Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Kingdom of the Wicked
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publisher: JIMMY Patterson
Publication date: October 27, 2020
Pages: 448
Source/format: e-ARC//Publisher
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

From the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Stalking Jack the Ripper series comes a new blockbuster series…

Two sisters.

One brutal murder.

A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself…

And an intoxicating romance.

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe – witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin…desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost-even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden.

Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems…

M Y  T H O U G H T S

Nonna Maria has warned Emilia and Vittoria about the seven ruling princes of Hell and how they must stay away from the Malvagi's followers. Descended from a Goddess, through the di Carlos maternal line, Emilia and Vittoria are witches. They are known as the Daughters of the Moon. Their family is one out of 13 witch families in Palermo.

Although Emilia and Vittoria love listening to the stories of Nonna Maria, they don't take her seriously when she tells them not to go out or to be careful. The clashing of two cornicello necklaces long ago has been kept a secret between the twins for about ten years and Nonna tells the girls they must keep the amulets separate at all costs. 

Most of the novel occurs when the twins are 18-years-old. The prologue occurs when they are eight. As the Gates of Hell weaken over time, a prince of Hell emerges when he is summoned through a spell. The seven sins become the seven princes of Hell, each able to travel through different realms. It happens that Wrath travels to Palermo and Emilia becomes bond to him via a crescent moon/snake tattoo. Readers also learn more of the other princes of Hell has Emilia encounters them. 

The Kingdom of the Wicked is written in first person through Emilia's point-of-view. As Nonna tells Emilia to find forgiveness and acceptance into her her heart, Emilia wants to avenge what happened to her sister. Extroverted Vittoria has been hiding secrets from introverted Emilia and Emilia does whatever it takes to find out the truth. 

Kerri Maniscalco transports readers to an enchanting world in Palermo, Italy where witches hide in secret and dangerous demons roam. Maniscalco's intriguing and atmospheric descriptions tantalizes all the senses. Not only is there mystery in the air but I enjoy reading about Emilia's love for food and the family's trattoria, Sea and Vine. If you love fantasy books with descriptions of food, this is the one to pick up. Not only is Kingdom of the Wicked full of magic, witches, demons and food, but a strong family bond is vital.

I find the notion of turning each of the seven sins into a prince of Hell fascinating and creative. The way Maniscalco describes each prince physical descriptions and their actions is perfect! She captured each sin within an entity. However, the dialogue between Wrath and Emilia seems forced at times and sometimes unrealistic.

Although Kingdom of the Wicked is a fantasy novel, Maniscalco infused her Italian heritage and a family restaurant into this novel. It's great to see how her family lives within the pages of the Kingdom of the Wicked and how her family is an inspiration for the creation of the book. I cannot wait to pick up the next book in the series. I highly suggest this novel to readers who enjoy the Caraval trilogy by Stephanie Garber and All that Glitters (Enchantée) by Gita Trelease.

 

"Magic is a living, breathing entity; it thrives on the energy you give it. Like all forces of nature, it is neither good nor bad - it simply becomes based on the user's intent. Feed it love and it blossoms and grows. Nourish it with hate and it will deliver hate back to you tenfold." - Notes from the di Carlo grimoire

"Nightmares didn't last forever. I just had to make it through the night."

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan

Title: Girls of Paper and Fire
Author: Natasha Ngan
Publisher: Jimmy Paterson Books
Publication date: November 6, 2018
Pages: 336
Source/format: ARC//Emma from Miss Print

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

Each year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. It's the highest honor they could hope for...and the most cruel.

But this year, there's a ninth girl. And instead of paper, she's made of fire.

In this lush fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most oppressed class in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards still haunts her. Now, the guards are back, and this time it's Lei they're after--the girl whose golden eyes have piqued the king's interest.

Over weeks of training in the opulent but stifling palace, Lei and eight other girls learn the skills and charm that befit being a king's consort. But Lei isn't content to watch her fate consume her. Instead, she does the unthinkable--she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens the very foundation of Ikhara, and Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide just how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge.

TW: violence and sexual abuse.

M Y  T H O U G H T S

Chosen to be the ninth Paper Girl to serve the Demon Bull King of Ikhara, Lei wants to keep Baba and Tien safe. While questioning her own identity, Lei learns more about what what happened to her mother and she develops feelings for someone at the Court. However, she must be careful of her actions since it will lead herself to be killed and/or her family will be endangered.

Natasha Ngan weaves Asian elements within an engaging fantasy.  Ngan's world building is impressive. The map provided in the front of the novel is very helpful to picture the many areas of The Hidden Palace. Humans and demons make up Ikhara with the demon Moon caste at the top, the hybrid Steel caste in the middle and the human Paper caste at the bottom. Ngan was inspired to create these casts due to her mixed ethnicity. She wanted to write a novel that incorporated different cultures.

