Hello friends! I have the great privilege of being part of Katie Zhao's street team Sinclair Students in preparation for the release of her YA Dark Academia novel How We Fall Apart which releases on August 3! For this week's assignment, we were instructed to create a playlist that best suits the book. Sara (@sarancwrites) create a k-pop inspired playlist and I was immeadiately inspired to create my own. Since I typically only listened to girl groups, I had a lot of fun choosing these songs!

ICYMI - check out the amazing preorder incentives for How We Fall Apart and don't forget to submit your receipts!!

save me, save you - wjsn

This was the song that actually inspired this post because the aesthetics just take dark academia and add in a little bit of fairytale flair. The school setting of the music video also fits the mysterious vibe of the novel and the lyrics themselves also have a haunting message.

monster - irene & seulgi

The aesthetics and lyrics perfectly capture the hidden "monster" that guaranteed lives within each Sinclair student - I mean, you have to decide what lengths you will go to be the top student and that ambition definitely brings out the little monster inside.

black dress - clc

Will I take any excuse to put a CLC song in a playlist because CUBE is trash to them? (yes) But also this song is sophistication and empowerment and is almost as untouchable as Jamie Ruan. Just watch the music video and tell me you don't feel the ~power~. 

lion - g-(idle)

If Sinclair Prep had a royal court theme this song would be played and over again. This can also be a Jamie Ruan anthem because she was the top of the school, the lion you could say until her untimely death.

new me - wjsn

Another WJSN song because their recent concepts have been *chef's kiss.* New Me is all about become a more alluring version of yourself and being free from the controlling past. I feel like Nancy could easily adopt this as an anthem, maybe take the chance with Jamie out of the game to become the top student at Sinclair Prep.

russian roulette - red velvet

This entire concept is all about sabotaging each other and maintaining a cheerful façade while doing so. If Sinclair Prep ever decided to choose a slightly more upbeat school anthem, Russian Roulette could definitely be a contestant. 

better me - gfriend sowon x umji

I'm still a little emo over Gfriend's disbandment so I'm ending this playlist with one of my favorites: this song is all about a better version of yourself. One lyric translates to "flowers bloom in different seasons, it's your time now" and I just imagine Nancy listening to these lyrics to reassure herself when all the rumors start getting overwhelming.

This was so much fun to create and I honestly have so many more songs to add so I might do a part two closer or after release day! Be sure to pick up How We Fall Apart (out August 3rd) and take advantage of the amazing pre-order incentive! 

What are some songs that come to mind when you think of Sinclair Prep?

Author: Robert Beatty

Pub. Date: May 4, 2021

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 384

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Young nightspirit Willa discovers an ancient, powerful magic deep in the forest in the enchanting companion to Robert Beatty's instant #1 New York Times best-seller, Willa of the Wood.

This enchanting companion to Robert Beatty's instant #1 New York Times bestseller Willa of the Wood is perfect for any reader who cares deeply about the natural world. 

Willa and her clan are the last of the Faeran, an ancient race of forest people who have lived in the Great Smoky Mountains for as long as the trees have grown there. But as crews of newly arrived humans start cutting down great swaths of the forest she loves, she is helpless to stop them. How can she fight the destroyers of the forest and their powerful machines?

When Willa discovers a mysterious dark hollow filled with strange and beautiful creatures, she comes to realize that it contains a terrifying force that seems to be hunting humans. Is unleashing these dangerous spirits the key to stopping the loggers? Willa must find a way to save the people and animals she loves and take a stand against a consuming darkness that threatens to destroy her world.

Grab the first book WILLA OF THE WOOD now!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robert Beatty is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Serafina series and the Willa of the Wood series published by Disney Hyperion. Loved by young readers and adults alike, the Serafina and Willa books are being taught in over a thousand classrooms nationwide and have been translated into over 22 languages. Robert lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina with his wife and three daughters. He writes full-time now, but in his past lives, Robert was one of the early pioneers of cloud computing, the founder/CEO of Plex Systems, the co-founder of Beatty Robotics, and the chairman/CTO of Narrative magazine. In 2007, he was named an Entrepreneur of the Year. When asked about the inspiration for his books, Robert said, “The Serafina and Willa books grew out of my desire to write stories about unusual and heroic young girls for my three daughters."

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a finished copy of WILLA OF DARK HOLLOW, US Only.

