Book Tour: We Are the Fire-Sam Taylor

  • Author: Sam Taylor
  • Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
  • Page Count: 416
  • Publication Date: February 16th, 2021

Rating: 3 out of 5.

A Brief Description

As electrifying as it is heartbreaking, Sam Taylor’s explosive fantasy debut We Are the Fire is perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes and the legend of Spartacus.

In the cold, treacherous land of Vesimaa, children are stolen from their families by a cruel emperor, forced to undergo a horrific transformative procedure, and serve in the army as magical fire-wielding soldiers. Pran and Oksana―both taken from their homeland at a young age―only have each other to hold onto in this heartless place.

Pran dreams of one day rebelling against their oppressors and destroying the empire; Oksana only dreams of returning home and creating a peaceful life for them both.

When they discover the emperor has a new, more terrible mission than ever for their kind, Pran and Oksana vow to escape his tyranny once and for all. But their methods and ideals differ drastically, driving a wedge between them. Worse still, they both soon find that the only way to defeat the monsters that subjugated them may be to become monsters themselves.

Goodreads || Amazon || B&N || iBooks || Kobo

Note: I received this book from the author through Xpresso Book Tours. I wanted to thank them for this opportunity! If you click the link below, you can see the full schedule.

Xpresso Book Tours: Tour Schedule

MY REVIEW

So, it has been quite a bit since I’ve written a review, but I’m back again. Below is my review of We Are the Fire by Sam Taylor. This book was provided to me at no cost through Xpresso Book Tours, in exchange for a review. All thoughts below are my own.

This is a story told from the perspective of Oksana and Pran, two members of the Tuliikoberts army, who were stolen away as young children and transformed into ruthless killers of the Emperor’s army of fire wielders. Pran dreams of freedom, of rebelling against their oppressors and destroying the empire, while Oksana dreams only of returning home. They uncover secrets about the future of the Emperor’s plans for the army and vow to end the tyranny once and for all.

The world-building in this was good and felt well fleshed out. The magic was interesting, and well thought out as well. The idea of these kids being stolen from their homes and being changed to have this magical fire to fight wars for an evil emperor was incredibly interesting to read about. You could tell that the author put a lot of effort into the magic system and the way that it irrevocably changed things for our characters. I wish that the environment itself, the country of Vesimaa for example, had a little bit more to it. I feel like we didn’t get to see a lot outside of the military fort of the Tuliikoberts. The military was ruthless and also built in a way that felt realistic. There was very tense conflict of those who were forced to undergo this transformation against the Commanders, and the Emperor. The tension felt just right. The fact that the tensions build and that the characters motivations are so different really made me want to keep reading. Their motivations and reactions to the events being so different was realistic and made them so much more complex.

Speaking of the characters, it took me a little bit to get into the individual voices of these characters, as it felt like their voices were very similar at first, but once I got into the book, it was easier to tell them apart. Pran fights hard for what he cares about and you can tell that he cares for Oksana and his friends very much. He’s also ruthless and will stop at nothing to ensure they are safe. Oksana is stubborn and also fights for what she believes in. She is cunning as well. She knows what she wants and will trick those in power to get it if she needs to. The romance was also already there before the book started, and I almost would have liked to see it develop on the backdrop of the revolution, but it was certainly a new thing to read about, as I haven’t read many books that have a romance that has already been established.

The plot was interesting as well. The pacing was a little stilted. I felt like there were some periods where nothing was happening, and those dragged, and then it would pick up to an almost breakneck pace. I think that besides that, the plot was good. There were some unexpected twists that left me with my mouth hanging open. This is a standard YA Fantasy novel that I think many will love. I’m not going to go to deep into this since I don’t want to give any spoilers. I feel like the comparison to Ember in the Ashes is apt. I’d say it’s a mix of Shadow and Bone and an Ember in the Ashes, mixed with the tale of Spartucus. I’d say if you liked any of those stories, you’ll love this one.

Overall I liked this one. I’d highly recommend this to anyone who loved the above mentioned comparisons. Let me know if you read this, and what you think. Don’t forget to sign up for the giveaway below! You can win a print copy of We are the Fire by Sam Taylor! (Pst, it’s also open internationally). What have you been reading lately?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sam Taylor grew up in Arizona’s deserts and now lives among Connecticut’s trees. She spends her days writing, being mom to the world’s cutest boys, whirling through dance workouts, and baking too many cakes. She does not possess fire magic, but does have one fire-colored cat. We Are the Fire is her debut novel.

