. So Xenith #1. I was #teamRuckus ALL THE WAY. Like, who was this Trystan guy thinking he’s all hot? Thank u, next. Then I read Xenith #2. Okay, this Trystan guy isn’t soooo bad, but I’m still rooting for my man Ruck. But then the more Trystan does the more I’m like, ok I love him too. How do I choose?! Then Xenith #3. Man oh man. I felt for Delaney cause I would not have wanted to make that decision. I’m not going to tell you who she goes for – that’s the best part! I love how it ended though and my sweet, sappy heart was satisfied.

I would so recommend this series to anyone who loves a good love triangle or a good space setting. It was a great, clean, YA series!

You can find this great novel here:
| Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble |
| iBooks | Kobo |

Be sure to enter the giveaway hosted by Xpresso Book Tours here!

Chani Lynn Feener has wanted to be a writer since the age of ten during fifth grade story time. She majored in Creative Writing at Johnson State College in Vermont, and graduated in 2012. To pay her bills, she has worked many odd jobs, including, but not limited to, telemarketing, order picking in a warehouse, and filling ink cartridges. When she isn’t writing, she’s binging TV shows, drawing, or frequenting zoos/aquariums. Chani is also the author of teen paranormal series, the Underworld Saga, originally written under the penname Tempest C. Avery. She currently resides in Connecticut, but lives on Goodreads.com.

Until next time…

ARC, Four Star Book, Romance, Sci-Fi, ya

Amid Stars and Darkness ARC Review

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You
  • Title: Amid Stars and Darkness
  • Author: Chani Lynn Feener
  • Book Form: E-ARC
  • Pages: 368
  • Publisher: Swoon Reads
  • Genre: YA, Sci-Fi, Romance
  • Rating: ★★★★

Delaney’s entire world is thrown into chaos after she is mistaken for Lissa Olena, an alien princess hiding out on Earth in order to escape an arranged marriage.

Kidnapped by the princess’s head bodyguard, Ruckus, and imprisoned in an alien palace, Delaney is forced to impersonate the princess until Olena can be found. If she fails, it will lead to an alien war and the eventual enslavement of the entire human race.

No pressure or anything.

Factor in Trystan, the princess’s terrifying betrothed who is intent on unraveling all her secrets, and her own growing feelings for Ruckus, and Delaney is in way over her head.

Get lost Amid Stars and Darkness, in this YA sci-fi romance from debut author Chani Lynn Feener.

– Goodreads

Thank you to Swoon Reads and Xpresso Book Tours for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Here’s a little backstory about why I’m reading this series this month. I signed up for a Blog Tour for Within Ash and Stardust on Xpresso Book Tours. I was living for the cover so I knew I had to sign up. I have learned – do your research! That’s the 3rd book in this series. Thankfully they also sent e-arcs of the first two. Man, I am so glad they did. I loved this book!

It’s a typical case of mistaken identity. Only Delaney gets kidnapped by aliens and taken to their home planet. Come to find out, it wasn’t just mistaken identity. There’s some gadgets that come into play, and now Delaney looks exactly like the alien princess! Delaney falls for her body guard. He falls for her. Only she has to pretend to like her fiance – the alien prince Trystan.

I’m usually iffy on sci-fi books. I love all of Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff’s stuff. This was similar in the fact that yes, you’re dealing with aliens and spaceships and other worlds, but it doesn’t scream SPACE. I don’t like books where space is just shoved in your face. This focused more on Delaney trying to fool everyone into thinking she was the princess. Space was just the backdrop, which is exactly how I like it.

The romance was slow-burn, which I enjoy. I’m not a huge fan of insta-love. Trystan was the ‘bad guy’, but is he really so bad? Is he acting? Will he turn good? I love when you kind of feel for the bad guys. Also, I know there’s a lot of #teamTrystan out there! Right now I’m #teamRukus, but we will see if that changes with book two!

The ending had a cliffhanger, and I was so glad I already had book two! It would have been torture if I had to wait for it to come out!

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a love triangle, sci-fi, and political intrigue! I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait to start book two!

Until next time..

fantasy, Five Star Book, Sci-Fi, ya

Memento Review

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You
  • Title: Memento
  • Author: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
  • Book Form: Physical
  • Pages: 82
  • Publisher: Knoph Books for Young Readers
  • Genre: YA, Fantasy
  • Rating: ★★★★★

December, 2574. Forty-three days before the BeiTech attack on Kerenza IV.

This is the story of my first friendship.

This is the tale of my first murder?

Some monsters are born.

But I?

< ERROR >

I was made.

– Goodreads

Wow. I mean. How can a book wreck me in 82 pages?

Amie and Jay have done it again. I was instantly sucked in by the format, as it’s been with this whole series. I was so quickly engrossed and just cared about these people. I loved learning more about AIDAN and his backstory. Yes, the AI has a backstory and it’s insane. 

What struck me most was the letter that was sent at the very end by AIDAN. I. Was. SHOOK. I think I just stared at the last page with my mouth open for five minutes. 

Did I laugh? Yep. Did I cry? Yes. This book makes you care so much you cry in 82 pages. I’m still kind of in awe of that. 

If you didn’t pre-order Aurora Rising to get this, I’m so sorry. It might be a decision you will regret forever. Sorry!

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, fantasy, graphic novel, Sci-Fi, ya

May Plan

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

WOW! May already. This year is flying by with Book Battle! Here are my 15 planned reads for next month! Not including the random audios I will find on scribd.

As you can see, a lot of Jay Kristoff this month, since he is coming to chat with Book Battle May 21! Also a lot of space, since our theme is Space: The New Frontier!

Sadie is the only audio I know I am going to read. I’m also tempted to get Aurora Rising in audio, but we will see. There’s also eight ARCs listed! I hope I can stick to my TBR this month! I’m excited about it!

Also, notice the nurse book! Nurse’s Week is May 6-12 so Kahla included a nurse prompt for me! I’m super excited about it, too!

Until next time…

dystopian, Four Star Book, Romance, Sci-Fi, ya

The Program Review

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You
  • Title: The Program
  • Author: Suzanne Young
  • Book Form: Audiobook
  • Pages: 405
  • Publisher: Simon Pulse
  • Genre: YA, Sci-Fi, Dystopian, Romance
  • Rating: ★★★★


Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

Goodreads

I am ashamed to say how long this series has been on my bookshelf. The whole series. Years. It’s been years.

What prompted me to finally read it was our author chat with Suzanne Young!

This novel takes place in the maybe-not-so-distant future. The government has developed a program to “fix” teens with depression to try to curb the suicide rate. By fixing them, they basically erase their memories.

Sloane has been affected by suicide. First, her brother. Then her friend attempted, but was taken by The Program. It all spirals downhill from there.

I really enjoyed the story. It kept me captivated from the first chapter. I was on the edge of my seat to see if or when The Program would come for Sloane and her boyfriend, James.

The characters Sloane meets throughout the novel are highly interesting. I wanted to learn all of their backstories and how The Program affected them.

I can’t think of what I didn’t like about this book. I’m waiting for my scribd account to renew so I can listen to book two – The Treatment!

Until next time…