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thebookrat · 6 years

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I heard you guys: I don't highlight contemporary books enough. I tried to give you PLENTY of them this go 'round (and of course, some v. excellent fantasy), but there were so many book deals available, I might have to do a part 2 update mid-week! Check out all of the many, many excellent books to load up your ereaders with, all for super cheap, I don't think anything went over 2 bucks this time! -- and many are FREE FREE FREE!) So when you're done drinking your Cinco de Mayo margarita's and ready to do some drunken online self-indulgence, why not save a few $$ and load up on some deals instead? ;)

ALL BOOK COVERS ARE CLICKABLE AND TAKE YOU DIRECTLY TO THE DEAL!

I mean, COME ON.

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court--but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people. Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms--and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future--and the future of a world cleaved in two. With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

Sixteen-year-old Beckan and her friends are the only fairies brave enough to stay in Ferrum when war breaks out. Now there is tension between the immortal fairies, the subterranean gnomes, and the mysterious tightropers who arrived to liberate the fairies. But when Beckan's clan is forced to venture into the gnome underworld to survive, they find themselves tentatively forming unlikely friendships and making sacrifices they couldn't have imagined. As danger mounts, Beckan finds herself caught between her loyalty to her friends, her desire for peace, and a love she never expected. This stunning, lyrical fantasy is a powerful exploration of what makes a family, what justifies a war, and what it means to truly love.

An epic fantasy filled with adventure, intrigue, and romance from Incarnate series author Jodi Meadows. This duology is perfect for fans of Graceling by Kristin Cashore, The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson, and Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. When Princess Wilhelmina was a child, the Indigo Kingdom invaded her homeland. Ten years later, Wil and the other noble children who escaped are ready to fight back and reclaim Wil’s throne. To do so, Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate the Indigo Kingdom palace with hopes of gathering information that will help them succeed. But Wil has a secret—one that could change everything. Although magic has been illegal for a century, she knows her ability could help her save her kingdom. But magic creates wraith, and the deadly stuff is moving closer and destroying the land. And if the vigilante Black Knife catches her using magic, she may disappear like all the others. . . .

In Ink and Bone, bestselling author Rachel Caine introduced a world where knowledge is power, and power corrupts absolutely. Now she continues the story of those who dare to defy the Great Library—and rewrite history... Jess Brightwell has survived his introduction to the sinister, seductive world of the Library, but serving in its army is nothing like he envisioned. His life and the lives of those he cares for have been altered forever. Embarking on a mission to save one of their own, Jess and his band of allies make one wrong move and suddenly find themselves hunted by the Library’s deadly automata and forced to flee Alexandria, all the way to London. But Jess’s home isn’t safe anymore. The Welsh army is coming, London is burning, and soon Jess must choose between his friends, his family, and the Library, which is willing to sacrifice anything and anyone in the search for ultimate control...

Get it. Get this whole damn series. Trust me.

Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape . . . and even less of being together. Desperate to save her life, Lia's erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komisar that she has a magical gift, and the Komisar's interest in Lia is greater than either Kaden or Lia foresaw. Meanwhile, the foundations of Lia's deeply-held beliefs are crumbling beneath her. Nothing is straightforward: there's Rafe, who lied to her, but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom she always believed to be barbarians but whom she now realizes are people who have been terribly brutalized by the kingdoms of Dalbreck and Morrighan. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her very sense of self, Lia will have to make powerful choices that affect her country, her people . . . and her own destiny.

Lia has survived Venda—but so has a great evil bent on the destruction of Morrighan. And only Lia can stop it. With war on the horizon, Lia has no choice but to assume her role as First Daughter, as soldier—as leader. While she struggles to reach Morrighan and warn them, she finds herself at cross-purposes with Rafe and suspicious of Kaden, who has hunted her down. In this heart-stopping conclusion to the Remnant Chronicles trilogy that started with The Kiss of Deception and The Heart of Betrayal, traitors must be rooted out, sacrifices must be made, and impossible odds must be overcome as the future of every kingdom hangs in the balance. New York Times-bestselling author Mary E. Pearson's combination of intrigue, suspense, romance, and action makes this a riveting YA page-turner for teens.