Website || Twitter || Goodreads

Giveaway!

Win a print copy of We Are the Fire! (International Giveaway)

Click here to join the giveaway!

This has been my stop on the We Are The Fire Book Tour! Check out the schedule posted at the beginning of this post to check out more posts by other content creators on this tour!

~Cam

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WWW: 2/10/2021

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

So here we go!

What are you currently reading?

Nevernight- Jay Kristoff

This is a reread for me. (So many re-reads this month) This is the story of Mia Corvere, a 16 year old assassin that is looking for revenge against those who killed her family. I love this story so much. I know that a lot of people have mixed feelings on this one, but it’s still one of my favorites. I’m loving my re-read of it so far. I hope to re-read the rest of the series one book a month.

What have you just finished reading?

Crescent City- Sarah J. Maas

Set in the city of Crescent City, Bryce Quinlan, a half-Fae, half-Human, attempts to solve the mystery of <slight spoiler, that is included in the synopsis, but is still a spoiler of sorts> the murder of some close to her, along with Hunt Athlar, the Umbra Mortis, an assassin of the Governor of the Republic. Set in a colorful world filled with Fae, shifters, magic and romance, Bryce learns more about herself than she could have ever thought possible. I freaking loved this one. This was also a re-read but I just wanted to get back into this world.

What are you going to read next?

The Space Between Worlds- Miciah Johnson

A story where the multi-verse exists, you can only visit the worlds of the multi-verse in which your alternate has died. Cara’s alternates have died on 372 worlds in total. She is an outlier and is used to visit the worlds for different kinds of work for the Eldridge Institute.

When one of her last 8 doppelgängers dies in mysterious circumstances, she finds secrets that connect her past, future and present in ways she could have never imagined.

I love this idea so much and can’t wait to read this.

What are you currently reading?

~Cam

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books I think I’ll love

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl

These are just some of the books that I think I’ll love that I plan on reading in the next few months. I have been on top of my reading lately, and some of these are books that have been on my list for a very long time. What are some of the books that you think you’ll love?

a cOURT OF sILVER fLAMES- sARAH J. mAAS

Kingdom of flesh and fire- Jennifer L. Armentrout

We Unleash the merciless storm- Thelor Kay Mejia

The Gilded Ones- Namina Forna

The space between worlds- miciah johnson

persephone Station- Stina Leicht

Wings of ebony- J. Elle

legendborn- tracy Deonn

Fortuna Sworn- K.J. Sutton

star Daughter- shveta thakrar

You’ll also notice that some of these books are also on my TBR for Winter 2020-2021. (There is a reason for that) 😉 What are some of the books that you are excited to read? Do we have any that are similar? If so, would anyone want to do a buddy read? Let’s discuss some of the books that we think that we are going to love in the comments below 🙂


~Cam

Book Releases I’m Excited For: February

Soooo, I’m a little late on this one, sorry. I’ve had a rather hectic start to February, as can be expected from me. (hehe) The first four books are already released and you can get them now! Surprise! I still wanted to include them because they have been released in February and they are still on my radar. Enjoy! I’ve included links for those who would want to buy them, along with the synopsis for each of the books! Are any of these on your radar?

February 2nd

Muse- Brittany Cavallaro

Goodreads

The year is 1893, and war is brewing in the First American Kingdom. But Claire Emerson has a bigger problem. While her father prepares to reveal the mighty weapon he’s created to showcase the might of their province, St. Cloud, in the World’s Fair, Claire is crafting a plan to escape.

Claire’s father is a sought-after inventor, but he believes his genius is a gift, granted to him by his daughter’s touch. He’s kept Claire under his control for years. As St. Cloud prepares for war, Claire plans to claim her life for herself, even as her best friend, Beatrix, tries to convince her to stay and help with the growing resistance movement that wants to see a woman on the throne. At any cost.

