Hello everyone! Today I'm participating in the creative blog tour for First We Were IV by Alexandra Sirowy! I'm going to be sharing a nail art look that I think would go wonderfully with this book!

But first, a little about the book! :)

First We Were IV by Alexandra Sirowy

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers

Publication Date: July 25th, 2017

Add it on Goodreads!

Buy Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository 

Synopsis:

A group of friends start a secret society in this out-of-control thriller from the author of The Telling and The Creeping that examines the all-consuming love of lifelong friendship—and what someone is capable of when they’re afraid of losing it.

Izzie loves nothing more than her three best friends, Viv, Graham, and Harry, and the bond the four of them share. And she’s terrified of their friendship falling apart next year when they go off to college. To bind them together, she decides to create that will belong only to them, a special thing that they’ll always share between the four of them. And so they dream up the Order of IV, a secret society devoted to mischief that rights wrongs and pays back debts. At first, it works like a charm—but when the Order of IV’s escapades get recognition beyond their wildest expectations, other people start wanting in. And soon, what started as a game of friendship is spiraling into something dangerous and beyond their control—and before it’s over, they’ll pay the ultimate sacrifice.

My nail art idea was entirely inspired by the cover of this book. I have not gotten a chance to read it yet, but I'm excited to because it sounds really awesome!

When I first looked at the cover, it made me think of stars and outer space. So I thought that clearly, the nail art look for this book would be a galaxy nail!!

I have never really been one to be super artsy with my nails, so I took to Pinterest to find a tutorial for a galaxy nail and ended up stumbling across one in nearly perfect colors for this book cover!

Which is actually perfect BECAUSE I totally thought I could do this to my own nails, but I was very wrong. I am apparently not as talented as I gave myself credit for.

So I will let this video by Kelli Marissa from Youtube show you how to do this.

What you'll need:

Base Coat
Black Nail Polish
Dark Purple Nail Polish
Lavender Nail Polish
A Sparkly Nail Polish
White Nail Polish
Top Coat

Also, you'll need a make up sponge!

I feel like if you were to add another layer of color in there with a purple that is more... mauve-y (??) and spread out the galaxy more, it would end up looking more like the cover of the book!
And also, I am a fan of the accent nail. I like to paint my ring fingernails a little bit differently sometimes. Whether it's with a different color or glitter or crackle nail polish. Whatever. I think it's fun!
So I was thinking maybe it would be cool to accent one fingernail by painting on a IV.
I wish I could paint mine to show you, but besides the fact that my attempt looked HORRIBLE, I don't even have cute fingernails to demonstrate on like this girl does. Mine are all peeling and broken from tapping on a computer screen all day at work. :(

If you are feeling creative, why don't you test out this look and show me on Twitter? :)

About the Author:

Alexandra Sirowy is the author of the young adult thrillers THE CREEPING, the Bram Stoker Award® Nominated THE TELLING, and the upcoming FIRST WE WERE IV. Alexandra attended a women's college as an undergrad and received her graduate degree in International Studies. When she isn't writing, she loves to travel, read, eat, and get into mischief. She lives with her husband in Northern California.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

Schedule:

Week 1

March 27: Brittany's Book Rambles - Intro Post + Excerpt

March 28: YA and Wine - Most Mischievous YA Characters

March 29: Rattle the Pages - Nail Art

March 30: Book Nerd Addict - Inventing A Secret Society

March 31: Fables Library - YA Books with Secret Societies

Week 2

April 3: Emily Reads Everything - Fancast

April 4: The Eater of Books - History of Secret Societies

April 5: It Starts At Midnight - Author Guest Post: FIRST WE WERE IV vs. Alexandra's Previous Books