The forbidden love between Lei and another female is a secret that only the couple and the reader knows about. If their relationship is known to others at the palace, their lives will be at stake since Paper Girls are concubines who only to serve the Demon King. Friendships are made at the palace and each girl has her own unique personality and is set apart from each other. Usually with so many characters in a book, it's very hard to keep up with who is who but Ngan mastered incorporating an abundance of characters but making sure each person is memorable.

Lei's fiery and confident personality is engulfing. With her golden eyes, she is a ravishing beautiful young lady as she is smart. She advocates for what is right. Lei grows from when she steps foot into the palace to the end of the book. She tries to appease others at first but soon realizes that she cannot deny that fact things are not okay. Lei gains the courage to stand up to the Demon King and to say no to his advances. Although she is heavily punished for her actions, she inspires others to take a stand to say no to things they are being forced to do. Instead of normalizing the dominating and sexual advances, Lei single action shows how people can be strong and to say no. There is much power in saying no.

Girls of Paper and Fire is a mesmerizing novel that will sweep you off your feet. The novel is the first in a series. Warning: there are instances of oppressive violence, death, and sexual abuse that may be triggers for some readers.

Twelve Steps to Normal by Farrah Penn

Title: Twelve Steps to Normal
Author: Farrah Penn
Publisher: JIMMY Patterson Presents
Publication date: March 13, 2018
Pages: 384
Source/format: Publisher provided finished copy

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

James Patterson presents this emotionally resonant novel that shows that while some broken things can't be put back exactly the way they were, they can be repaired and made even stronger.

Kira's Twelve Steps To A Normal Life

1. Accept Grams is gone.
2. Learn to forgive Dad.
3. Steal back ex-boyfriend from best friend...

And somewhere between 1 and 12, realize that when your parent's an alcoholic, there's no such thing as "normal."
When Kira's father enters rehab, she's forced to leave everything behind--her home, her best friends, her boyfriend...everything she loves. Now her father's sober (again) and Kira is returning home, determined to get her life back to normal...exactly as it was before she was sent away.

But is that what Kira really wants?

M Y  T H O U G H T S

"Sometimes you have to take a step back. Let someone else help out." "You always have to forgive your own mistakes. Otherwise they'll eat you alive."- Twelve Steps to Normal by Farrah Penn

Kira Seneca moved from Cedarville, TX to Portland, OR to live with her Aunt June when her father was at the Sober Living Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Center. However, her father is being released from the rehab center and her aunt thinks it's best to return back home. Kira didn't expect her father to invite three of his recovering alcoholic friends to stay with them until they got back on their feet.

Kira has had a complex life ever since she was born. Her parents had her during or after senior year of college. Her mother served jail time for selling drugs and wasn't in Kira's life. However, Kira had her father and her Grams in her life until Grams passed away. Kira didn't expect her father to let Nonnie, Peach and Saylor to live with them after being released from rehab and it took awhile for Kira to accept her dad's friends in her life. I guess it's because Kira wanted everything to return to normal. 

Farrah Penn tackles difficult situations that some teens have to deal with on a daily basis from mourning the loss of a love one to a parent battling alcoholism to a friend dating their ex to even rekindling a friendship. Kira copes with her life by creating Kira's 12 Steps to a Normal Life list. Each step involves a certain significant person in Kira's life. The character growth in this novel is fantastic considering that Penn doesn't focus on the character growth only for the main character, Kira. Penn expands the character growth exponentially for many of the characters in Twelve Steps to Normal. I am one for character growth and how each character learns to grow and becomes a better person because of the positive influences of each other.

Whitney, Raegan and Lin are Kira's best friends. At first Kira was super excited to see them again but she noticed Lin acting a bit strange. This is when Kira finds out that one of her best friends is now dating her ex-boyfriend, Jay. The friendships have been different with each lady but they are unique in their own way. What I loved was when Kira rekindles her friendship with Alex. That alone throughout the book was something that Kira can find solace in when she was dealing with what life has to throw at her. From nostalgic starburst wrapper notes to sharing slurpees at the 7 Eleven, Kira and Alex need each other. Even though Kira didn't know it at first, she slowly falls for Alex. The romance isn't overdone and it doesn't overpower the main premise of the plot.

Twelve Steps to Normal is a multi-layered novel with authentic, flawed and relatable characters. Kira's emotional yet significant journey is a journey where she grows, learns to forgive and learns to become a better person.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Title: The Cruel Prince
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date: January 2, 2018
Pages: 384
Source/format: From Nicole of The BookBandit Blog // ARC

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

M Y  T H O U G H T S

Jude lives with her parents and her twin sister, Taryn, and her older sister, Vivienne until that one day when a man came to their house. In a swift minute, Jude and her sisters become parentless and forced to leave what they called home.

What Jude doesn't know is that Vivienne has a different father than her and Taryn. In fact, Vivienne's father is Madoc the Redcap. Off the children go to live in the faerie world with Madoc. They are raised among the faerie royal court and they learn more abut the faerie customs They are introduced to the important faeries of the land. One of them is a cruel prince named Cardan.

Holly Black starts off The Cruel Prince strong. Usually I have a hard time getting into her faerie books but this time she hooked me from the first page. She describes characters and scenery with so much detail.You can feel the emotions so well! Holly's beautiful writing is exuberant!

