Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag 2017

The lovely Zoey from Magiverse tagged anyone who hasn't done this book tag yet, so I decided to do it. Here we go... :D

1. Best Book You've Read So Far in 2017

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn ~ 5 stars {My Review}

This book was amazing. Beyond amazing, actually. Kate Quinn never disappoints but this book is something special. It's definitely her best work so far. Usually I'm more into historical books set in ancient times but this one is set in WWI and 1947 so it's different from my usual reads. Still, it's the best book I've read this year. I don't think any book will top it but I guess we'll see at the end of the year.

2. Best Sequel You've Read So Far in 2017

Scalding Ice and Goldfire by Avie Adams ~ 5 stars {My Review}

I can't get over how good this series is. SIAG was my favorite but all of the books are really great. They are all dark fantasy/romance and it does get quite dark but damn... it's such a unique world that the author has created. And the characters are all intriguing in their own way. Not to mention the writing. It's so gorgeous! I can't recommend it enough. 

3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

I have heard so many great things about this book. It's historical, set in the 1800's so it sounds perfect for me. I hope to get my hands on a copy soon. I have such high expectations for it!

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo

I'm beyond excited for this book, you have no idea. I know this book will be so gorgeous inside and out. I'll need this book on my shelves no matter what. And just look at that cover! *grabby hands* 

5. Biggest disappointment

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi ~ 2 stars

I'm probably in the minority about this one. I've read books that were worse so I didn't think it was all bad. The writing was gorgeous but I thought the story and the characters especially were lacking. I was just disappointed with it because I was sure I was going to love it. I am planning on reading A Crown of Wishes, though, because I heard it was better.

6. Biggest surprise

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern ~ 5 stars

Honestly, I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did. But it ended up in my top three books of the year so far. It's such a gorgeous book. I already want to re-read it. <3

7. Favorite new author (debut or just new to you)

Amie O'Brien 

Not only did I love her amazing book The Merchant's Pearl, she's also a super nice person. I can't wait to read more books by her in the future. {My Review}

8. Newest fictional crush

Fox from The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco ~ 5 stars {My Review}

So for those who haven't read this book yet... (FOR SHAME IT'S SO AWESOME) Fox is Tea's older brother that she raised from his grave. I loved him so much. He was a big part of the reason why I enjoyed it so much. This book is also in my top three of favorite books of 2017 so far. 

9. Newest favorite character

Dak from A Mutiny in Time by James Dashner ~ 4 stars

This was a hard one. I've met so many great new characters that ended up being favorites so I'm leaving out a lot more. But I really loved Dak because just like me he's really into history and at times randomly tells historical facts even when nobody wants to hear it. He's so like me!

10. Book that made you cry

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas ~ 5 stars 

I didn't sob or anything with this book but at one moment I did get tears in my eyes because it got really sad. No spoilers but damn SJM, you hurt my heart!

11. Book that made you happy

Iron Man: The Gauntlet by Eoin Colfer ~ 4 stars

So for those who don't know it yet... Eoin Colfer is my #1 favorite author so I'm always dying for his next book. This one is his latest new one. It came out in November but I didn't actually get around to reading it until June. I don't even know why I waited so long. But anyway it turned out to be one awesome book and it just made me so happy. Also (I feel like) there were hints to his books Artemis Fowl and (especially) Airman. But maybe that was just me. Also, my review of this book is coming soon!

12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

This book was in FairyLoot's March box and oh isn't it so beautiful? I haven't read the book yet but I'm hoping to love it when I do.

13. What books do you need to read before the end of the year?

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Feversong by Karen Marie Moning

I don't even know why it's taking me so long to get around to reading these two books. Especially Feversong! But I'm hoping I can read them soon. :)

~~

I'm also tagging anyone who wants to do this tag. ♥

ARC Review: The Wardrobe Mistress: A Novel of Marie Antoinette by Meghan Masterson

Title: The Wardrobe Mistress: A Novel of Marie Antoinette
Author: Meghan Masterson
Publication: August 15th 2017 by St. Martin's Griffin
Genre: Historical Fiction
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kobo
Rating: 3.5/5

It's Giselle Aubry's first time at court in Versailles. At sixteen, she is one of Marie Antoinette's newest undertirewomen, and in awe of the glamorous queen and her opulent palace life. A budding designer, it's a dream come true to work with the beautiful fabrics and jewels in the queen's wardrobe. But every few weeks she returns home to visit her family in the Parisian countryside where rumors of revolution are growing stronger.