When her father’s weapon fails to fire on the fair’s opening day, Claire is taken captive by Governor Remy Duchamp, St. Cloud’s young, untried ruler. Remy believes that Claire’s touch bestows graces he’s never had, and with his governing power weakening and many political rivals planning his demise, Claire might be his only and best ally. But the last thing that Claire has ever wanted is to be someone else’s muse. Still, affections can change as quickly as the winds of war. And Claire has a choice to make: Will she quietly remake her world from the shadows—or bring it down in flames? 

Places to Buy: Amazon ||Bookshop

Of Wicked bLood- Olivia Wildenstein & Katie Hayoz

Goodreads

No rest for the wicked… or the cursed.

SLATE
I didn’t mean to steal the Bloodstone from the De Morel’s crypt.
Scratch that, I did mean to steal it.
Until I realized it was a curse-magnet that only comes off if I, along with a jolly trio, successfully defeat four curses.
If any of us fail, I’m dead.
I’ve never been a glass half-empty sort of person, but my glass looks in dire need of a refill right about now.
The only highlight of this wicked treasure hunt: feisty, entitled Cadence de Morel.

CADENCE
I was raised on tales of magic, in a small town reputed to be the birthplace of French witchcraft.
Did I believe all the stories I heard? Absolutely not. I mean, if magic existed, Maman wouldn’t have died, and Papa wouldn’t be stuck in a wheelchair, right?
Wrong.
The night Slate Ardoin waltzes into my life, wearing a ring he stole from my mother’s grave, I call him a monster.
But then I meet real ones, and Slate, well . . . he becomes something else to me.
Something frustrating to live with but impossible to live without.
Something I will fight for, no matter the cost.

Places to Buy: Amazon || Bookshop

Winter’s ORbit- Everina Maxwell

Goodreads

While the Iskat Empire has long dominated the system through treaties and political alliances, several planets, including Thea, have begun to chafe under Iskat’s rule. When tragedy befalls Imperial Prince Taam, his Thean widower, Jainan, is rushed into an arranged marriage with Taam’s cousin, the disreputable Kiem, in a bid to keep the rising hostilities between the two worlds under control.

But when it comes to light that Prince Taam’s death may not have been an accident, and that Jainan himself may be a suspect, the unlikely pair must overcome their misgivings and learn to trust one another as they navigate the perils of the Iskat court, try to solve a murder, and prevent an interplanetary war… all while dealing with their growing feelings for each other.

Places to Buy: Amazon ||Bookshop

The Project- Courtney Summers

Goodreads

Lo Denham is used to being on her own. After her parents died, Lo’s sister, Bea, joined The Unity Project, leaving Lo in the care of their great aunt. Thanks to its extensive charitable work and community outreach, The Unity Project has won the hearts and minds of most in the Upstate New York region, but Lo knows there’s more to the group than meets the eye. She’s spent the last six years of her life trying—and failing—to prove it.

When a man shows up at the magazine Lo works for claiming The Unity Project killed his son, Lo sees the perfect opportunity to expose the group and reunite with Bea once and for all. When her investigation puts her in the direct path of its leader, Lev Warren and as Lo delves deeper into The Project, the lives of its members it upends everything she thought she knew about her sister, herself, cults, and the world around her—to the point she can no longer tell what’s real or true. Lo never thought she could afford to believe in Lev Warren . . . but now she doesn’t know if she can afford not to.

Places to Buy: Amazon ||Bookshop

February 9th

The Gilded Ones- Namina Forna

Goodreads

Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.

But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.

Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki–near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire’s greatest threat.

Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she’s ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself.

Places to Buy: Amazon ||Bookshop

The Four winds- Kristin Hannah

Goodreads

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone comes an epic novel of love and heroism and hope, set against the backdrop of one of America’s most defining eras—the Great Depression.

Texas, 1934. Millions are out of work and a drought has broken the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as the crops are failing, the water is drying up, and dust threatens to bury them all. One of the darkest periods of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl era, has arrived with a vengeance.

In this uncertain and dangerous time, Elsa Martinelli—like so many of her neighbors—must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or go west, to California, in search of a better life. The Four Winds is an indelible portrait of America and the American Dream, as seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation.

