Stacking the Shelves {136}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we get to share the books we've bought, been gifted, or received for review!

How was everybody's week? Mine was good! Nothing terribly exciting to report, just trying to get all caught up. I'm getting more reading done, which makes me more than happy. But I did start watching Jane the Virgin, which I love and which might detract from my reading time.... We'll see, eh? :) Anyways...

For review:

Acts of God by Ellen Gilchrist
This Raging Light by Estelle Laure

Traded:

Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Tuesday - {Release Day Celebration + Giveaway} Velvet Undercover by Teri Brown
Wednesday - Waiting on Wednesday: Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
Thursday - Review: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Books I read this week:
A Spark Unseen by Sharon Cameron
Signs Point to Yes by Sandy Hall

I'm currently reading:
A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

So that's been my week! Fun times at work this week! We're resetting everything for Christmas, so it's...hectic, to say the least. I'm excited, though! :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!

Review: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Release date: October 20, 2015
Find Amie online: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Find Jay online: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 608
Format: Egalley
Source: Publisher provided for review through Netgalley
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository

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 an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

Anything I can say about Illuminae (read: RAVE about Illuminae), if you've read a review, you've heard before.

It's imaginative. It's thrilling. And you won't be able to put it down. It took me around an hour to read the entire second half of the book, as I flew through the pages, tense and scared like I was on the ship with Kady. You finish, and you're breathless. You're crying. You're left feeling a little bit empty because it's over. Illuminae is an experience. I've already told everyone I work with to read it--and shown more than a few pages from the book.

Part of what's so spectacular is how close to Kady and Ezra you feel upon finishing. Because of the narrative structure--the whole book is a file compiled on the Kerenza incident--you're not really hearing from the two themselves. There are messages between them and others, giving you a distinct feel for their characters and voices, and Kady has a diary, giving you a glimpse into her head, but all of this could fall flat. Far from it, though. These are characters you will feel for, characters you will root for.

In some ways, I feel a little bit like a voice shouting into the void, because anything I can say about Illuminae has already been said--and it certainly won't compare to the book in any way. I've read some good books this year, but I daresay this is the one I feel most passionately about. It's an incomparable reading experience, and one you should kick yourself if you miss out on.

Pictures included in review are taken from the ARC, and therefore may not be exactly what's found in the finished hardcover.

About the authors:

Amie Kaufman is the New York Times bestselling co-author of the Starbound series.

Jay Kristoff is the award-winning author of the Lotus War series.

Collectively, they are 12'5" tall and live in Melbourne, Australia, with two long-suffering spouses, two rescue dogs, and a plentiful supply of caffeine. They met, thanks to international taxation law, and stuck together due to a shared love of blowing things up and breaking hearts. You can learn more about Amie and Jay at amiekaufman.com and jaykristoff.com.

Waiting on Wednesday: Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton {109}

Title: Rebel of the Sands
Author: Alwyn Hamilton
Release date: March 8, 2016

She’s more gunpowder than girl—and the fate of the desert lies in her hands.

Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mystical beasts still roam the wild and barren wastes, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinni still practice their magic. But there's nothing mystical or magical about Dustwalk, the dead-end town that Amani can't wait to escape from. 

Destined to wind up "wed or dead," Amani’s counting on her sharpshooting skills to get her out of Dustwalk. When she meets Jin, a mysterious and devastatingly handsome foreigner, in a shooting contest, she figures he’s the perfect escape route. But in all her years spent dreaming of leaving home, she never imagined she'd gallop away on a mythical horse, fleeing the murderous Sultan's army, with a fugitive who's wanted for treason. And she'd never have predicted she'd fall in love with him...or that he'd help her unlock the powerful truth of who she really is.

I loove the sound of this! It's like a western, but with genies! Oh mah gosh.

 So what are you guys waiting on this week? :)

{Release Day Celebration + Giveaway} Velvet Undercover by Teri Brown

Woo! Happy release day to Velvet Undercover! Teri Brown's latest is such a fun historical fiction spy thriller that you won't regret picking up. And just look at that gorgeous cover! You need that one on your shelf.

About the book:

Release date: October 20, 2015
Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Perfect for fans of Jennifer Donnelly and Libba Bray comes this page-turning historical spy thriller from Teri Brown, author of the Born of Illusion series.

Samantha Donaldson's family has always done its duty for the British Crown. In the midst of World War I, seventeen-year-old Sam follows in their footsteps, serving her country from the homefront as a messenger for the intelligence organization MI5. After her father disappears on a diplomatic mission, she continues their studies of languages, mathematics, and complex puzzles, hoping to make him proud.

When Sam is asked to join the famed women's spy group La Dame Blanche, she's torn—while this could be an unbelievable adventure, how can she abandon her mother, who has already lost a husband? But when her handlers reveal shocking news, Sam realizes she can't refuse the exciting and dangerous opportunity.

Her acceptance leads her straight into the heart of enemy territory on a mission to extract the most valuable British spy embedded in Germany, known only as Velvet. Deep undercover in the court of Kaiser Wilhelm II, Sam must navigate the labyrinthine palace and its many glamorous—and secretive—residents to complete her assignment. To make matters worse she must fight a forbidden attraction to the enemy—a dangerously handsome German guard. In a place where personal politics are treacherously entangled in wartime policy, can Sam find Velvet before it's too late . . . for them both?

A thrilling story of one girl's journey into a deadly world of spy craft and betrayal—with unforgettable consequences.

Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Find it on Goodreads

Praise for Velvet Undercover:

“A slow-burning tale of espionage and deceit that explores the complexities and moral uncertainties of war.” 

             — Kirkus Reviews

“A taut and swiftly paced historical spy mystery, filled with suspense and surprising plot twists...A great fit for fans of Elizabeth Wein’s Code Name Verity.” 