April 6: BookCatPin - Mystery YA List

April 7: A Book and a Cup of Coffee - Moodboard

Week 3

April 10: The Book Buzz - YA Thrillers You Need to Know About

April 11: The Candid Cover - Bookworm Initiation Quiz

April 12: Girl in the Pages - Book Recs for First We Were IV Characters

April 13: Stories and Sweeties - Author Guest Post - Story Behind the Title

April 14: Little Lillie Reads - Playlist

Week 4

April 17: Literary Legionnaire - Favorite Quotes

April 18: Chapter by Chapter - Author Guest Post: Secret Society Initiation Rituals

April 19: Tales of the Ravenous Reader - Secret Societies You Never Knew Existed

April 20: YA Book Central - Author Guest Post:  3 Favorite Books About Secret Societies

April 21: The Bookish Feels - Author's March Favorites

Week 5

April 24: Waiting For Wentworth - Author Guest Post: Secret Society Rules

April 25: The Reader and the Chef - Book Inspired-Recipe

April 26: Forever Lost in Literature - Author Guest Post: What We Do For Friendship

April 27: Flying Through Fiction - Favorite YA Friendships

April 28: One Way or an Author - Phone Wallpapers

Giveaway:

One signed ARC of First We Were IV.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you read First We Were IV yet? What did you think of it? Do you have any other good ideas for nail art for this book?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Girl with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting for...

The Girl with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke

The Balloonmakers #1

Publisher: Albert Whitman

Publication Date: September 1st, 2017

Pages: 256

Add it on Goodreads!

Summary (from Goodreads):

When sixteen-year-old Ellie Baum accidentally time-travels via red balloon to 1988 East Berlin, she’s caught up in a conspiracy of history and magic. She meets members of an underground guild in East Berlin who use balloons and magic to help people escape over the Wall—but even to the balloon makers, Ellie’s time travel is a mystery. When it becomes clear that someone is using dark magic to change history, Ellie must risk everything—including her only way home—to stop the process.

I am all about this time travel novel and that pretty font on this cover.

What book are you looking forward to this week? Are you excited for The Girl with the Red Balloon?

Review: Frostblood by Elly Blake

Frostblood by Elly Blake

Frostblood Saga #1

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: January 10th, 2017

Rating: 4 Stars

Source: Audible

Format: Audiobook

Pages: 376

Add it on Goodreads!

Summary (from Goodreads):

The frost king will burn.

Seventeen-year-old Ruby is a Fireblood who has concealed her powers of heat and flame from the cruel Frostblood ruling class her entire life. But when her mother is killed trying to protect her, and rebel Frostbloods demand her help to overthrow their bloodthirsty king, she agrees to come out of hiding, desperate to have her revenge.

Despite her unpredictable abilities, Ruby trains with the rebels and the infuriating—yet irresistible—Arcus, who seems to think of her as nothing more than a weapon. But before they can take action, Ruby is captured and forced to compete in the king’s tournaments that pit Fireblood prisoners against Frostblood champions. Now she has only one chance to destroy the maniacal ruler who has taken everything from her—and from the icy young man she has come to love.

What I liked:

First of all, I quite liked our main character, Ruby, who is a Fireblood. She had been living a life of relative peace in a little village with her mother, who was a healer, when the Frost King's army came and killed her mother and threw her in a cell. Then after having been in there for months, she is rescued by two Frostbloods who need her help to take care of the Frost King.

I like how when Ruby finds herself in this situation, she has what I felt was a relatively realistic war going on in her head over what to do. She doesn't necessarily just accept her mission as what she has to do. She wants to avenge her mother, but this mission could go wrong and she doesn't have any allegiances to anyone anymore.

I like how Ruby, being a Fireblood, is described as being more open with her feelings. Her feelings run hotter or something like that. And Frostbloods are more cold, they hold their feelings in, they aren't as free with them.

I liked Arcus, the mysterious, hooded love interest. He is kinda frosty with Ruby at first and they don't seem to like each other, but eventually they grow on each other and he begins to wish that they could find some other way to accomplish their goal without having to risk Ruby's life. I liked how he was kind of.... vulnerable? I don't know if that's the word I want, but he wears his hood for a reason and he's not just all macho and nothing-bothers-me-because-I'm-a-Tough-Guy.

