Continue below to read the synopsis of the book and be sure to follow this link - [TOUR SCHEDULE] to check out the rest of the stops on the 'IMMORTAL CONSEQUENCES' book tour brought to you by TOPPLING STACKS TOURS, RANDOM HOUSE CHILDREN'S / DELACORTE PRESS, and I.V. MARIE!
Immortal Consequences
The Souls of Blackwood Academy #1 I.V. Marie Publisher: Delacorte Press / Random House Children's Pub Date: Jul. 29, 2025 Genre: YA Fantasy Synopsis: Six students at Blackwood Academy, an enigmatic boarding school located at the edge of the afterlife, must compete for the once-in-eternity chance to change their fate--or risk remaining stuck in purgatory forever. An unputdownable debut full of hairpin twists, shock betrayals, and world-defying love, for fans of 'The Atlas Six.' Welcome to Blackwood Academy: the legendary school located on the fringes of the afterlife. Once a pupil enters the academy’s arched gates, there is no way out . . . except for the Decennial, a once-in-a-decade celebration in which a single, worthy student is tested and given a choice: Graduate and join Blackwood’s magical elite, or cross over to the mysterious Other Side. This time, though, the rules have changed. This Decennial isn’t a celebration—it’s a competition. And there can only be one victor. Two academic archrivals, whose strange connection blurs the lines between obsession and hate. One girl driven solely by ambition, and another plagued by memories of the love she lost. And a charming playboy who never cared for anyone—until he met the academy’s newest student. Each of these six students has their own motivation to win . . . and their own secret to hide. But what none of them know? They aren’t the only ones playing Blackwood’s game. And if they lose. . . some fates are worse than death.
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About the Author:
I.V. Marie was born and raised in Miami to a Peruvian mother and Chilean father, where she acquired a penchant for afternoon cafecitos and developed an all-consuming obsession with books. Her writing ambitions began behind her grandparent’s computer, where she spent her childhood crafting spooky and fantastical short stories. When she is not writing, you can find her rock climbing or watching atmospheric YouTube videos with her dog, Mr. Darcy. She is represented by Ariele Fredman and Gwen Beal at United Talent Agency. Her debut novel, Immortal Consequences, is coming from Delacorte Press/Penguin Random House in Summer 2025.
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Fancy Meeting You Here
Julie Tieu Publisher: Avon Books Genre: Contemporary Romance Synopsis: Every single one of Elise Ngo’s close girlfriends—Rebecca, Jesse, and Beth—is getting married within the same few months, and every single one of them has asked her to be both bridesmaid and florist. Though it’s a lot for her to juggle, the work and exposure is a boon to her struggling flower shop. The stakes are high at Rebecca’s high-profile wedding, where the guests are mostly political connections of Rebecca’s parents. Desperate for the event to go off without a hitch, Elise enlists the help of an outside caterer who turns out to be Ben Yu, Rebecca’s elusive younger brother.
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'Fancy Meeting You Here' by Julie Tieu is a cute opposites attract, slow-burn rom-com about an always-the-bridesmaid floral designer and a grumpy caterer, who turns out to be one of her best friend's younger brother.
Struggling to keep her small shop afloat, Elise has been burning the candle at both ends. Both bridesmaid and florist at each of her little group of friends' weddings, she does it all herself and for a fraction of the cost.. because like any of us.. she feels guilty charging what she's worth amongst those she loves. Rebecca, Jesse, and Beth are all getting married within a few months period and Elise is the only one without any prospects, not that she's looking for them really. In the midst of one high profile wedding full of Rebecca's parents' political connections, pretty much the worst thing that can go wrong.. does. But once they think that's all behind them, something unforeseen rears its head that relationships just might not survive. I've seen some readers say things like the "execution" was weak or that the romance and tropes "felt forced," but I have to disagree. I feel like it's a decently realistic look inside a pretty typical slice of life within Asian friend groups. It does lean more into older traditions than a lot of families these days, but that doesn't change the fact it's a good representation for some. People have gotten too accustomed to 'romance' looking a certain way in media. Even these grumpy-sunshine (though I argue that it's almost grumpy-grumpier at times) stories.. readers have come to expect them to arrive in an exact structure.. like there can be no variances to account for individual or cultural differences. Even regional shifts can cause these things to differ considerably. Sure, as with all these romance books, there are little things here and there.. that are obviously massaged to move the story one direction or another. A bit of intentional drama to create some gravity and strife or some sensationalized graveling to make up for mistakes that aren't necessarily even mistakes, despite another character's reaction to them. But all that in mind, it's all much more well-moderated than most. Elise is one of the most relatable main character's I have seen in awhile. Her relationships, her friends, even her back and forth, will they or won't they.. with Ben.. is believable. While on paper they may look just like tropes, I've also seen most of them in actual friend groups I've had over the years. The dynamic can sometimes be strained, but people who care about each other.. often find a way forward. Overall, I thought it was a fun read with some emotional moments. I look forward to trying another Julie Tieu novel in the future and I applaud her subtle hand when it comes to a mix of real body types amongst a group of women who neither shame, nor make specific issue of the others. It's about who they are, not necessarily how they look or how much money they have. Sometimes real friendship crosses those divides seamlessly. 
