Showing posts with label plier. Show all posts
Showing posts with label plier. Show all posts

Monday, February 5, 2024

Series Review: "Ironside Academy" Books 1-3 by Jane Washington


Series: Ironside Academy
Author: Jane Washington
Genre: New Adult Paranormal RH/Omegaverse
Reading Order & Individual Ratings: 
  1. Plier - 5 // 5 stars
  2. Tourner - 5 // 5 stars
  3. Sauter - 5 // 5 stars
Overall Rating: 5 // 5 stars


Ironside is more than a regular academy. It’s also the biggest reality TV show in the world … and a very elaborate, very luxurious prison.

Their hallowed halls are ruled by the powerful Betas and the middling Omegas, with the plentiful Deltas as their main targets, but this year, the officials are stirring things up.

Isobel Carter—the only rare Sigma to be accepted—is the first sign. But there are others. Many others. A sudden influx of precious Alphas will turn academy life, and Isobel’s life, upside down.

She might be the lowest rung on the ladder, but in order to survive Ironside, where social media is king and consequences are deadly, she will need to make her mark.

She will need to climb.

This isn’t a game for the faint of heart, and those who rise should be prepared for a beautiful, brutal fall.

Beware the pretty posers, because this social media game just got dangerous.


I've been reading Jane Washington for almost a decade now and she's been on my auto-buy list ever since that first book all those years ago. Over a dozen books later, Ironside Academy is her newest series and has instantly become a new favorite of mine. Ironside Academy is an omegaverse why choose series set at a boarding school for Gifted (Alphas/Betas/etc) that's host to a reality TV show competition. 

One thing I've noticed with everything I've read by Jane is that the stories are always unique and like nothing I've read before. Each of her series is so different but they always have the same "Jane Washington" feeling to them. The addicting characters, the romances, the twisting plotlines where you never truly know what to expect. 

Ironside Academy is just addicting. The books are long but I fly through them like they're little chapter books. Between the large cast of love interests, the reality TV competition, and the continuous drama our main character finds herself in, each scene feels engaging and important. 

Obviously my favorite character is Isobel, our protagonist. We've got a lot of love interests (ten Alphas) and we're still getting to slowly know some of them so I haven't been able to pick a favorite out of those yet (though I do have an idea of who could be a favorite in future books). However, it's been a blast getting to see her interacting with them all and slowly getting into it. 

The world is fascinating. There's the human world but then the Gifted community within it who are kept segregated. The Gifted society is set up in a omegaverse hierarchy and they all have different abilities depending on their hierarchical rank and power level. This boarding school Isobel and the Alphas attend is primarily for human entertainment and the reality TV show competition determines who lives a life of luxury and fame after graduation. 

The plot mainly follows Isobel as she begins at this school and gets to know the Alphas. Initially she doesn't want to play into the reality competition but, like everyone, she's eventually drawn in. It's quite difficult to describe what I love about the story without spoiling things but I'll just say that the drama is great, the social element is addicting to read, and the budding romance is so much fun. 

Overall, I just love this series so much. Jane knows how to keep me coming back from series to series and I love this one so much. It's provided me so much entertainment during some difficult months and I can't wait to see how the series progresses in the next few books. 

TROPES
❂ GIFTED ACADEMY
❂ PROFESSOR X STUDENT
❂ FATED/REJECTED MATES
❂ REALITY TV COMPETITION
❂ MC IS A DANCER
❂ SOCIAL MEDIA COMPETITION

TRIGGER WARNINGS: attempted rape, sexual assault, bullying, physical & emotional abuse, trauma, panic attacks 


Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren


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Saturday, December 2, 2023

November 2023 Wrap-Up


November was an interesting month. Firstly, I can't believe we're already heading into the last month of the year. Secondly, I had such a long month but the reading this month was stellar. Even if I didn't love every book, I still enjoyed everything I read. Here's to hoping that December is as good of a reading month as November was! 

