The Vengeful Half Postcard Promotion

Hey everyone, I'm sorry I've been out of the loop lately and way behind on my reviews, but I'm catching up by starting with a review of Crystallum that I will post just after this one! Besides that point, I am promoting The Vengeful Half by Jaclyn Dolamore that is out and available for purchase now! I will have a review up of this super exciting book soon, so don't worry, but in the mean time, this is a book you should definitely pick up.

Here is the summary on Goodreads for The Vengeful Half:
This novel contains interior comics and art by the author.

Olivia might look human, but she’s grown up with a heavy secret: her mother is a potion-maker who fled her home in a parallel world, the Hidden Lands. 

Alfred is the blind, charismatic young heir to the illegal potions trade. When Olivia's mother is kidnapped by the magic dealers with whom she once made a bad bargain, she has no choice but to trust Alfred's offer of help. They travel to a strange new world of bootlegged American pop culture, lifelike doll people, and reincarnation. Alfred finds himself putting his position on the line to defend Olivia against his family’s conniving plans. Maybe he has morals…or maybe he’s just falling in love. 

When Olivia escapes from an attack by a curiously familiar sorceress, she learns that potion dealers weren’t the only thing Mom was hiding from. Dark secrets lurk in Olivia’s past, and now Olivia must kill or be killed by the girl with whom she once shared everything

I don't know about you, but that summary has me already wanting more.

The amazing author sent me this postcard in the mail that I have been meaning to share with all of you because I love it so much!

In case you can't read the quote that well, it reads:

"He imagined what it would feel like if she touched him when she said that. Her touch must be so different from Thessia's. Everything about her was a little sharper. He didn't feel like he had to dance around anything when he spoke to her..."

If this quote is any indication of what the book will be like, then I honestly can't wait to start reading! Who is Thessia? Is this a love triangle? Who is he talking about? Who is he? How completely amazing and heart wrenching is this book going to be? And can we talk about her super cute drawing that brings the setting of the quote to life?

The Vengeful Half is out now, released March 11th, and you should pick up your copy ASAP. This is the first book in a series and I can't wait to to start it.

1. When Rowan Sees the Scars on Celaena's Back

Eek! It's here! Queen of Shadows is here! (For your information, this post was written in advance because I cannot be bothered right now because I am reading this book!) With this highly anticipated fourth installment in the Throne of Glass series, comes the final fave moment from the series in our countdown.

I would like to first thank all of you for sticking it out and checking back every day to see what we over here at Cover to Cover Reviews have to say about this series. Remember, you are more than welcome to post comments! We really like hearing what you have to say! Of course, I'm sure many of you are probably not reading this as well today because, like me, you're off reading the book, but I hope you checked back after you finished!

Now. Without further adieu. The number one favorite moment from the Throne of Glass series is...the time in Heir of Fire where Rowan notices that Celaena - who is a princess - has been a slave before (internal screaming).

Now, I was a die-hard Chaol + Celaena shipper. Their being together was the only thing I wanted for two and a half books. But then I met Rowan. And ohmygod there is nothing I want more than for them to be together. Regardless of if it happens or not, I really like the relationship forming between them. They are equals on so many levels. They're both warriors and princes/princesses. They each have such a hard head and are completely stubborn, but are willing to die for the people they love and care about.

While there are plenty of more moments in Heir of Fire where Rowan and Celaena cause me to go into fangirl mode, this moment was the one that kicked it all off. Rowan has been constantly teasing and harassing Celaena for being a princess and spoiled. And I really hated him for it for the longest period of time because I knew what she'd been through since I was basically there for it. But then he sees her back. All those scars. And everything between them is forever changed.

It was such an intimate moment that I felt almost strange for witnessing, but that was the beauty in it. This is my favorite moment because it was raw and defining. It's starting so much that I wish Sarah J. Maas would just send me all of her plans for the series so I just know. It sparks want in readers and hope in the story.

Queen of Shadows goes on sale today! So make sure you have your copy, if you don't already!.

2. When Celaena Decided to Stay and Fight in Heir of Fire

We're down to the top two! And the number two spot goes to the point in Heir of Fire where Celaena fights as the compound is getting raided, but she does it by using her magic and nearly killing herself.

I really love this particular scene because it really shows her newfound character in this story. She hates her magic. She hates the fae side of herself, but here she is, embracing it, for the safety of the people inside the walls of the compound.

This entire book is extremely important to the story for many reasons. The entire story is taking a completely different turn by bringing in magic and Rowan (hello, dreamboat) and we get to see all of these things affecting our beloved protagonist as she transforms from Adarlan's Assassin to the hero, and rising queen, she was born to be.

I am so incredibly excited for the release tomorrow! Number 1 on the countdown will be shared with you then, and remember to get your copy of Queen of Shadows as soon as it goes on sale! I have a feeling this installment is not one to be missed!

3. When Celaena and Chaol Finally Ended Up Together

Eek! We're so close to the release day, I can almost feel the book in my hands! Queen of Shadows is about to grace our hands! Just a few more days, people! Technically two, if you don't want to count today. And as we're approaching that lovely release day, we have finally hit my top three favorite moments from the series.