Places to Buy: Amazon ||Bookshop

The electric Kingdom- David arnold

Goodreads

When a deadly Fly Flu sweeps the globe, it leaves a shell of the world that once was. Among the survivors are eighteen-year-old Nico and her dog, on a voyage devised by Nico’s father to find a mythical portal; a young artist named Kit, raised in an old abandoned cinema; and the enigmatic Deliverer, who lives Life after Life in an attempt to put the world back together. As swarms of infected Flies roam the earth, these few survivors navigate the woods of post-apocalyptic New England, meeting others along the way, each on their own quest to find life and light in a world gone dark. The Electric Kingdom is a sweeping exploration of love, art, storytelling, eternal life, and above all, a testament to the notion that even in an exterminated world, one person might find beauty in another.

Places to Buy: Amazon ||Bookshop

February 16th

A Court of silver flames- Sarah J. Maas

Goodreads

Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she’s struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can’t seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it.

The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre’s Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta’s orbit. But her temper isn’t the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.

Meanwhile, the treacherous human queens who returned to the Continent during the last war have forged a dangerous new alliance, threatening the fragile peace that has settled over the realms. And the key to halting them might very well rely on Cassian and Nesta facing their haunting pasts.

Against the sweeping backdrop of a world seared by war and plagued with uncertainty, Nesta and Cassian battle monsters from within and without as they search for acceptance-and healing-in each other’s arms

Places to Buy: Amazon ||Bookshop

The wide starlight- Nicole lesperance

Goodreads

The Hazel Wood meets The Astonishing Color of After in this dreamy, atmospheric novel that follows sixteen-year-old Eli as she tries to remember what truly happened the night her mother disappeared off a glacier in Norway under the Northern Lights.

Never whistle at the Northern Lights, the story goes, or they’ll sweep down from the sky and carry you away.

Sixteen-year-old Eline Davis knows it’s true. She was there ten years ago, on a frozen fjord in Svalbard, Norway, the night her mother whistled at the lights and then vanished.

Now Eli lives an ordinary life with her dad on Cape Cod. But when the Northern Lights are visible over the Cape for just one night, she can’t resist the possibility of seeing her mother again. So she whistles—and it works. Her mother appears, with snowy hair, frosty fingertips and a hazy story of where she’s been all these years. And she doesn’t return alone.

Along with Eli’s mother’s reappearance come strange, impossible things. Narwhals swimming in Cape Cod Bay, meteorites landing in Eli’s yard, and three shadowy princesses with ominous messages. It’s all too much, too fast, and Eli pushes her mother away. She disappears again—but this time, she leaves behind a note that will send Eli on a journey across continents, to the northern tip of the world:

Find me where I left you.

Places to Buy: Amazon ||Bookshop

February 23rd
Sun-Daughters, sea daugthers- aimee ogden

Goodreads

Gene-edited human clans have scattered throughout the galaxy, adapting themselves to environments as severe as the desert and the sea. Atuale, the daughter of a Sea-Clan lord, sparked a war by choosing her land-dwelling love and rejecting her place among her people. Now her husband and his clan are dying of an incurable plague, and Atuale’s sole hope for finding a cure is to travel off-planet. The one person she can turn to for help is the black-market mercenary known as the World Witch—and Atuale’s former lover. Time, politics, bureaucracy, and her own conflicted desires stand between Atuale and the hope for her adopted clan.

Sun-Daughters, Sea-Daughters has all the wonder and romance of a classic sci-fi novel, with the timelessness of a beloved fairy tale

Places to Buy: Amazon ||Bookshop

Let’s discuss some of the books that you are excited about in the comments! I’d love to hear what new releases your reading plans for February include!

~Cam

February TBR

WELP. It’s been a bit since my last post. I’ve had a realllllly busy January between school, work and life in general. I’m going to try to be better this month, I promise. What are you planning on reading in February?

What are some of your February reads? Have you read any of the ones that I’ve read? What were your thoughts?

~Cam

Book Releases I’m Excited For: January

2020 is now over, and that means a whole year of exciting book releases is ahead of us. Here’s just a list of 10 of the books that I am excited for in January 2021. These are just some of the books coming out in January. There are so many more that I may have missed, so if you have some more that you are excited for, please let me know what those are, as I’d love to check them out

January 5th

Persephone StaTION- sTINA lEICHT

Goodreads

A queer space opera? Yes, please. Anti-corporation and GORGEOUS cover? YES PLEASE.