            — School Library Journal

"Clever, impetuous Samantha Donaldson is a delight to follow through the murky world of the German court in this twisty tale of espionage and forbidden romance.” 

            — Katherine Longshore, author of Gilt, Tarnish

"Brown's latest is a pulse-racing, whip-smart thriller that kept me guessing until the end."

            — Cat Winters, Morris Award Finalist for In the Shadow of Blackbirds

About the author:

Well behaved women rarely make history. Teri Brown liv ed that quote way before she ever even heard it. The two things she is most proud of, (besides her children), is that she jumped out of an airplane once and beat the original Legend of Zelda video game. She's a novel writer, head banger, pet keeper, math hater, cocktail drinker, booty shaker, book reader, city slicker, food fixer, rule breaker, wine sipper and word scribbler. She loves her husband, children, puppies and chocolate.

  One Grand Prize Winner will get:

- One signed hardback copy of Born of Illusion
- One signed hardback copy of Born of Deception
- One drawstring spygirls bag from the International Spy Museum
- One tablet of spy paper that dissolves when wet
- One password required lock and key journal
- Two black light spy pens
- One pair of brass spyglasses with brass rope chain (Perfect for spying!)

Must be 13+ To Enter | Ships in US Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stacking the Shelves {135}

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where we get to share the books we've bought, been gifted, or received for review!

How was everybody's week? Mine's been good! STILL busy, y'all. I've been working (and still am) at an American Girl Fashion Show allll weekend, which is so adorable--but I've been home...not at all. Hopefully getting back to my routine tomorrow will let me catch back up! Fun mail this week, though!

For review:

Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Traded:

Of Dreams and Rust by Sarah Fine

PLUS these pretties! I'm obsessed--seriously--with this poster.

A recap of the week here on Paper Cuts:
Monday - Review: The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron
Tuesday - Teaser Tuesday: Velvet Undercover by Teri Brown
Wednesday - Waiting on Wednesday: Fear the Drowning Deep by Sarah Glenn Marsh

Books I read this week:
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Velvet Undercover by Teri Brown

I'm currently reading:
A Spark Unseen by Sharon Cameron

So that's been my week! I'm so behind on comments again! Imma work on it, I promise. It's hard to get my butt in a chair to do that! :) Have a lovely Sunday and a fabulous week!

Waiting on Wednesday: Fear the Drowning Deep by Sarah Glenn Marsh {108}

Title: Fear the Drowning Deep
Author: Sarah Glenn Marsh
Release date: September 2016

Witch’s apprentice Bridey Corkill has hated the ocean ever since she watched her granddad dive in and drown with a smile on his face. So when a dead girl rolls in with the tide in the summer of 1913, sixteen-year-old Bridey suspects that whatever compelled her granddad to leap into the sea has made its return to the Isle of Man.

Soon, villagers are vanishing in the night, but no one shares Bridey’s suspicions about the sea. No one but the island’s witch, who isn’t as frightening as she first appears, and the handsome dark-haired lad Bridey rescues from a grim and watery fate. The cause of the deep gashes in Fynn’s stomach and his lost memories are, like the recent disappearances, a mystery well-guarded by the sea. In exchange for saving his life, Fynn teaches Bridey to master her fear of the water — stealing her heart in the process.

Now, Bridey must work with the Isle’s eccentric witch and the boy she isn’t sure she can trust — because if she can’t uncover the truth about the ancient evil in the water, everyone she loves will walk into the sea, never to return.

Don't mind that this comes out in September 2016, just look at the pretty! Plus, you know, the ocean, 1913, and some awesome names--that spelling of Fynn is killing me in the best way.

 So what are you guys waiting on this week? :)

Teaser Tuesday: Velvet Undercover by Teri Brown {128}

Title: Velvet Undercover
Author: Teri Brown

Release date: October 20, 2015

Samantha Donaldson’s family has always done its duty for the British Crown. In the midst of World War I, seventeen-year-old Sam follows in their footsteps, serving her country from the homefront as a Girl Guide and messenger for the intelligence organization MI5. After her father disappears on a diplomatic mission, she continues their studies of languages, high-level mathematics, and complex puzzles and codes, hoping to make him proud.

When Sam is asked to join the famed women’s spy group La Dame Blanche she’s torn—this could be the adventure she’s dreamed of, but how can she abandon her mother, who has already lost a husband to the war? But when her handlers reveal shocking news, Sam realizes there’s no way she can refuse the exciting and dangerous opportunity.

Her acceptance leads her straight into the heart of enemy territory on a mission to extract the most valuable British spy embedded in Germany, known to the members of LDB only as Velvet. Deep undercover within the court of Kaiser Wilhelm II, Samantha must navigate the labyrinthine palace and its many glamorous—and secretive—residents to complete her assignment. To make matters worse she finds herself forming a forbidden attraction to the enemy-a dangerously handsome German guard. In a place where personal politics are treacherously entangled in wartime policy, can Samantha discover the truth and find Velvet before it’s too late…for them both?

From author Teri Brown comes the thrilling story of one girl’s journey into a deadly world of spycraft and betrayal—with unforgettable consequences. (

My teaser, from 21% in the egalley:

I lean back in the chair and close my eyes for a moment. When I open them, I ask, "So there are no paper records? What about her next of kin? Won't they be notified if something happens to her?"

For a moment I think she's not going to answer, but when she does, her voice is as empty as her face. "All records related to Velvet's identity seem to have been...misplaced."

Ooh, I am so excited to be starting this! I so enjoyed Teri Brown's last YA series, and have been dyyying to read this one for ages. I've been alll in the mood for historical fiction, too. :D

I'll be visiting around and visiting back, so leave me links to your teasers! :) Happy Tuesday!