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded. The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than a speck at the edge of the universe. Now with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to evacuate with a hostile warship in hot pursuit. But their problems are just getting started. A plague has broken out and is mutating with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a web of data to find the truth, it’s clear the only person who can help her is the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again. Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, maps, files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes never meant to get into the family business. But when you're the sister of Bram and the niece of Sherlock, vampire hunting and mystery solving are in your blood. And when two society girls go missing, there's no one more qualified to investigate. Now fierce Evaline and logical Mina must resolve their rivalry, navigate the advances of not just one but three mysterious gentlemen, and solve murder with only one clue: a strange Egyptian scarab. The stakes are high. If Stoker and Holmes don't unravel why the belles of London society are in such danger, they'll become the next victims.

For the free, my darlings. For the FREE.

WINNER of the NATIONAL READERS CHOICE AWARD for best YA of 2015 Alexis Wyndham is the other type of Queen B—the Queen B*tch. After years of being the subject of ridicule, she revels in her ability to make the in-crowd cower via the exposés on her blog, The Eastline Spy. Now that she's carved out her place in the high school hierarchy, she uses her position to help the unpopular kids walking the hallways. Saving a freshman from bullies? Check. Swapping insults with the head cheerleader? Check. Falling for the star quarterback? So not a part of her plan. But when Brett offers to help her solve the mystery of who’s posting X-rated videos from the girls’ locker room, she’ll have to swallow her pride and learn to see past the high school stereotypes she’s never questioned—until now.

Rachel can't believe she has to give up her Saturdays to scrubbing other people's toilets. So. Gross. But she kinda, sorta stole $287.22 from her college fund that she's got to pay back ASAP or her mom will ground her for life. Which is even worse than working for her mother's new cleaning business. Maybe. After all, becoming a maid is definitely not going to help her already loserish reputation. But Rachel picks up more than smelly socks on the job. As maid to some of the most popular kids in school, Rachel suddenly has all the dirt on the 8th grade in-crowd. Her formerly boring diary is now filled with juicy secrets. And when her crush offers to pay her to spy on his girlfriend, Rachel has to decide if she's willing to get her hands dirty...

Did you snag the deal for book 2 a couple weeks back? Now you can grab book 1 for FREE!

In A THRONE FOR SISTERS (Book one), Sophia, 17, and her younger sister Kate, 15, are desperate to leave their horrific orphanage. Orphans, unwanted and unloved, they nonetheless dream of coming of age elsewhere, of finding a better life, even if that means living on the streets of the brutal city of Ashton. Sophia and Kate, also best friends, have each other’s backs—and yet they want different things from life. Sophia, a romantic, more elegant, dreams of entering court and finding a noble to fall in love with. Kate, a fighter, dreams of mastering the sword, of battling dragons, and becoming a warrior. They are both united, though, by their secret, paranormal power to read other’s minds, their only saving grace in a world that seems bent to destroy them. As they each embark on a quest and adventure their own ways, they struggle to survive. Faced with choices neither can imagine, their choices may propel them to the highest power—or plunge them to the lowest depths. A THRONE FOR SISTERS is the first book in a dazzling new fantasy series rife with love, heartbreak, tragedy, action, magic, sorcery, fate and heart-pounding suspense. A page turner, it is filled with characters that will make you fall in love, and a world you will never forget.

Also gloriously FREE!

Zachary Degaud was twenty three when he died. The problem was, he didn't stay that way. Present day, he's just another vampire with another unremarkable story. That is, until he manages to provoke a two thousand year old witch named Katrin, who wants to make him pay in the most horrible way imagined. Along with his brother Sam, newly made vampire Liz and their only witch ally, Gabby, his only chance for survival is to summon the ancient and unpredictable vampire known as the Witch Hunter. Zac is just looking for a way out of his psychopathic witch problems, but instead will find himself falling head first into a blood feud that has stretched thousands of years. Aya has been asleep for the past 150 years, until she was awoken by a haunting call. The witch she has been hunting for thousands of years, Katrin, has resurfaced and marked a young, annoyingly arrogant vampire by the name of Zachary Degaud. Unless she does something, he will die a slow and painful death. He has given her an opportunity to end the witch, but does she want to help him or leave him to his fate? Zac will get under her skin like no one else has and she just might find herself making the ultimate sacrifice before he is gone forever. They will both have to choose sides and look deep within themselves before the end. But, what Zac learns about himself, will surprise him most of all.