Persephone Station, a backwater planet has been ignored by the United Republic of Worlds, until now. It has become the focus for the Serrao-Orlov Corporation. Secrets have come to light, secrete that the Serrao-Orlov Corporation wants to exploit.

Rosie- who owns Monk’s Bar in the town of West Brynner caters to wannabe criminals and rich Earther tourists in their front bar. Monk’s back bar caters to members of a rather exclusive criminal class and those who look to employ them.

Angel, an ex-marine and the head of a semi-organized band of beneficient criminals, wayward assassins and waashed up mercenaries with a penchant for doing the honorable thing is asked to prepare a job for Rosie.

This job reveals something that will affect Persephone and put Angel and her squard against an army. They are rearing for a fight with the Serrao-Orlov Corporation, whatever the odds.

This book is sci-fi and it sounds like it’s anti-corporation too? Please, gimme gimme. And don’t even get me started on how gorgeous this cover is.

Places to Buy: Amazon || Bookshop

tHE WIFE UPSTAIRS- rACHEL hAWKINS

Goodreads

Jane, just moved to Birmingham, Alabama and is a broke dog-walker in Thornfield Estates – a gated community full of the rich. No one will notice if Jane lifts tchotchkes and jewelry off the side tables. No one will ask Jane her real name.

Then Jane meets Eddie Rochester. Recently widowed, Eddie is one of the most mysterious resident of Thornfield Estates. His wife, Bea, drowned in a boating accident with her best friend. their bodies lost the deep. Jane sees an opportunity in Eddie.

Jane and Eddie fall for each other, but even so, Jane is increasingly haunted by the legend of Bea who lauched a wildly successful southern lifestyle brand.

This is apparently a retelling of Jane Eyre, and I’m loving the idea? The concept seems interesting! I’m actually getting this in my Book of the Month box in December, so I might have the opportunity to read it before January!

Places to Buy: Amazon || Bookshop

lORE- aLEXANDRA bRACKEN

Goodreads

Every seven years, the Agon begins. A punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek Gods are forced to walk as mortals. They are hunted by the decedents or ancient bloodlines. They are all eager to kill a God and seize their divine power and immortality.

Lore Perserous fled that brutal world in the wake of her family’s sadistic murder by a rival line who long ago turned her back on the promises of eternal glory that the hunt offers. She has pushed away any and all thoughts of revenge against the man responsible for the deaths of her family.

As the next hunt dawns over New York City, two participants seek her help. Castor, her childhood friend that Lore believed long dead, and Athena, gravely wounded. These two are the last of the original gods.

Athena offers the allegiance against their mutual enemy and a way for Lore to leave the Agon behind forever.

I really like the cover on this one and I’m interested to see where it goes. I’m interested in the Greek myths, so anything loosely based on them is something I’m willing to give a shot to.

Places to Buy: Amazon || Bookshop

cROWN OF bONES- a.k. wILDER

Goodreads

Raise. Your. Phantom.

For fans of epic fantasies and sweeping adventures, this ensemble cast will immerse you in a world of unique magic, breathtaking action and unforgettable characters.

In a world on the brink of the next Great Dying, no amount of training can prepare us for what is to come …

A young heir will raise the most powerful phantom in all of Baiseen.

A dangerous High Savant will do anything to control the realms.

A mysterious and deadly Mar race will steal children into the sea.

And a handsome guide with far too many secrets will make me fall in love.

My name is Ash. A lowly scribe meant to observe and record. And yet I think I’m destined to change us all.

This is one where the cover called to me more than anything. Im really interested to see where this one goes too. There are just so many exciting books coming out in 2021.

Places to Buy: Amazon || Bookshop

January 12th

tHE iNNkEEPER’S dAUGHTER- bIANCA m. sCHWARZ

Goodreads

One November evening, Sir Henry, a man of wealth comes across a badly beaten Eliza, who is desperate to escape her cruel stepfather. Sir Henry, realizing she has nowhere to go, takes her to his home in Mayfair.

While she is there recovering, Henry introduces Eliza to a world of art and literature. Eliza’s brutal world follows her to London, where the salons of the aristocratic elite co-exist with the back alleys of the criminal underworld.