"Alone is an island. It's an uncrossable sea, being too far from another soul, whereas lonely is being too close, in the same house yet separated by walls because we choose to be."

    isbn: 978-1250258564 | pages: 384 
    publication date: May 4, 2021 | source: net-galley
    genre: ya, science-fiction, dystopian

    A M A Z O N *    |     G O O D R E A D S    |    B O O K S H O P *
B O O K D E P O S I T O R Y    |    B A R N E S A N D N O B L E S

searching for answers
The Ones We're Meant to Find is powerful, beautiful, and a sense of confusion that morphs itself into wonder. It's been a good month since I've finished this story and my brain still struggles to fully comprehend all that Joan He has packed into this novel. For a story that's set in the future where humanity has destroyed the earth and must live in floating eco-cities, its themes are incredibly timeless. Cee woke up on an abandoned island with no memory except that she needed to find her sister whereas Kasey lives in the sky and the last clue she has to her sister's disappearance is a washed-up boat. 

The ocean plays such a powerful role in its imagery throughout the novel and Joan He masterfully leaves these crumbs that slowly connect as the characters themselves are coming to their own conclusions. Reading this was one of the most immersive experiences ever because the characters' exploration of the world, the societal structure, the relationship dynamics around them, become part of your own. 

the world is falling apart
The relationship between Kasey and Cee is so dynamic that I don't think words could quite capture it fully. While Kasey is reserved and analytical, Cee is friendly and full of hope, but they are both driven by a strong sense of determination to do what they think is the right next step. Cee's character fits the more likable YA protagonist and that makes her storyline more interesting to read about at first, but Kasey's personality reflects that rational and ambitious drive that is part of every individual. As you learn more about the sisters' relationship with each other, there's almost a sense of self-discovery as the reader because you cannot leave this novel without finding something new about yourself through either Kasey or Cee's journey.

It's truly best to go in knowing as little as possible because no expectations can quite prepare you for what happens in this novel. Just keep in mind that your ideas of climate change, the future of society, the definition of loyalty to one's family - it will all be challenged and expanded.

pages: 496 | source: netgalley
publication date: April 20, 2021
genre: ya, fantasy, retelling
content warning: violence, depiction of blood

B O O K S H O P *    |    G O O D R E A D S    |    A M A Z O N *

These Feathered Flames is the first of a YA retelling of the Russian Firebird and follows two sisters who were separated at birth and raised to be the queen and the firebird. While the queen is responsible for the politics of the land, the firebird must collect from the people who use magic without proper payment. When Izaveta and Asya's mother dies of mysterious circumstances, they are reunited and must navigate the tumultuous court to solidify their power while deciding if they can trust each other. The plot delves into political intrigue, broken family dynamic, as well as understanding the balance of magic and religion in a land that's slowly falling apart.

I adore Russian folklore retellings and was sold when I heard there was an interesting sister relationship and a sapphic enemies to lovers element. These Feathered Flames is one of those stories that reminded me why I found court intrigue so fascinating. Nobody seemed trustworthy and even the sisters themselves didn't know where they stood with each other. Personally, the plot and world were more compelling to me than the characters themselves which rarely happens, but that just opens up the possibilities for the author to delve more into their development with the sequel. For a debut fantasy, this novel sets the stage for the next chapter of the story and unveils just the beginning of all that Alexandra Overy has planned for Izaveta and Asya. 

ultimate verdict: let the fire burn the traitors

pages: 465 | source: library
publication date: November 17, 2020
genre: ya, fantasy
content warning: religion, some violence

B O O K S H O P *    |    G O O D R E A D S    |    A M A Z O N *

Soulswift was one of my most anticipated releases of 2020 and I even went into the book knowing that I was probably going to cry. And I was still not prepared. In a story that explores the dedication of one's life to religion, Gelya has prepared her whole life to become a vessel for her god and finds herself running from the very people who protected her when she finds herself harboring the essence of Elath, the mother goddess (or demon as the Ovinists call her). With only an enemy solider, Tavik, on her side, Gelya has to find a way to remove Elath's spirit from her body and hopefully avoid setting her world on the path of complete destruction. 