1.
Title: Guardian of the Drowned Empire
Author: Frankie Diane Mallis
Rating: 4.25 // 5 stars
Review TK

2. 
Title: Fall of Ruin and Wrath
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Rating: 4.25 // 5 stars

3. 
Title: Broken Trust
Author: R.A. Smyth
Rating: 4 // 5 stars
Series Review TK

4. 
Title: Brutal Lies
Author: R.A. Smyth
Rating: 4.5 // 5 stars
Series Review TK

5. 
Title: Beyond Vengeance
Author: R.A. Smyth
Rating: 4.5 // 5 stars
Series Review TK

6. 
Title: Break Free
Author: R.A. Smyth
Rating: 4 // 5 stars
Series Review TK

7. 
Title: Fourth Wing
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Rating: 5 // 5 stars
-reread-

8. 
Title: Iron Flame
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Rating: 5 // 5 stars

9. 
Title: The Assassin's Blade
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Rating: 5 // 5 stars
-reread-

10. 
Title: Throne of Glass
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Rating: 5 // 5 stars
-reread-

11. 
Title: Crown of Midnight
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Rating: 5 // 5 stars
-reread-

12. 
Title: Heir of Fire
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Rating: 5 // 5 stars
-reread-

13. 
Title: Queen of Shadows 
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Rating: 5 // 5 stars 
-reread-

14. 
Title: Empire of Storms
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Rating: 5 // 5 stars
-reread-

15. 
Title: Plier
Author: Jane Washington
Rating: 5 // 5 stars 
-reread-

16. 
Title: Tourner
Author: Jane Washington
Rating: 5 // 5 stars




Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren


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Tuesday, November 28, 2023

End of the Year Book Tag: 2023 Edition


Another year past, another end of the year wrap up to start getting into! This is my favorite time of the year on my blog where I get to wrap-up a bunch of fun things from this year and look ahead to the next year. It always kicks off with the End of the Year Book Tag. This is my fifth year doing it and it's one of the tags that I enjoy every time. Let's go ahead and dive in! 


1. Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?


I've not started and DNF-ed any books that I want to finish but there are a few series I want to continue with before the year is over. First, I want to finish my reread of the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. I've gotten through Queen of Shadows and I've started Empire of Storms. It's so much fun being back in this world and with these characters. It truly feels like returning home.


I also want to continue reading the Ironside Academy by Jane Washington. Jane is one of my favorite indie authors and this is her newest book series. I've read the first book and loved it. The sequel came out a few months ago and the third book just came out a few days ago. I'm so excited to continue with more in this world and I've heard nothing but great things about the second and third books. I'm hoping to binge them all in one go after I finish the Throne of Glass series. 


2. Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?


I always think that fantasy books are the perfect fall and winter books. There's a few on my TBR for the rest of the month but I'm pretty excited about hopefully getting to One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig. I've known about this book since it came out but it seems like it hit a popularity surge this year and I've heard nothing but good things about it. I just feel like this has the perfect autumn/winter fantasy reading vibes. 


3. Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?


Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross is probably my last confirmed release that I'm anticipating for the year. It comes out in the US in December but in the UK in January so it's technically one that I'm excited for this year and next. I might not get to read it until January but I'm very much looking forward to it. 


4. What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?


I want to get to Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett, The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon, and Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman. I've heard great things about the first two and I absolutely love Heartstopper so I'm really excited to see how the story continues.  


5. Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favorite book of the year?

Any book could shock me at this point as all of my TBR for the rest of the year are ones that I'm highly anticipating. It could be The Hurricane Wars or Emily Wilde's or One Dark Window or Sauter or Foul Heart Huntsman or a random book I decide to pick up on a whim. Any one of them could surprise me and become a favorite. 


6. Have you already started making reading plans for 2024?

You bet I have! I have some books scheduled in various months throughout the year to coincide with the releases I'm most excited for. I am very excited as a bunch of my most anticipated releases are coming in the first few months of the year. I'm not going to set a number goal for the year but I do have some goals planned around series and my backlist TBR. 


Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren


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Monday, November 6, 2023

October 2023 Book Haul


Another month, another book haul. I got 10 books this month using a combination of preorders from ages ago, gift cards, and some questionable financial decisions. This is one of the biggest hauls I've had this year and I'm really excited about all of them, so let's go ahead and dive in! 