This synopsis needs to be cut down, my god, but again: IT. FREE.

I was born to die... But to defy fate is to control your own destiny. Little did I know that I was entering a world of ritual and magic and that my blood needed to be spilled so the witches’ legacy could be complete. Vampires. Witches. Werewolves. Supernatural Creatures. Dramatic Revelations. A Ritual Sacrifice. Ancient Artifacts. A Cold-hearted Serial Killer. Spilled Blood. Secrets. A Hidden Heritage. A Love So Deep. Supernatural Bloodlust. A Dangerous Curse. An Uneasy Alliance With A Dangerous Vampire. Legends of vampires and shape-shifters have been around for centuries, so Taylor Sparks isn’t too worried when the rumors start to fly. When Taylor learns secrets that are beyond terrifying, they threaten to destroy her entire world. She is born to die... But to defy fate is to control your own destiny. She warns her crush to leave. But how do you forget someone who is aligned with your soul? They fight against the witches, the vampires, and the werewolves. They know the consequences. They know the risk. But they don't care. Nothing will get in the way of these two star-crossed lovers. Taylor finds out she’s a KEY player in a dangerous game created 1,000 years ago that will give the witches and werewolves the upper hand against the vampires. Blood will be spilled and secrets will be revealed in this action-packed thrill ride and paranormal romance. Will Taylor dive into a paranormal world she knows nothing about to be with the one her heart can’t live without? Or will her life spiral out of control when she learns her blood is needed, just the serum necessary to lift an ancient curse from a group of supernatural beings and give the witches back their magic? Werewolves will serve as her guardians and protect her until the first full moon of the new year, the night of her sacrifice… Will she accept her destiny? Or will she refuse to let evil swallow her up?

For fans of Hex Hall, The Magicians, Practical Magic, and Food Wars! Anise Wise loves three things: baking, potion making, and reading her spellbooks in blissful silence. She might not be the most powerful witch, but enchantment is a rare skill, and her ability to bake with magic is even rarer. Too bad no one wants witchcraft on their campus. Anise’s dream of attending pastry school crumbles with rejection letter after rejection letter. Desperate to escape her dead-end future, Anise contacts the long-lost relative she’s not supposed to know about. Great Aunt Agatha owns the only magic bakery in the US, and she suddenly needs a new apprentice. Anise is so excited she books it to New Mexico without thinking to ask what happened to the last girl. The Spellwork Syndicate rules the local witches in Taos, but as “accidents” turn into full-out attacks on Anise’s life, their promises to keep her safe are less and less reassuring. Her cranky bodyguard is doing his best, but it’s hard to fight back when she has no idea who’s the enemy. Or why she became their target. If Anise can’t find and stop whoever wants her dead, she’ll be more toasted than a crème brûlée. Who knew baking cakes could be so life or death?

This one's kicking around on my shelves! I did a First Impressions of it awhile back and really liked it, and have been meaning to go back ever since.

Thoughtfully imaginative and action-packed, Steeplejack is New York Times bestselling A. J. Hartley's YA debut set in a 19th-century South African fantasy world “A richly realized world, an intensely likable character, and a mystery to die for." — Cory Doctorow, New York Times-bestselling author Seventeen-year-old Anglet Sutonga lives and works as a steeplejack in Bar-Selehm, a sprawling city known for its great towers, spires, and smokestacks – and even greater social disparities across race and class. Ang’s world is turned upside-down when her new apprentice Berrit is murdered the same night that the city’s landmark jewel is stolen. Her search for answers behind his death exposes unrest in the streets and powerful enemies. But she also finds help from unexpected friends: a kindhearted savannah herder, a politician’s haughty sister, and a savvy newspaper girl. As troubles mount in Bar-Selehm, Ang must discover the truth behind both murder and theft soon – or else watch the city descend into chaos. YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book Booklist Top Ten YA in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Also kicking around on my shelves somewhere!