With such a fascinating premise, Soulswift combines religious-political commentary with a classic fantasy travel story. Gelya and Tavik quickly won me over with their banter and contrasting personalities. While Gelya is more anxious and unsure, Tavik is constantly trying to find positives and lighten the atmosphere. I genuinely loved reading about their adventures and would pick up another book just to follow them around. On top of lasting characters, Megan Bannen delves into a conversation about religion's role in oppressing women and other minority groups as well as how blinding religious fervor can be of one's own downfall. This discussion is woven through Gelya's own reflection of what her religion means to her as she learns more about the different interpretations of the neighboring lands. It brings into perspective the harm of erasing other stories with the belief that there's only one right interpretation, the god is pure and the goddess is evil. 

ultimate verdict: things are not what they appear

pages: 496 | source: netgalley
publication date: March 9, 2021
genre: adult, fantasy
content warning: violence, blood, depiction of war

B O O K S H O P *    |    G O O D R E A D S    |    A M A Z O N *

The Bone Maker reminded me why I enjoyed Sarah Beth Durst's previous novels so much because the storytelling is so incredibly immersive. After the defeat of the bone maker Eklor, the heroes of Vos have retired to their separate corners in luxury, family, and madness. The story opens with Kreya, the group's leader, living in exile as she tries to revive her dead husband using illegal bone magic. When her resources are depleted, she turns to her old companions for help in obtaining the remaining bones from the war. The journey that follows reveals more about their battle against Eklor and the disturbing truth that their victory may not have completed the job.

One of the biggest highlights of this novel is the group dynamic and it was made even more endearing and special because these characters have decades of history together. I surprisingly enjoyed reading from the perspective of an older group of heroes (all in their late 30s-40s?) because they had experienced so much of life already and were now called by their own sense of duty to finish what they started. On top of the character relationships, The Bone Maker has such a fascinating magic system and for a fantasy standalone, creates such a fleshed out world for the reader. Combined together, this made the story exciting and addicting to read.

ultimate verdict: jaded warriors must save the day again

If you've read any of these books, please let me know your thoughts! Here are some links/resources to donate, support, and educate yourself on AAPI racism with the horrifying rise in hate crimes as well as in preparation for AAPI Heritage Month in May:

CARDD Resources: https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/
Stop AAPI Hate: https://stopaapihate.org/
Atlanta Shooting Fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/atlanta-area-spa-shootings-fundraisers

"Peace doesn't mean all the bad disappears. It just means finding a way to live with it. Peace is keeping the darkness at bay long enough to get through the day."

a rebellion in the afterlife

Nami was ready to experience all the excitement that comes with graduating high school when she's murdered and wakes up in Infinity. Instead of heaven and hell, the afterlife is controlled by Ophelia, the virtual assistant everyone used on Earth, who has taken over and crowned herself Queen. Humans are given a pill to live their consciousness out in blissful servitude to Ophelia and her Residents and when Nami refuses the pill, she is rescued by the rebel human Colony and joins their ranks to take back Infinity for the humans.

The Infinity Courts is a story that was fast-paced but not at the same time. The first half focuses a lot of Nami's training sequences and her internal conflict between helping the Colony's cause and wanting to believe that the Residents aren't just mindless evil villains. The conversation between right vs. wrong, of who gets to live or die, can be a bit heavy-handed at times with a lot of direct telling passages rather than letting the reader draw their own conclusions. Personally, this didn't bother me that much, but it's worth pointing out as this becomes the main source of how information is typically delivered.

who deserves to live infinitely

The component that stands out out the most is honestly Akemi Dawn Bowman's writing. Her style has quickly become one of my favorites and she once again crafts a story and a cast of characters that just feel so vivid and real. Nami's battle feels justified even if she acts irrationally at times. Her refusal to stop hoping that there could be a better solution leads her to make decisions with her heart and that quickly puts her at odds with the rest of the Colony. For a story that centers around the afterlife, Nami's character embodies what makes humanity unique and how even after death, our consciousness gives us the ability to create. 

For a book that's almost 500 pages, it didn't read that long. While the story isn't intensely action-packed, there's this feeling of high-stakes that keeps the story going. I'm so excited that this is the first in a trilogy and with how the The Infinity Courts wrapped up, I'm literally dying to see how the rest of the story unfolds.

thank you to Turn the Pages Tour for allowing me to participate on this tour! check out the rest of the amazing stops by clicking the banner!

G I V E A W A Y

Up for grabs, there are TWO (2) finished copies of The Infinity Courts by Akemi Dawn Bowman open to US residents only. The giveaway will be running from April 4th to April 12th ending at 12 AM CST. To enter, click the link above!

a b o u t    t h e    a u t h o r
Akemi Dawn Bowman is a critically acclaimed author who writes across genres. Her novels have received multiple accolades and award nominations, and her debut novel, STARFISH, was a William C. Morris Award Finalist. She has a BA in social sciences from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and currently lives in Scotland with her husband and two children. She overthinks everything, including this bio. You can find Akemi on Instagram @AkemiDawnBowman.