Up first, I have My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine. I've heard such great things about this one and when I saw it for super cheap I decided to go ahead and get it. I love a good paranormal book and a good romcom, so the two of them combined sound right up my alley. A few bookish friends have raged about it so it's got me very excited to read it, hopefully soon. 

Then I got my preorder of the Fairyloot edition of Foxglove by Adalyn Grace. This is the sequel to Belladonna, which I got last year when it first came out. It really is a stunning edition, so I knew I wanted to get the matching sequel. So far, I've not yet read the first book but it is on my rather soon-ish tbr and I've heard great things. I've read the author's debut book and I really loved it so I'm hopeful that this one will be just as good. 

Then, I had a gift card I found in my wallet that I'd forgotten about so I decided to treat myself to some books. I got three from Waterstones that I'm excited about. Up first is Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. I read this a few months ago on Kindle Unlimited and absolutely loved it but was holding off on getting a physical copy until my end of the year spree. But when I found the gift card I knew I wanted to pick up a copy sooner for my shelves. 

The next one I got with my gift card was The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore. Now, right after I bought it with my gift card it showed up in my local Works for £2.50 so I kinda wish I'd waited just a week and gotten it for lower and had used my gift card for something else. But either way, I'm excited about this one. I've heard it's like a Hallmark movie in book form for autumn and I'm all about those vibes. Plus, a lot of people seem to be enjoying it. 

The last book I got with my gift card with A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley. This is another paranormal romcom and the perfect vibes for the October/Halloween time. I love a fake-dating scenario as well so this sounds great. I've seen some of my bookish friends read and enjoy this one so I'm hopeful that I'll enjoy it as well. 

Then I grabbed up Plier by Jane Washington. I absolutely love this book and everything I've read by Jane. I first read Plier in July I think and I loved it. The third book comes out at the end of November and I'm really looking forward to rereading this one and continuing with the series. Of course, I needed a copy of the book in order to do that...so here we are. I'm just excited to add more Jane Washington books to my shelf. 

I'm subscribed to Fairyloot's Adult box and this month was The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon. This edition is absolutely beautiful with fancy edges, a new cover, and plenty of artwork. I believe there's also bonus content, which is really exciting. This was one of my more anticipated releases of the back half of the year so I'm really happy that it was in a Fairyloot box. I'm very much looking forward to reading it, hopefully soon! 

Then I impulse-bought The Stars are Dying by Chloe C. Peñaranda. I've read one book by this author and enjoyed it but this is the first in a completely different series. I've seen a lot of hype for it and it just got picked up for publication by a traditional publisher. It was on my TBR on Kindle Unlimited but when it was announced, it was pulled off and I knew I wanted to grab a copy to read it when I wanted. So here we are...

Then I finally got my preorder of the Fairyloot edition of Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. I love this book and I was so excited that I managed to get a signed copy in the original sale. And it's finally arrived! It's got a reversible dust jacket, stenciled edges, and embossing. It's in great condition, though the dust jacket has some nicks in it. However, they're already sending out replacement dust jackets so I'm not too worried about it either way. I also snagged a matching copy of the Iron Flame in the sale recently so I'm quite excited about that.

The last book I got was Powerless by Lauren Roberts. I'd seen this around on TikTok a lot and the hype is real. It sounds quite interesting and like it'd go well since I love a good fantasy romance. I saw it for cheap at The Works when I was doing some early Christmas shopping so I went ahead and snagged a copy. I'm not quite sure when I'll read it as the sequel is still a ways away but I'm looking forward to it nonetheless. 


Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren


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Monday, October 30, 2023

Halloween Creatures Book Tag


Happy spooky season everyone! September to December is my favorite time of year, thanks to autumn, spooky season, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas all happening in quick succession. Today, I have a Halloween-themed book tag I'm pretty excited to do. This tag was originally created by Paperbacks and Planners so make sure to check out the original after this one!