The monks were a really fun group. After being rescued from the prison, Ruby is taken to an abbey full of monks to recover, train, and learn to control her powers. The main two monks you meet are Brother Thistle and Brother Gamut (sorry if those are spelled wrong, I don't know how to spell them for sure!). Brother Gamut is the abbey's healer. He's always so kind to Ruby.

Brother Thistle is the main one in charge of Ruby's training. I like that he doesn't approach it as 'oh, she's so wonderful, she can do no wrong.' He gets irritated with her for the dumb stuff she does and doesn't just blow it off. I liked that about him.

I also really liked the romance. Ruby and Arcus are complete opposites, just like their fire and ice powers. Ruby is a lot more passionate, Arcus is a lot more closed off. I felt like it was kind of a hate-to-love romance. They really don't get along right away and kind of have to grow on each other. And I love how when Ruby started to realize she was developing feelings for Arcus, she got kind of bold and flirty.

What I didn't like:

I understand that this book is about elemental magic. It's kind of an important part of the book, obviously. But I started to get sick of the near constant mentions of things being hot and cold. Not only when they're talking about their powers either. It wasn't something that bothered me a whole lot, but towards the end I just wanted to shout, "I GET IT ALREADY!"

Another thing that bugged me was the fact that Ruby kept admiring the Frost King's looks. She basically said he's pretty, too bad he's a bad dude. Along with the fact that the Frost King seems like he kind of has eyes for her, it made me think that the romance was gonna be triangular in shape for awhile. But no worries, it's not. But for real, don't romanticize the guy that's exterminating your people, Ruby!!

The final thing that bothered me was the obscene amount of page time spent describing Arcus's eyes. How they were so many different blues and how much Ruby loved seeing them. And how it made her sad when he wore his hood and she couldn't see them. I didn't know that there were so many different ways that you could describe ONE SET OF EYES!

Overall, I really enjoyed Frostblood and I'm excited for Fireblood to come out next year! I really want more of Ruby and Arcus!

Have you read Frostblood? What did you think of it?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Rattled Bones by Shannon M. Parker

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting for...

The Rattled Bones by Shannon M. Parker

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Publication Date: August 22nd, 2017

Pages: 304

Add it on Goodreads!

Summary (from Goodreads):

Unearthing years of buried secrets, Rilla Brae is haunted by ghostly visions tied to the tainted history of a mysterious island in this haunting novel from the author of The Girl Who Fell.

Maine-bred, independent Rilla Brae is no stranger to the deep. She knows the rhythms of hard work and harder seas. But when she experiences the sudden death of her father, the veil between the living and the dead blurs and she begins to be haunted by a girl on a nearby, uninhabited island. The girl floats a song over the waves, and it is as beautiful as it is terrifying. Familiar and distant.

Then Rilla meets Sam, a University of Southern Maine archeology student tasked with excavating the very island where the ghostly girl has appeared. Sam sifts the earth looking for the cultural remains of an island people who were forcibly evicted by the state nearly a hundred years ago. Sam tells Rilla the island has a history no locals talk about—if they know about it at all—due to the shame the events brought to the working waterfront community. All Rilla knows for sure is that the island has always been there—an eerie presence anchored in the stormy sea. Now Sam’s work and the ghostly girl’s song lure Rilla to the island’s shores.

As Rilla helps Sam to unearth the island’s many secrets, Rilla’s visions grow—until the two discover a tragedy kept silent for years. And it’s a tragedy that has everything to do with Rilla’s past.

This book sounds eerie and amazing and I can't wait for it! Is it August yet?

What book are you looking forward to this week? Are you excited for The Rattled Bones?

Review: The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

The Bone Witch #1

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Publication Date: March 7th, 2017

Rating: 4 Stars

Source: Audible

Format: Audiobook

Pages: 400

Add it on Goodreads!

Summary (from Goodreads):

The beast raged; it punctured the air with its spite. But the girl was fiercer.