Just about everyone knows a family like the Radleys. Many of us grew up next door to one. They are a modern family, averagely content, averagely dysfunctional, living in a staid and quiet suburban English town. Peter is an overworked doctor whose wife, Helen, has become increasingly remote and uncommunicative. Rowan, their teenage son, is being bullied at school, and their anemic daughter, Clara, has recently become a vegan. They are typical, that is, save for one devastating exception: Peter and Helen are vampires and have—for seventeen years—been abstaining by choice from a life of chasing blood in the hope that their children could live normal lives. One night, Clara finds herself driven to commit a shocking—and disturbingly satisfying—act of violence, and her parents are forced to explain their history of shadows and lies. A police investigation is launched that uncovers a richness of vampire history heretofore unknown to the general public. And when the malevolent and alluring Uncle Will, a practicing vampire, arrives to throw the police off Clara’s trail, he winds up throwing the whole house into temptation and turmoil and unleashing a host of dark secrets that threaten the Radleys’ marriage. The Radleys is a moving, thrilling, and radiant domestic novel that explores with daring the lengths a parent will go to protect a child, what it costs you to deny your identity, the undeniable appeal of sin, and the everlasting, iridescent bonds of family love. Read it and ask what we grow into when we grow up, and what we gain—and lose—when we deny our appetites.

Fairy tales are life.

From wicked queens, beautiful princesses, elves, monsters, and goblins to giants, glass slippers, poisoned apples, magic keys, and mirrors, the characters and images of fairy tales have cast a spell over readers and audiences, both adults and children, for centuries. These fantastic stories have travelled across cultural borders, and been passed on from generation to generation, ever-changing, renewed with each re-telling. Few forms of literature have greater power to enchant us and rekindle our imagination than a fairy tale. But what is a fairy tale? Where do they come from and what do they mean? What do they try and communicate to us about morality, sexuality, and society? The range of fairy tales stretches across great distances and time; their history is entangled with folklore and myth, and their inspiration draws on ideas about nature and the supernatural, imagination and fantasy, psychoanalysis, and feminism. Marina Warner has loved fairy tales over a long writing life, and she explores here a multitude of tales through the ages, their different manifestations on the page, the stage, and the screen. From the phenomenal rise of Victorian and Edwardian literature to contemporary children's stories, Warner unfolds a glittering array of examples, from classics such as Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and The Sleeping Beauty, the Grimm Brothers' Hansel and Gretel, and Hans Andersen's The Little Mermaid, to modern-day realizations including Walt Disney's Snow White and gothic interpretations such as Pan's Labyrinth. In ten succinct chapters, Marina Warner digs into a rich hoard of fairy tales in their brilliant and fantastical variations, in order to define a genre and evaluate a literary form that keeps shifting through time and history. Her book makes a persuasive case for fairy tale as a crucial repository of human understanding and culture.

A classic.

This Newbery Honor-winning, hilarious Floridian adventure involves new kids, bullies, alligators, eco-warriors, pancakes, pint-sized owls, and more. A New York Times bestseller! Everybody loves Mother Paula’s pancakes. Everybody, that is, except the colony of cute but endangered owls that live on the building site of the new restaurant. Can the awkward new kid and his feral friend prank the pancake people out of town? Or is the owls’ fate cemented in pancake batter?

Three months after returning Magician Emery Thane’s heart to his body, Ceony Twill is well on her way to becoming a Folder. Unfortunately, not all of Ceony’s thoughts have been focused on paper magic. Though she was promised romance by a fortuity box, Ceony still hasn’t broken the teacher-student barrier with Emery, despite their growing closeness. When a magician with a penchant for revenge believes that Ceony possesses a secret, he vows to discover it…even if it tears apart the very fabric of their magical world. After a series of attacks target Ceony and catch those she holds most dear in the crossfire, Ceony knows she must find the true limits of her powers…and keep her knowledge from falling into wayward hands. The delightful sequel to Charlie N. Holmberg’s The Paper Magician, The Glass Magician will charm readers young and old alike.

