It's book Week 17 in our 52 Books quest. Did you know today is World Penguin Day? My favorite documentary is March of the Penguins narrated by Morgan Freeman, and the movie Happy Feet always makes me want to dance and sing along with Mumble, and Mr. Poppers Penguins makes for a charming, amusing read as well as a wonderful movie. This week's odd holidays include taking time out this week to eat a pretzel or a steak, tell a story, kiss your mate, read a poem or dance by the light of the moon, to the music of a sax or trombone, while the horses race a mile and we have fun with a new hairstyle. I'm sure I can find a book theme in there somewhere.
The latest book in J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood has been released - Lover Unveiled. Have added it to my stacks to read soon. While watching Ward's Facebook Virtual release day video, she very enthusiastically talked about Jennifer Armentrout's newest book in her Blood and Ash series - The Crown of Gilded Bones which also released on April 20th. Which led me to picking up the first book From Blood and Ash since you know I'm a series gal and have to start all series at the beginning (most of the time). I haven't been able to put it down since.
It's a unique perspective on vampires (vampyres) and werewolfs (wolven) and a maiden who has been isolated from a young age as the one who will save the world. Plot twists, good versus evil, and of course romance plays a part. So very good. And back to Ward's video, she dropped a lot of author names including Christopher Rice (son of Anne and a few more I want to check out. Far warning should you want to watch the video and aren't familiar with J.R. Ward, she drops the f bomb a lot however she's very amusing.
"A Maiden…
Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.
A Duty…
The entire kingdom’s future rests on Poppy’s shoulders, something she’s not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because a Maiden has a heart. And a soul. And longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question everything she believes in, and tempts her with the forbidden.
A Kingdom…
Forsaken by the gods and feared by mortals, a fallen kingdom is rising once more, determined to take back what they believe is theirs through violence and vengeance. And as the shadow of those cursed draws closer, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes blurred. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that holds her world together begins to unravel."