Tea is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy makes her a bone witch, who are feared and ostracized in the kingdom. For theirs is a powerful, elemental magic that can reach beyond the boundaries of the living—and of the human.

Great power comes at a price, forcing Tea to leave her homeland to train under the guidance of an older, wiser bone witch. There, Tea puts all of her energy into becoming an asha, learning to control her elemental magic and those beasts who will submit by no other force. And Tea must be strong—stronger than she even believes possible. Because war is brewing in the eight kingdoms, war that will threaten the sovereignty of her homeland…and threaten the very survival of those she loves.

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I just waited so long to read it that I just decided to get it as an audiobook and listen to it.**

Since I listened to this as an audiobook, I literally have no idea how to spell anything. So I am pretty much just going to apologize right here and actively try to avoid using words and names that I don't know how to spell.

The Bone Witch is told in two different points of view. The first POV that we see is of a bard, who had a dream that led him to a 17-year-old Tea. This is the present day point of view of the story where he has come to get her story about what led up to her being exiled by the asha community.

The second POV is from Tea, where she recounts her story starting from the point where she discovered that she was a bone witch by accidentally raising her brother from the dead at his funeral. She tells of her initial use of magic and the after effects and of how she came to become an asha apprentice.

Tea from her point of view and Tea from the Bard's point of view felt like two very different characters to me. Granted, Tea's POV takes place over the course of several years, starting from when she is like 10-12. I don't remember exactly how old she was. The Bard's POV takes place over only like a week and she is much older and more confident and sure of herself. She obviously goes through a LOT of growth in this book to get from point A to B, but we don't get to see all of it in this book.

I loved reading about the struggles that Tea went through as a bone witch, one of the most despised types of asha. She is so tough and handles everything as well as can be expected from someone her age, I feel. I had a hard time keeping track of how old she was in the flashbacks. I kept wanting to think that she was older than she was and it got a bit confusing for me, but that could just be a side effect of listening to an audiobook.

I really enjoyed all the relationships in this book. Especially the relationship between Tea and her brother that she brought back from the dead. It seemed like they had a pretty solid relationship while he was alive, but it was made even stronger when she brought him back.

A lot of the characters in this book I really didn't care for in the beginning. Mostly just for the reason that I didn't like most of their attitudes, not necessarily because I found anything wrong with any of them. Surprisingly, all of them grew on me over the course of the book. I really can't think of any character that I just didn't like by the end of the book. I feel like that's surprising for me.

The romance in this book was kind of a mystery throughout the whole thing. There really wasn't any romance in the book but it's mentioned that there were two people that Tea found herself crushing on. Only one of them becomes obvious in the book. During the flashback portions of the book, there really isn't any romance beyond the crush that Tea harbors for one of the two. Most of the talk of love happens in the Bard's point of view.

Despite being a little bit confusing and entirely frustrating because I WANTED TO KNOW, I really liked how the romance was done. I thought it was interesting and it kept me on my toes. But now I'm sad because the book is over and I want MORE!!

There are only two things that bugged me about this book. One was the passage of time in the flashback portions. Mostly because it confused me and it was probably and audiobook problem over a real problem with the book.

The second problem was that I just really don't understand the asha. Maybe I'll get to see more of what their purpose is in the next book, but at this point they just seem like glorified performers to me. They have all this magic and power and training at their disposal and what are they used for? To entertain paying customers at "parties". What's the point? The parties basically consisted of a group of men in a room drinking and eating and requesting certain girls to come talk to them and dance for them. Throughout the whole book, at every party, I was expecting the men to get handsy with the asha because like... they're going to a 'party' and requesting for certain girls to hang out with them in a private room? It feels like a situation where things get handsy. I did really enjoy this book and learning about the asha, but it felt like a really dumb waste of potential for such powerful people.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I need to buy myself a copy of this one because I loved it. And I want to know how to spell things. I would definitely recommend it and I absolutely need the next one because I am dying to know what happens next!

Have you read The Bone Witch? What did you think of it?!