In the explosive third volume of The Hundredth Queen Series, the queen of fire faces off against a demon of ice. Despite the odds, Kalinda has survived it all: Marriage to a tyrant. Tournaments to the death. The forbidden power to rule fire. The icy touch of a demon. That same demon now disguises itself as Rajah Tarek, Kalinda’s late husband and a man who has never stopped haunting her. Upon taking control of the palace and the army, the demon brands Kalinda and her companions as traitors to the empire. They flee across the sea, seeking haven in the Southern Isles. In Lestari, Kalinda’s powers are not condemned, as they are in her land. Now free to use them to protect those she loves, Kalinda soon realizes that the demon has tainted her with a cold poison, rendering her fire uncontrollable. But the lack of control may be just what she needs to send the demon back to the darkest depths of the Void. To take back the empire, Kalinda will ally with those she distrusts—and risk losing those most loyal to her—to defeat the demon and bring peace to a divided nation.

From the bestselling author of Catching Jordan comes a new teen romance sure to appeal to fans of Sarah Dessen. SOME RULES WERE MEANT TO BE BROKEN. Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different... This summer she's a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He's the first guy she ever kissed, and he's gone from geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt...with her. Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn't that easy...

For twelve-year-old Emily, the best thing about moving to San Francisco is that it's the home city of her literary idol: Garrison Griswold, book publisher and creator of the online sensation Book Scavenger (a game where books are hidden in cities all over the country and clues to find them are revealed through puzzles). Upon her arrival, however, Emily learns that Griswold has been attacked and is now in a coma, and no one knows anything about the epic new game he had been poised to launch. Then Emily and her new friend James discover an odd book, which they come to believe is from Griswold himself, and might contain the only copy of his mysterious new game. Racing against time, Emily and James rush from clue to clue, desperate to figure out the secret at the heart of Griswold's new game—before those who attacked Griswold come after them too.

Sang Sorenson’s father abandoned her and her sister, leaving them to fend for themselves for months. He’s returned, and finds Sang is missing. He demands she return. Right now. Will he call the police if she doesn’t? Her Academy team doesn’t want to risk losing her ghost status and she doesn’t want to put them in danger, so she reluctantly returns home, but is comforted that she will still be monitored by them. But the second she opens the door, she discovers her father has made changes that will affect her entire future. His decisions will make them a normal family. Normal is no longer what Sang wants. It would kill her Academy career before it ever started. Not to mention it would end the special, new, and still-fragile relationships with the guys. Sang struggles with her family, her identity, and where she truly belongs. Now that the entire team knows about their romantic relationships with her, tensions are mounting, tearing the team apart from the inside. Only, Dr. Green isn't going to lie down and roll over by playing by the rules. Not anymore. Not while Sang is at risk. His heart can’t take leaving her in that house one more minute. He needs her. They all do.

Twins Crystal and Amber have the same goal: to be the first in their family to graduate high school and make something of their lives. When one gets pregnant during their junior year, they promise to raise the baby together. It’s not easy, but between their after-school jobs, they’re scraping by. Crystal’s grades catch the attention of the new guidance counselor, who tells her about a college that offers a degree in automotive restoration, perfect for the car buff she is. When she secretly applies—and gets in—new opportunities threaten their once-certain plans, and Crystal must make a choice: follow her dreams or stay behind and honor the promise she made to her sister.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Reconstructing Amelia comes a fast-paced teen series where one girl learns that in a world of intrigue, betrayal, and deeply buried secrets, it is vital to trust your instincts. It all starts with a text: Please, Wylie, I need your help. Wylie hasn’t heard from Cassie in over a week, not since their last fight. But that doesn’t matter. Cassie’s in trouble, so Wylie decides to do what she has done so many times before: save her best friend from herself. This time it’s different, though. Instead of telling Wylie where she is, Cassie sends cryptic clues. And instead of having Wylie come by herself, Jasper shows up saying Cassie sent him to help. Trusting the guy who sent Cassie off the rails doesn’t feel right, but Wylie has no choice but to ignore her gut instinct and go with him. But figuring out where Cassie is goes from difficult to dangerous, fast. As Wylie and Jasper head farther and farther north into the dense woods of Maine, Wylie struggles to control her growing sense that something is really wrong. What isn’t Cassie telling them? And could finding her be only the beginning? In this breakneck tale, New York Times bestselling author Kimberly McCreight brilliantly chronicles a fateful journey that begins with a single decision—and ends up changing everything.