Horus Rising
The Horus Heresy #1 Warhammer 40k Dan Abnett Publisher: Games Workshop Genre: Sci-Fi/Space Opera Synopsis: Under the benevolent leadership of the Immortal Emperor, the Imperium of Man has stretched out across the galaxy. On the eve of victory, the Emperor leaves the front lines, entrusting the great crusade to his favorite son, Horus. Promoted to Warmaster, the idealistic Horus tries to carry out the Emperor's grand design, all the while the seeds of heresy and rebellion have been sowed amongst his brothers. (Reviewer's Note: The synopsis severely undersells the story, so if you're even remotely interested.. please give it a try.)
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'Horus Rising (The Horus Heresy #1)' by Dan Abnett follows the path of Horus. Favored son of the benevolent Immortal Emperor of the Imperium of Man (beloved by all), Horus has been entrusted to lead the great crusade as his father returns to Terra.
Though his official title is Warmaster, Horus is at his core both a warrior and an idealist. While his tactical brilliance both in affairs of battle and diplomacy seem to have no equal, he's also the sole will of the Emperor, ultimately responsible for every aspect of the crusade his father once led. He's expected to act as the Emperor would act, but entirely on his own with no oversight from his father.. simply by interpreting on his own and making the right decisions. Heavy is the mantle. The story here is told from the perspective of Gavriel Loken. Another highly-skilled, decorated warrior.. Loken through unimaginable feats, is elevated to a position in Horus' direct orbit. He becomes privy to intricate diplomatic movements and finds himself in a battle below the surface of the crusade. A war encroaching on the Imperium, not from the multitudes of military actions he's accustomed to, but something more sinister. Over the years, I've read a handful of standalone Black Library titles and each of them has been extraordinary. The storytelling seems to hail from a time mostly gone by.. of rich texturing and a cautious unraveling of details. Not too slow, not too fast.. no massive information dumps, no twists simply for the sake of adding them. Everything in its place with perfect intention. This book is much the same. I had been wanting to give the core Warhammer 40k world a try for some time, but I was worried that it might be too dry for me. I love a good epic sci-fi/fantasy read, but managing that balance between the depth of information and world building with synchromatic story progression at a pace that will keep me interested.. can be challenging. There's a point where an author can get so caught up in their creation, that it becomes the main focus and the story gets sort of.. buried beneath it. Turns out though, I didn't need to worry. While Abnett is violently creative in his world building, it never once bogs down the story. Each alien world.. every unfathomable enemy.. all the machines of war.. be they sentient or not.. is a stitch in the overall mosaic of words. He paints these foreign concepts with the visual clarity of a master, yet manages to avoid the pitfalls of overwhelming the reader with the sheer amount delivered at once by drawing them out across his scenes. Gone too, from the more median samplings within the epic sci-fi/fantasy books, is that sense of aloofness. I find authors in this genre often fail to connect the reader with the characters in their stories. It's a challenge, certainly.. to transport the reader to a wholly exotic world while keeping it relatable. Those connections have to come in universal forms of feeling, the things we can really understand. Abnett gives us all of that. He doesn't simply tell us there's comraderie amongst the Astartes, he teaches us brotherhood through our experiences with them. He doesn't tell us our Warmaster is a thinking, feeling warrior who's willing to adapt even his basest instincts to make the right decisions for the good of the Imperium he's responsible for.. he exposes us to his nature and bares the.. dare I say it.. humanity.. of his immortal identity. What a beautifully crafted story. I cannot wait to continue this series. |
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