Today on the countdown is dedicated to that moment in Crown of Midnight, I believe, where Celaena and Chaol finally end up together, which up until this point has all been under the radar and neither of them ever admitted it. So, yes, I practically screamed when I read that scene, if you know what I'm talking about.

This made this list, and I wish I had some profound reasoning, but really I was shipping them from the first chapter of the first book and was so excited. Of course, I kind of change my tune later on, but you'll get that news on September first.

Anyways, this was the moment all those on Team Chaol literally lost it and screamed. Yes, I am still screaming. Of course life had to go and complicate their relationship and now I'm not sure which boat I'm shipping, but I do know that this moment really made me happy.

Check back tomorrow for number two on the countdown and be sure to by your copy of Queen of Shadows on September 1st if you haven't preordered it already.

4. That Moment We Realize Celaena isn't Really Working for the King

Number four on the countdown to the Queen of Shadows release is the moment in Crown of Midnight  when we see that Celaena isn't really killing all the people the king is sending her out to murder. She's helping them escape and fake their death.

Celaena is Adarlan's Assassin. She's renown for her skill, her killings, and her dramatics. She's incredibly talented and she has killed before. One would figure that several more deaths on her hands wouldn't be too much of a problem for her. All she has to do is kill these people and move on with her life after four years. But she's not! Instead, she's saving them. She's giving them a chance at life and to get away.

This speaks volumes to Celaena's character, which is why this moment made the countdown. I remember squealing in delight and pride for this character that I have grown so attached to. There starts to be this detachment from Adarlan's Assassin and Celaena Sardothien. The girl that existed before Endovier seems to be gone or going. She's growing as a person. And it's still mind-boggling that she's so young, yet that means that growth is expected for her character. The person she is now, is probably not who she's going to be in the far future.

Check back tomorrow for number three on the countdown! And remember to get your copy of Queen of Shadows September 1st!

5. When Celaena becomes the King's Champion

Sorry this post is a little late, guys! But number five on the countdown goes to the end of Throne of Glass when Celaena wins the competition and becomes the King's Champion!

This moment was so important. Notice, she wasn't ecstatic about winning. It's no fun to win when everyone else dies. The competition put a real strain on her, plus she absolutely hates the king for what he has done to her family. He's her sworn enemy, yet she has just won a competition that puts her at his feet. But she does it not for the honor of winning, but because after four years she will be free from him. And that's all she's ever wanted.

I like this scene because it is crucial to the series plot development. And of course, as a reader, I get this weird feeling in my chest at the end when I realize what she's going to have to be doing and all the many levels that are associated with the simplicity of winning a tournament.

Check back until the Queen of Shadows release to see the official Cover to Cover Reviews' favorite moments from the series!

Queen of Shadows is available September first!

6. Celaena's Flashback to When She Totally Lost It

Number six on the countdown to Sarah J. Maas' Queen of Shadows release day is the time where we get a flashback to the infamous day in Endovier where Celaena hit her breaking point.

Celaena is probably the most interesting character I've ever read about. She's an assassin, who's actually a good person, but is completely strong and her own person. Let's not remember the times when YA heroines were completely dependent. And it's hard to when Maas has created characters like Celaena.

But so far in the story we've only seen the Celaena that has tried to put her past behind her. She doesn't think or talk much about her times in Endovier unless she's bragging about how she made it to the wall in an escape attempt when most don't. There's this mythical day that Celaena really pushes down and I was incredibly curious about what happened that day. But when we finally get insight into that day, it was more than I expected.

In this flashback, probably one of the most important flashbacks in the entire series, Celaena had broke. She killed plenty and tried to escape, but if you were to analyze this section of the book, you'd ask if she was really trying to escape, or if she wanted to get caught. Celaena was ruthless and readers got to see the darkest side of her that she has been trying to hide since Throne of Glass opened up.

Celeana is incredible at putting on a face and trying to be this tough person. And for the longest time, readers believed she could do no wrong. Even her mistakes were admirable. But then we get this flashback and suddenly everything is different. Sadder. It's not that we start to see Celaena any differently, but there is a definite newfound respect for her that grows after this scene.

Not only is it crucial to the storyline, but it's crucial to Celaena's character development and for that it has become one of my favorite moments in the series, even though it's not as bright and cheery as some of the other scenes.

Remember to check back tomorrow for number 5 on the countdown and get your copy of Queen of Shadows available September 1st!

7. When Celaena First Meets Chaol and Dorian

And the countdown to Queen of Shadows begins!

Today, I am sharing with you one of my favorite moments from the series as part of Cover to Cover Reviews's countdown to the Queen of Shadows's release!

**Warning! Potential Spoilers**

Now this moment comes from the first book and happens literally right away. Mainly, I like this because it sets us up for a very interesting love-triangle, yet we don't really know it, yet (we have our suspicions, however). We get to know Celaena and Chaol and Dorian more than just their names. We start to see dynamics between them forming, plus Celeana is completely badass in this scene as she always is. For me, meeting this people in this moment, just opened the doors to this beautiful story, so how could I not put it on the list!

Check back tomorrow for #6 on the countdown and feel free to share in the comments some of your favorite moments from the Throne of Glass series.

Queen of Shadows is on sale September 1st 2015!