Know of any deals I missed? Let me know in the comments! via The Book Rat

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nerdgeekfeelings · 7 years

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Descobrindo o mundo em ruínas

“Lembrei-me do que Kaden havia dito, que algo que não faltava em Venda eram pedras e metais. Pelo menos não parecia que alguns vendanos tinham memória curta também. Seus relatos de histórias poderiam não ser precisos, mas ao menos eles os tinham, e alguns como esses artesãos, veneravam-nos o suficiente a ponto de fazerem jóias no formato de lembranças sagradas.”

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The Heart of Betrayal é a segunda obra da série Crônicas de Amor e Ódio, dando continuação ao livro The Kiss of Deception. A história é narrada em um mundo fantástico criado pela autora Mary E. Pearson, repleto de variados povos que se contrastam em língua e costumes, possuindo, entretanto, uma origem mitológica em comum, o que reflete nos conflitos presentes entre os três reinos principais: Morrighan, Dalbeck (considerados civilizados) e Venda (considerado o reino mais hostil). Ao longo da narrativa, referências a criaturas e entidades mitológicas são bastante sutis, resumindo-se a grandiosas ruínas deixadas por civilizações de origem divina, cuja memória é constantemente reavivada através de canções e histórias sagradas.

Nesta continuação, Jezelia, a princesa fugitiva de Morrighan, finalmente é levada pelo assassino Kaden ao Komizar, o grande líder de Venda. Kaden, como parte da guarda de elite, é questionado por não a ter executado sumariamente. Como argumento, ele afirma que Lia poderia ser útil, já que é portadora do Dom, uma habilidade especial herdada de seus antepassados. O príncipe Rafe, cuja missão era encontrar Lia, para que não se distanciasse dela, entrega-se, e é feito prisioneiro. Entretanto, ninguém descobre sua verdadeira identidade. Rafe apresenta-se como mero emissário do reinado de Dalbreck.

“Cantei sobre atos de coragem e mágoas e esperança, vendo sem olhos, ouvindo sem ouvidos, os modos de confiança e uma linguagem de saber enterrados profundamente neles, um modo tão antigo quanto o próprio universo. Contei a eles sobre as coisas que duram, as coisas que permanecem e sobre o dragão que estava despertando.”

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Apesar dos esforços do apaixonado Kaden para proteger Lia, ela é humilhada por Komizar e pelos líderes das catorze províncias de Venda. A única forma de a princesa sobreviver e não tomar nenhuma atitude impensada é depositando esperanças na promessa de Rafe, de que seus cavaleiros de mais alta confiança estariam a caminho para salvá-los.

“Ele se sentou, relaxado, e ficou cara a cara comigo. O brilho da vela iluminava um lado de seu rosto. “E cristav unter quiannad”, disse ele, El um tom reverente. “Um sacrifício sempre lembrado. Meunter ijotande. Nunca esquecido Yaveen hal an ziadre. Nós vivemos mais um dia.”

As palavras penetraram em mim. Eu havia interpretado errado o uso dos ossos.

“O alimento pode ser escasso em Venda”, explicou ele. “Especialmente no inverno. Os ossos são símbolo de gratidão e um lembrete de que nós vivemos somente pelo sacrifício de até mesmo o menor dos animais e por meio do sacrifício combinado de muitos.” (…)

“Eu sinto muito”, sussurrei.

“Pelo quê?”

“Por não entender.””

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A trama é conduzida por uma série de mistérios sobre a verdadeira relação entre as cidades. Em um ritmo de narrativa ágil, aos poucos, tudo é revelado. Pearson se utiliza tanto pelo ponto de vista de Lia, quanto de outros personagens como Pauline, melhor amiga de Lia, Kaden e Rafe.

