#i knew a lot of the main cast but i was not expecting elyse

[synchroneity]

[bookaddict24-7]

FIRST CHAPTER CHALLENGE!

Ah, my last ARC TBR post before the new year! I’m so excited to continue this feature into 2019. One of the main things I’ve also learned about this challenge is being a little more careful in the ARCs I accept, request, or bring home from work. 

How many ARCs did I unhaul/read from my ARC bookcase in 2018? 

42! 

Let’s keep it going!

A gentle reminder: Just because I’ve unhauled the books in this post and in future posts, it doesn’t mean that they’re books not worth reading. They’re just not right for me. This is more of an incentive for me to free up space and give these books better homes than my basement.

Also, there might be some spoilers. If you’re interested in reading these books, tread with care.

Read my original post and how I’m going about this challenge here.

Have any of you practiced this challenge this past week?

Lies You Never Told Me by Jennifer Donaldson

Decision: Unhauled

I remember when I first got a copy of this book at an event with a friend. We talked about how this book looked interesting, but the ARC was super awkward. As you can see in the picture, this is the back of the book. The front was just an illustration, no title. Of course, this had nothing to do with my decision, but it was just...unique. I started reading the first chapter and immediately noticed that it was something really dramatic. To be honest, I might have continued reading this, but then of course, I read the synopsis. I’m not big on rumors and super dramatic books that would probably work better as TV shows. I almost kept this book, but I talked myself out of it. 

Synopsis: 

“Gabe and Elyse have never met. But they both have something to hide.

Quiet, shy Elyse can't believe it when she's cast as the lead in her Portland high school's production of Romeo and Juliet. Her best friend, Brynn, is usually the star, and Elyse isn't sure she's up to the task. But when someone at rehearsals starts to catch her eye--someone she knows she absolutely shouldn't be with--she can't help but be pulled into the spotlight. 

Austin native Gabe is contemplating the unthinkable--breaking up with Sasha, his headstrong, popular girlfriend. She's not going to let him slip through her fingers, though, and when rumors start to circulate around school, he knows she has the power to change his life forever. 

Gabe and Elyse both make the mistake of falling for the wrong person, and falling hard. Told in parallel narratives, this twisty, shocking story shows how one bad choice can lead to a spiral of unforeseen consequences that not everyone will survive.”

Julia Vanishes by Catherine Egan

Decision: Unhauled

I have heard a lot of good things about this series--granted, it was all mainly from one person. While the prologue was super interesting, I wasn’t ready for the setting of the book. Also, because this is set in a historical fantasy setting, the writing is not at all what I was expecting. The first chapter held promise, but it was slow and I just couldn’t imagine reading a whole book with that writing. Double score? I also have the sequel. 

Synopsis: 

“Julia has the unusual ability to be . . . unseen. Not invisible, exactly. Just beyond most people's senses. 

It's a dangerous trait in a city that has banned all forms of magic and drowns witches in public Cleansings. But it's a useful trait for a thief and a spy. And Julia has learned--crime pays.

Her latest job is paying very well indeed. Julia is posing as a housemaid in the grand house of Mrs. Och, where an odd assortment of characters live and work: A disgraced professor who sends her to fetch parcels containing bullets, spiders, and poison. An aristocratic houseguest who is locked in the basement each night. And a mysterious young woman who is clearly in hiding--though from what or whom?

Worse, Julia suspects that there's a connection between these people and the killer leaving a trail of bodies across the frozen city.

The more she learns, the more she wants to be done with this unnatural job. To go back to the safety of her friends and fellow thieves. But Julia is entangled in a struggle between forces more powerful than she'd ever imagined. Escape will come at a terrible price.”

A Dark Inheritance by Chris D’Lacey

Decision: Unhauled

Honestly, I started reading this and I kind of knew I wouldn’t be finishing it. This is one of the ARCs I’ve had on my bookshelves for years. This book was published in 2014 and I have an ARC. I think this might be one of my oldest ARCs. I’m sure this is a cute middle grade read for anyone in the mood for magical adventures. Normally, I’m a fan of that type of fiction, but given how long this has been on my bookshelf, I think it’s time to say goodbye.

Synopsis: 

“When Michael Malone discovers his supernatural ability to alter reality, he is recruited by an organization dedicated to investigating strange and paranormal phenomena. He joins in hopes of finding his father, who mysteriously vanished three years earlier. Michael's first task is to solve the mystery of a dog he rescued from a precarious clifftop - a mystery that leads him to a strange and sickly classmate and a young girl who was killed in a devastating accident. Stakes are high as Michael learns to harness his newfound ability and uncover the deadly truth about his father's disappearance.”

Have you read any of these three books? What were your experiences with them?

I’ll be back next week with another three picks!

Happy reading!