1. WITCH - a magical character or book


There are so many magical books, mainly because I primarily read fantasy book with magic in them. Of course, I can only choose one. I'm going to go with Rookesbane from The Crown of Oaths and Curses by J. Bree. Rooke is a witch, so of course she fits this prompt perfectly. This whole book is phenomenal and I can't wait to read more about Rooke's adventures as a witch. 


2. WEREWOLF - the perfect book to read at night


For this, I'm going with The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling. I am not a scary book type of girl and I much prefer spooky, magical reads to scary reads, especially in autumn. This is a perfect night-time autumn read. It's set around Halloween in a witchy town with lots of shenanigans. It's fun, it's spooky, it's witchy, it's romantic, it's just perfect for Halloween reading. 


3. FRANKENSTEIN - a book that truly shocked you


There are many books that could fit this one but I think I'm going to go with Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. There were a couple of twists but mainly the ending is the one that shocked me the most. It was shocking for sure and painful. I desperately need the next book in my hands after that one. Only a few more months to go...


4. THE DEVIL - a dark, evil character


There is no one more qualified for this prompt than Maeve from the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. I'm not going to get super into it for spoiler reasons but she is just a vile character. Sarah has crafted such a monster and I have to applaud her writing because she is definitely one of my most-hated characters. 


5. GRIM REAPER - a character that never should have died


There are a lot of deaths in Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, there's no denying that. However, there's one death in particular that I'm sure anyone who has read this will immediately understand. I'm not going to say who, just that this particular character wormed their way into my heart and their death was so unexpected and heartbreaking for a myriad of reasons. 


6. ZOMBIE - a book that made you “hungry” for more


I'm going with Plier by Jane Washington. This is the first book in the Ironside Academy series and I absolutely blew through it when I read it. It was addicting and the slow burn is hella slow burn and the ending left me hungering for more. With multiple books in the series still to come out, I have a lot of waiting ahead of me. 


7. GARGOYLE - a character that you would protect at all cost


I'm going with Charlie Spring from Heartstopper by Alice Oseman. Charlie is just one of those cinnamon roll characters you want to wrap in a blanket and protect from the world. Of course, I think Nick is probably first in line to do so. If you've read the graphic novels or seen the TV adaptation, I'm sure you know exactly what I mean when I say that Charlie deserves to be protected at all costs. 


8. VAMPIRE - a book that sucked the life out of you


There's lot of books I've disliked over the years. I'm going to go with Stealing Their Harley for this one, though. It's not a particularly bad book per se. However, it's so short and quick that trying to fit the entire story of it into this one did not work. I was really excited for this one but it ended up just being incredibly disappointing. 


9. GHOST - a book that still haunts you


The Mindf*ck series by S.T. Abby will forever be a series that haunts me and has a place in my heart. The things the main character goes through in her life and in this series is traumatizing and heartbreaking to say the least. Even though I love this series and it does have lighter moments in it, it's also a haunting story for sure. 


10. DEMON - a book that really scared you


I'm going with Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco. I've said it before but this book absolutely scared the shit out of me when I read it at certain parts. This is the fourth book in the Stalking Jack the Ripper series which is definitely one of my favorites. It's a historical mystery series and I loved them so. This final book had moments so well-written that I could feel myself getting terrified just imagining the setting. 


11. SKELETON - a character you have a bone to pick with


I'm going with The Jackal from the Hannaford Prep series by J. Bree. He's a crazy psychotic man and a great antagonist for the series. The things he's did prior to the series and during put him near the top of my shit list of characters. He definitely deserved what he got and then some.  


12. MUMMY - a book you would preserve throughout time


There are many books I would preserve through time. One that feels like a modern, timeless classic though is The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. This is a retelling of Achilles and Patroclus from Homer's Illiad. It is so beautifully written and I loved every minute of it, which a lot of people must agree with seeing as it's one of the most popular books of our time. 


13. CREEPY DOLL - a cover too scary to look at


I don't read scary books so there's not a lot of scary book covers for me to chose from out of the ones I've read. However, I do think some of them are a little creepier than others. One that is creepy but still hautningly beautiful is Illusionary by Zoraida Córdova. 


Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren


You can follow my bookstagram here for more bookish content!

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