From her position working in the royal household, Giselle is poised to see both sides of the revolutionary tensions erupting throughout Paris. When her uncle, a retired member of the secret du roi, a spy ring that worked for the old King, Louis XV, suggests that she casually report the Queen s actions back to him as a game, she leaps at the chance. Spying seems like an adventure and an exciting way to privately support the revolution taking the countryside by storm. She also enjoys using her insight from Versailles in lively debates with Leon Gauvain, the handsome and idealistic revolutionary who courts her.

But as the revolution continues to gain momentum, and Giselle grows closer to the Queen, becoming one of the few trusted servants, she finds herself dangerously torn. Violence is escalating; she must choose where her loyalty truly lies, or risk losing everything...maybe even her head.

The Wardrobe Mistress is Meghan Masterson's fascinating and visceral debut, not to be missed.

Taking place during the French revolution, the story is about a young woman named Giselle who works in the royal household as one of Marie Antoinette's undertirewomen. At one point Giselle's uncle who used to be part of a spy ring called the secret du roi, asks her to spy on the queen and Giselle doesn't hesitate in doing because at first it seems like a great adventure. She grows more close to the Marie Antoinette over time and can't help being torn between her loyaly for the queen and supporting what the revolutionaries are fighting for.

Aside from Giselle working in the royal household and the revolution gaining momentum, there's also a romance between Giselle and Leon who's a enthusiastic revolutionary. I felt going back and forth between rooting for them but also at the same time not being sure if I liked them together. So I was definitely on the fence about them. I also didn't like some of the secondary characters. I couldn't connect with most of them.

I've always beeing interested in the history of the French revolution and the time the novel was set in, so that part I really enjoyed. I thought it was well-researched and the writing was good as well. 

Overall, The Wardrobe Mistress by Meghan Masterson was a pretty good read but it wasn't enough for a full four star rating, in my opinion, so I had to go for three and a half stars. I enjoyed the story but I felt myself wanting that little extra that would've made it excellent.

About Meghan:
Meghan Masterson graduated from the University of Calgary with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies, and has worked several unrelated jobs while writing on the side. As a child, she gave her parents a flowery story about horses every year for Christmas. Thankfully, she has expanded her work past tales of equine perfection and thinly veiled Nancy Drew retellings, and is now mainly interested in writing historical fiction. She is drawn to strong historical figures and unique situations in history, which present unexpected opportunities and dilemmas for her characters. Meghan’s other interests include reading at all hours (even at breakfast), cooking, and going for walks with her dog. She and her husband live in Calgary, Alberta.

Meghan is represented by Carrie Pestritto of Prospect Agency.

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Can't-Wait Wednesday: A Cabinet of Byzantine Curiosities: Strange Tales and Surprising Facts from History's Most Orthodox Empire by Anthony Kaldellis

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. It's based on Waiting On Wednesday hosted at Breaking the Spine.

A Cabinet of Byzantine Curiosities: Strange Tales and Surprising Facts from History's Most Orthodox Empire by Anthony Kaldellis
Expected publication: October 2nd 2017 by Oxford University Press, USA

Weird, decadent, degenerate, racially mixed, superstitious, theocratic, effeminate, and even hyper-literate, Byzantium has long been regarded by many as one big curiosity. According to Voltaire, it represented "a worthless collection of miracles, a disgrace for the human mind" for Hegel it was "a disgusting picture of imbecility."

A Cabinet of Byzantine Curiosities will reinforce these old prejudices, while also stimulating a deeper interest among readers in one of history's most interesting civilizations. Many of the zanier tales and trivia that are collected here revolve around the political and religious life of Byzantium. Thus, stories of saints, relics, and their miracles--from the hilarious to the revolting--abound. Byzantine bureaucracy (whence the adjective "Byzantine"), court scandals, and elaborate penal code are world famous. And what would Byzantium be without its eunuchs, whose ambiguous gender produced odd and risible outcomes in different contexts? The book also contains sections on daily life that are equally eye-opening, including food (from aphrodisiacs to fermented fish sauce), games such as polo and acrobatics, and obnoxious views of foreigners and others (e.g., Germans, Catholics, Arabs, dwarves). But lest we overlook Byzantium's more honorable contributions to civilization, also included are some of the marvels of Byzantine science and technology, from the military (flamethrowers and hand grenades) to the theatrical ("elevator" thrones, roaring mechanical lions) and medical (catheters and cures, some bizarre). This vast assortment of historical anomaly and absurdity sheds vital light on one of history's most obscure and orthodox empires.

This nonfiction sounds super fascinating to me and one I'm especially looking forward to. And the Byzantine Empire has always been really interesting to me. I also really like this cover so definitely need it on my shelves.