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Além da alternância de voz narrativa, parte do quebra-cabeças sobre a verdadeira natureza dos conflitos entre os reinos e o papel de Lia na trama é desvelado através dos fragmentos de canções que encontramos entre os capítulos. Pessoalmente gostei muito de encontrar poemas extraídos de textos sagrados do próprio universo de Crônicas de Amor e Ódio ao longo da leitura. Eles avivam sutilmente a aura lendária da história, revelando que os mitos de Morrighan e Venda são bem mais que meras crenças religiosas.

“”O Komizar não tem uma esposa? Um herdeiro?”

Ele soltou um grunhido. “Nada de esposa, e, se ele tem algum filho que seja, a criança não carrega o nome dele. Em Venda, o poder é passado adiante através de sangue derramado, não herdado.”

Aquilo que Komizar havia me dito era verdade. Isso era tão estranho para os modos de Morrighan, e para os modelos de todos os outros reinos também.

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Depois de algum tempo como prisioneira, Lia desperta a curiosidade de Komizar, ao mesmo tempo em que conquista a atenção dos habitantes de Venda com suas histórias e canções. Pouco a pouco ela se envolve com o povo daquelas terras miseráveis e estéreis compreendendo que, apesar de uma sociedade que se fundamenta na economia da pilhagem, ou seja, bárbaros se comparados com os povos a leste do Grande Rio, são portadores de grande nobreza e senso de honra fundamentada na força. Uma aristocracia embasada no derramamento de sangue dos Komizares mais velhos e fracos.

Enquanto passávamos pelo último corredor até o quarto de Kaden, perguntei a Eben: “O que são aquelas cavernas lá embaixo? Aster mencionou-as a mim.”

“Você está se referindo às catacumbas? Cavernas de Ghols, é como se referem a elas. Nós não descemos lá. A única coisa que há nelas é o fedor terrível, livros velhos e espíritos sombrios.”

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Ressalto aqui a ambientação da história. Em minha opinião, Pearson é extremamente competente descrevendo sempre um mundo cada vez mais atraente e interessante. Em especial, os ambientes ocultos e enigmáticos de Sanctum, uma espécie de cidadela principal do Reino de Venda. Conforme aconteciam catástrofes ao longo de sua história, os habitantes construíram outra cidade sobre ela, criando assim contínuas camadas assombradas pelo passado pouco conhecido. Os corredores infinitos e catacumbas soturnas são envolventes, e o fato de sua origem se fundamentar nos relatos sobre os mitos aumenta ainda mais nosso interesse sobre o real significado daquela civilização.

Quanto ao triângulo amoroso, novamente estamos diante de um jogo em que Lia não possui exato controle e clara compreensão acerca de seus sentimentos. Seja devido a uma simples troca de olhares entre os casais, ou depois de um beijo, todo o quadro pode se inverter. Além disso, neste novo episódio você descobrirá a verdadeira origem de Kaden, e o porquê de sua indissolúvel ligação com Komizar. Acompanhará o amadurecimento de Lia em um mundo que se apresenta tão hostil e miserável quanto auspicioso e surpreendente. Estou certo de aqueles que apreciaram The Kiss of Deception irão se envolver ainda mais com esta nova publicação.

Nota: Esta edição continua com a mesma qualidade gráfica, o mesmo material leve e delicado, a capa dura e papel resistente, um marcador de tecido como na primeira edição, enfim, marcas da qualidade já bem conhecida da Editora DarkSide.

DarkSide Books

Tradução de: Ana Death Duarte

Capa dura

23 x 16,2 x 3 cm

400 páginas

Disponível nas seguintes livrarias:

Amazon

Saraiva

Submarino

[LIVRO] The Heart of Betrayal, de Mary E. Pearson (resenha) Descobrindo o mundo em ruínas

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booksaremyadventures · 2 years

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“I beg your forgiveness, Your Eminence. I would not truly feed your face to the hogs. It might make them sick.”

