If you’ve been following us for some time, you may remember our monthly Pick It for Me challenges on our GoodReads group. We always had a lot of fun doing them but had to stop them some time ago. Recently, we were trying to push books on each other and decided to bring this back in a modified way. Each month one of us girls at UTC will pick a random book for another one to read. The next month, we will do a mini review and give you guys the opportunity to win one of those three books. Check out the giveaway at the end of this post! Feel free to follow along and read one of these three as well this month!
Annie’s pick for Suzanne…
BOOK INFO
Released: October 2, 2018
Series: Crown of Shards #1
Published by Harper Voyager
Pages: 480
Gladiator meets Game of Thrones: a royal woman becomes a skilled warrior to destroy her murderous cousin, avenge her family, and save her kingdom in this first entry in a dazzling fantasy epic from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental Assassin series—an enthralling tale that combines magic, murder, intrigue, adventure, and a hint of romance.
In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.
But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre.
Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of war, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own. Uncertain of her future—or if she even has one—Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.
But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself . . . and kill the queen.
Review to come on Release Day
Suzanne’s pick for Francesca…
BOOK INFO
Released: January 13th 2015
Series: Wraith Kings #1
Pages: 297
THE PRINCE OF NO VALUE
Brishen Khaskem, prince of the Kai, has lived content as the nonessential spare heir to a throne secured many times over. A trade and political alliance between the human kingdom of Gaur and the Kai kingdom of Bast-Haradis requires that he marry a Gauri woman to seal the treaty. Always a dutiful son, Brishen agrees to the marriage and discovers his bride is as ugly as he expected and more beautiful than he could have imagined.
THE NOBLEWOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE
Ildiko, niece of the Gauri king, has always known her only worth to the royal family lay in a strategic marriage. Resigned to her fate, she is horrified to learn that her intended groom isn’t just a foreign aristocrat but the younger prince of a people neither familiar nor human. Bound to her new husband, Ildiko will leave behind all she’s known to embrace a man shrouded in darkness but with a soul forged by light.
Two people brought together by the trappings of duty and politics will discover they are destined for each other, even as the powers of a hostile kingdom scheme to tear them apart.
Francesca’s pick for Annie…
BOOK INFO
Released: March 7th 2017
Series: The Embraced #1
Published by St. Martin's Paperbacks
Pages: 416
Luciana grew up on the Isle of Moon, hidden away because of her magical powers. But when her father arrives, he offers her a choice: remain on the island or return with him and marry the Beast of Benwick in order to save their legacy—and her father's life.
Lord Leofric, the Beast of Benwick, has not been touched since he was a child. Born with the power to harness lightning, he is a danger to everyone he touches. When he meets his betrothed, he expects a loveless, lonely marriage...until he discovers she's vastly more powerful than he realized. But is she strong enough to withstand his touch?
If they can survive, their love will alter the future of the kingdom. But will their extraordinary powers cost them everything?
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Great picks! I loved radiance…it was just different and exactly what I didn’t know I was looking to read. Enjoy!
I’m excited to read it!
Great choices, UTC! Read Ms. Sparks before and definitely have her new series in my TBR list. Also have one of Ms. Estep’s books in my TBR pile, too.
Hope you get a chance to read those on your TBR soon
I’ve been wanting to try the Stalking Jack the Ripper. Bummer it wasn’t your thing, Suzanne. Ooh good pick for Francesca. I just enjoyed a different Draven.. Yay that Donna Grant was a hit- another one I want read. I’m curious about the Sparks book now that you describe it, Francesca. Glad Stillhouse Lake was a hit… another on my list to read. Ooo… new series. I’ll look forward to Suzanne’s thoughts on it.
The Sparks series is a lot of fun!
kill the queen sounds good…can’t wait for release day!!
Awesome picks i have all these books on my tbr gr list!! Ty! For a chance to win one of these books!! Midnight master looks so good,that would be my pick!! Shared on all my socials!!💖😉
It’s a great PNR series I’m kicking myself for not starting it sooner.
I really enjoyed How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days. I haven’t read any books by Grace Draven or Jennifer Estep, yet.
Yes!!!!
Loved Stalking Jack the Reaper and the series! I loved Rachel Caine Morganville Vampires and look forward to read and her new series sounds good. Donna Grants books are always good! Im interested in hearing your review of Kill the Queen it sounds amazing and i LOVE the cover. I’ve read Kerrelyn Sparks paranormal series and loved her humor and hot romance. Radiance…i dont know, im on the fence if id ever try this series.
I haven’t read the old Sparks series but this new one is definitely lots of fun and great world building.
I really enjoyed How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days and I want to read Radiance. My library has Stalking Jack the Ripper and I plan to read it one of these days. Adding Midnight Masters to my wishlist since you mentioned time travel.
Yay! I wasn’t expecting the time travel element of it either.
The Estep book does look like an amazing fantasy epic!
Great picks! Loved hearing your thoughts on them. Thanks for the giveaway
Radiance looks and sounds great!
I don’t know! Gosh, I think I’d love to read all of the above. Stilhouse Lake looks amazing.
Awesome choices for this month. I’m very much excited for Kill the Queen, I enjoyed Jennifer’s Elemental Assassin series and this one sounds really good.
Thank you for a generous giveaway!!