Henry, a secret agent to the crown is able and willing to deal with the man that Eliza’s stepfather sold her to and the pimp who plans to enslave her.

A romance blossoms. Eliza unearths a secret that leads them into the sadistic world of sex trafficking and finally allows Henry to identify the traitor that is responsible for selling military secrets to the French, which causes the death of thousands.

Eliza proves herself a worthy partner, a natural in the spy game, but time is running out and Eliza’s fate is hanging in the balance.

A regency historical fiction that’s about spies and political intrigue? YES PLEASE.

Places to Buy: Amazon || Bookshop

January 19th

cAST IN fireLIGHT- dANA sWIFT

Goodreads

Adraa is the royal heir of Belwar, a talented witch on the cusp of taking her royal ceremony test, and a girl who just wants to prove her worth to her people.

Jatin is the royal heir to Naupure, a competitive wizard who’s mastered all nine colors of magic, and a boy anxious to return home for the first time since he was a child.

Together, their arranged marriage will unite two of Wickery’s most powerful kingdoms. But after years of rivalry from afar, Adraa and Jatin only agree on one thing: their reunion will be anything but sweet.

Only, destiny has other plans and with the criminal underbelly of Belwar suddenly making a move for control, their paths cross…and neither realizes who the other is, adopting separate secret identities instead.

Between dodging deathly spells and keeping their true selves hidden, the pair must learn to put their trust in the other if either is to uncover the real threat. Now Wickery’s fate is in the hands of rivals..? Fiancées..? Partners..? Whatever they are, it’s complicated and bound for greatness or destruction.

Places to Buy: Amazon || Bookshop

rEMOTE cONTROL- nNEDI oKORAFOR

Goodreads

“She’s the adopted daughter of the Angel of Death. Beware of her. Mind her. Death guards her like one of its own.”

The day Fatima forgot her name, Death paid a visit. From hereon in she would be known as Sankofa­­–a name that meant nothing to anyone but her, the only tie to her family and her past.

Her touch is death, and with a glance a town can fall. And she walks–alone, except for her fox companion–searching for the object that came from the sky and gave itself to her when the meteors fell and when she was yet unchanged; searching for answers.

But is there a greater purpose for Sankofa, now that Death is her constant companion?

Places to Buy: Amazon || Bookshop

January 26th
a bLACK WOMEN’S hISTORY OF THE uNITED sTATES- dAINA rAMEY bERRY AND kALI NICOLE gROSS

Goodreads

A vibrant and empowering history that emphasizes the perspectives and stories of African American women to show how they are–and have always been–instrumental in shaping our country

In centering Black women’s stories, two award-winning historians seek both to empower African American women and to show their allies that Black women’s unique ability to make their own communities while combatting centuries of oppression is an essential component in our continued resistance to systemic racism and sexism. Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross offer an examination and celebration of Black womanhood, beginning with the first African women who arrived in what became the United States to African American women of today.

A Black Women’s History of the United States reaches far beyond a single narrative to showcase Black women’s lives in all their fraught complexities. Berry and Gross prioritize many voices: enslaved women, freedwomen, religious leaders, artists, queer women, activists, and women who lived outside the law. The result is a starting point for exploring Black women’s history and a testament to the beauty, richness, rhythm, tragedy, heartbreak, rage, and enduring love that abounds in the spirit of Black women in communities throughout the nation. 

Places to Buy: Amazon || Bookshop

wINGS OF eBOnY- j. eLLE

Goodreads

“Make a way out of no way” is just the way of life for Rue. But when her mother is shot dead on her doorstep, life for her and her younger sister changes forever. Rue’s taken from her neighborhood by the father she never knew, forced to leave her little sister behind, and whisked away to Ghizon—a hidden island of magic wielders.

Rue is the only half-god, half-human there, where leaders protect their magical powers at all costs and thrive on human suffering. Miserable and desperate to see her sister on the anniversary of their mother’s death, Rue breaks Ghizon’s sacred Do Not Leave Law and returns to Houston, only to discover that Black kids are being forced into crime and violence. And her sister, Tasha, is in danger of falling sway to the very forces that claimed their mother’s life.

Worse still, evidence mounts that the evil plaguing East Row is the same one that lurks in Ghizon—an evil that will stop at nothing until it has stolen everything from her and everyone she loves. Rue must embrace her true identity and wield the full magnitude of her ancestors’ power to save her neighborhood before the gods burn it to the ground.