- The Heart of Betrayal

By Mary E Pearson

My queen Lia with the snark again 👏🏼👏🏼 Did I use my day off to read this book in one day? Yes, yes I did.

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bigbookslilreads · 5 years

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Review - The Kiss of Deception

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson (The Remnant Chronicles #1)

(there is an alternative cover of a girl with a white dress and blonde hair, but this is more accurate so there)

Publication date: 2014 Read by me: March 30th and 31st 2019 Full review on Goodreads. Recommended to: fans of dark fantasy, slight dystopia, royalty, political intrigue, strong female characters, character-based novels, love triangles. Rating: 4 stars. Very enjoyable and providing good twists on common tropes.

Link to reviews of other entries in the series:

Morrighan (The Remnant Chronicles #0.5)

The Heart of Betrayal (The Remnant Chronicles #2)

The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles #3)

Blurb (from Goodreads):

In a society steeped in tradition, Princess Lia’s life follows a preordained course. As First Daughter, she is expected to have the revered gift of sight—but she doesn’t—and she knows her parents are perpetrating a sham when they arrange her marriage to secure an alliance with a neighbouring kingdom—to a prince she has never met. On the morning of her wedding, Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, hopeful when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—even as she finds herself falling in love.

What I liked

Trope utilisation, which this book has plenty of. BUT it is very well done. Without going into detail about which tropes are used for fear that will spoil people’s enjoyment, these are used by the author in a very creative way. Certain devices are utilised that almost lead this book down a mystery, who’s who path, for example, and there are plenty of tropes there, yes, but most have a very clever twist to them, that more often than not left me guessing!

Writing, which is so beautiful. It is the perfect balance in my opinion between description, dialogue and exposition. While a bit slow-paced, the book feels like a breeze to read.

Main character, Lia, whom I loved! She is young, but quite determined, but still not too rash or stubborn to a fault. There is no fear to show emotions here, and I really liked that... Because most of the times we just have strong for strong’s sake. With Lia you believe she is learning how to fend for herself, whether through more physical means or through her intellect.

World-building, that is presented to us very discreetly, almost like crumbs that later help us form a piece of the puzzle. As the book (and series) progresses, everything starts coming together.

What I didn’t like

Characterisation, which in the case of the male characters wasn’t quite as explored in this book. Although this may be partially explained because of the devices the author uses to keep us guessing about who’s who (assassin vs prince), it was still a bit difficult for me to truly understand them and their motivations and distinguish their characters. I wish they were a bit more fleshed out. There are chapters with their POV, but they are quite short and barely left their taste in my mouth.

Political climate and world-building, which even though I think was somewhat premeditated to enable us to piece everything together as we go, still could’ve used more description. For example, I would’ve liked to experience some more of Morrighan, Lia’s interaction with her family, and the tension of her decision to escape before she actually does. That would’ve helped me feel the repercussions in the political climate more directly. The world-building for most of the book, because of its sparseness, was also leaving me a bit confused at times.

Slow-pacing. As a character-driven novel, this is somewhat to be expected. We spend a lot of time in the same setting left simply with the characters thoughts about each other and their dynamics to entertain us. This can make the book drag.

What I took from it

Importance of choice and freedom, but also responsibility. Lia is being trapped and controlled by others and she understands that is not the life she wants for herself. As she starts making her own choices, though, she realises that no one can ever truly be free, since your attachments and the power you hold to make a change comes with a certain responsibility towards others as well. I really like this tug within her.

Friendship and chosen family, which play a big part in the story. The idea that there are people that come into your life and support you and understand you the way your real family perhaps never did. And that what really matters remains.

Seeking honesty, whether it being honesty to yourself and honesty to others, so that trust can be built, or even an honest, simple way of life. Again, what really matters remains.

Valuing people above duty, again, another important theme in this book and series, in which characters decide what they are willing to give up for others.

Learning to listen to your intuition. We tend to drown it out in distractions and noise and simply because we feel that logically it doesn’t make sense. In this book we are presented the idea that sometimes your gut intuition can interpret the signs around you much better than one thinks. And I think that’s important for everyone to realise.

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