Places to Buy: Amazon || Bookshop

dON’T tELL A sOUL- kIRSTEN mILLER

Goodreads

Stay up all night with this modern day Rebecca! Perfect for fans of Truly Devious—a haunting story about a new girl in an old town filled with dark secrets . . . that might just kill her.

People say the house is cursed.
It preys on the weakest, and young women are its favorite victims.
In Louth, they’re called the Dead Girls.

All Bram wanted was to disappear—from her old life, her family’s past, and from the scandal that continues to haunt her. The only place left to go is Louth, the tiny town on the Hudson River where her uncle, James, has been renovating an old mansion.

But James is haunted by his own ghosts. Months earlier, his beloved wife died in a fire that people say was set by her daughter. The tragedy left James a shell of the man Bram knew—and destroyed half the house he’d so lovingly restored.

The manor is creepy, and so are the locals. The people of Louth don’t want outsiders like Bram in their town, and with each passing day she’s discovering that the rumors they spread are just as disturbing as the secrets they hide. Most frightening of all are the legends they tell about the Dead Girls. Girls whose lives were cut short in the very house Bram now calls home.

The terrifying reality is that the Dead Girls may have never left the manor. And if Bram looks too hard into the town’s haunted past, she might not either

Places to Buy: Amazon || Bookshop

Let’s discuss some of the books that you are excited about in the comments! I’d love to hear what your reading plans for January include!

~Cam

My 2021 Bookish (and not so Bookish) Goals

Wow, we are finally finished with 2020, and now we get to start it all over again. I’m back again with my bookish and not so bookish goals. They’re going to be very similar to the goals I had in 2020, since 2020 was quite a mess of a year. Anywho, here are my goals for 2021!

Bookish Goals

  • Read 100 books
  • Read 1 nonfiction book a month
  • Read a wider variety of genres
  • Have consistent and steady growth on my Blog and my Instagram
  • Post at least 5 posts/photos a week.
  • Use my library more
  • Spend less money on books
  • Read all the unread books on my shelves before buying more (fat chance)

Not So Bookish Goals

  • Graduate College (!!!!) This is one from last year, as my graduation had to be pushed back a semester.
  • Keep up with daily (unbiased) news
  • Pay off $3k in student loan debt
  • Travel to at least -one- new to me place
  • Get back up to Maine (once COVID is over, hopefully in the Autumn)

What are your goals for 2021? How do you plan on attaining them?

~Cam

January TBR

The beginning of a new month (and a new year!) is upon us! This means another TBR post from me! I’m really excited to read all of these books (some of them I’m bringing in from 2020, but nevertheless, I’m excited to read them. What are some books that you are excited to read?

What are some of your January reads? Have you read any of the ones that I’ve read? What were your thoughts?

~Cam

Favorites of 2020

I can’t believe that 2020 is almost over. It feels like just yesterday that it was January 1st of 2020, and I had such high hopes for this year. This was a hard year for a lot of people. I think it was truly a hard year for everyone. I did read some of my favorite books of all time this year, and this is a short list of those. What did you read that you loved? What were your favorite books?

vicious- V.E. Schwab

The Way of kings- Brandon Sanderson

Forest of Souls- Lori M. Lee

The Rage of dragons- Evan Winter

Foundryside- Robert Jackson Bennett

Cemetery Boys- Aiden Thomas

When no one is watching- Alyssa Cole

Gideon the ninth- Tamsyn muir

To Sleep in a sea of Stars- Christopher Paolini

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue- V.E. Schwab

The First Sister- Linden A. Lewis

Here’s to a great 2021!

~Cam

First Line Friday: 12/18/2020



“On the second Sabbat of Twelfthmoon, in the city of Weep, a girl fell from the sky.”

This is going to be a First Line Friday post hosted by Hoarding Books!

I loved this book. It’s one of my favorites and is an ode to the love of books, magic and loss. I highly recommend this one to anyone who loves fantasy, books and magic. It starts off with such a powerful scene and when everything comes together it breaks you in two.

Have you read this? What did you think? Did you post a First Line Friday, and if so, can you share here?


~Cam