The writing builds up slowly and it's worth the wait to find out what's going to happen next. I love Jude! You can really relate to her. She is a flawed character wanting to belong among the faeries. Unlike Vivienne, Jude enjoys living in the faerie land. It was a little bit hard for me to remember the names of all the faeries but it didn't take away from the plot of the book.

With faerie politics, manipulation and a twisty plot, The Cruel Prince is a novel for those who love to read about faeries but also for those who love a good fantasy read. There is romance, action, mystery and a bit of darkness in this novel which makes it an intoxicating read.

Sisterhood of the Traveling ARC: Hunting Prince Dracula

Elizabeth from Tea and A Tantrum, Marci from The Plot Bunny and I are big fans of Kerri Maniscalco. We started the Sisterhood of the Traveling ARC with Kerri's debut novel, Stalking Jack the Ripper. You can see the first post here. It was only fitting to also share our thoughts about the sequel, Hunting Prince Dracula. Not only is Kerri a fantastic storyteller, but she is also created a series where mystery and horror collide.

We love promoting books especially for authors that we love. Pre-ordering books is very important to the sales and how well the author does in the long run. High pre-order numbers can help the author get another print run for their book. Help support authors by spreading the word about their titles. Brownie points goes to readers who pre-order books or purchase finished copies even after they read an ARC.

Title: Hunting Prince Dracula
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Publication date: September 19, 2017
Pages: 448
Source/format: Publisher/ARC

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

In this hotly anticipated sequel to the haunting #1 bestseller Stalking Jack the Ripper, bizarre murders are discovered in the castle of Prince Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Dracula. Could it be a copycat killer...or has the depraved prince been brought back to life?

Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper's true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe's best schools of forensic medicine...and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.

But her life's dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school's forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.

M Y  T H O U G H T S

Reading Hunting Prince Dracula is like jumping on a bike again. Readers are immersed into the same world with Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell shortly after where Stalking Jack the Ripper left off. After the uncovering the true identity of Jack the Ripper back in London, Audrey and Thomas venture out to Romania to pursue an education in forensic medicine while hunting for Dracula.

From the first page, Kerri Maniscalco grabs the reader's attention with striking imagery. Carefully chosen words are used in descriptions of Audrey Rose's surroundings. Kerri Maniscalco's rich yet engrossing, atmospheric descriptions make readers crave more. Every detail is exquisite. In the second novel in the Stalking Jack the Ripper trilogy, readers join Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell while they battle out for two out of the nine spots at the Academy of Forensic Medicine and Science.

Readers are introduced to a whole new set of characters in Romania. Audrey Rose meets a few females to keep her company such as Anastasia, Ileana and Daciana. Who knew Thomas's sister, Daciana, is just as charming as he is.

Chockful of mysterious and thrilling encounters, Hunting Prince Dracula is just as intriguing as its predecessor. It's cleverly executed and I find myself loving this installment even more than Stalking Jack the Ripper! Kerri keeps readers on their toes the whole way through with twists and turns. The whole entire time when I was reading the book, I kept changing my mind about who the murderer is. Macabre and cadavers are taken to a whole new level.

Wadsworth and Cresswell are the quintessential duo. The banter between Audrey and Thomas is still there but their relationship continues to grow into something more than a friendship. The banter between them is perfect and they work very well together as partners in crime. There are times when Audrey is uncertain if Thomas would become distant but their loyalties lie within their strong friendship. I cannot wait to see them undercover mysteries in America.

I highly recommend Hunting Prince Dracula for those who enjoyed reading Stalking Jack the Ripper and for those who love thrillers, mysteries and the paranormal.

If you want to follow the Sisterhood of the Traveling ARC feature on social media, please check out the hashtag, #TravelingARC3, for more reviews and photos.

She's So Boss by Stacy Kravetz

Title: She's So Boss
Author: Stacy Kravetz
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication date: May 30, 2017
Pages: 191
Source/format: Paperback from publisher

Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

Whether you already have an idea for a business or you're mulling how to turn the things you enjoy into a self-sustaining enterprise, this book will connect the dots. From inspiration to execution, there are concrete steps every young entrepreneur, creator, or leader needs to take, and this book shows you how. 

Packed with information and with the profiles of more than a dozen real-life girl bosses who have turned their passions into business, She's So Boss is about thinking big, aiming high, and becoming the boss of your thing, whether it's a blog about baking organic treats or playing guitar and putting your music videos on YouTube.

Specific features of the book include:
Profiles of some of history's great girl bosses: Eleanor Roosevelt, Madam C.J. Walker, Coco Chanel, Marie Curie, Lena Dunham, Michelle Phan, and others
Pop-up features, including lists of Ten Fabulous Girl Bosses, Ten Jobs You Wish Existed, Six Turned-Out-to-Be-Awesome Ideas No One Thought Could Make It, Signs You're Heading for an Epic Fail, and more

Real-life girl boss profiles showing the stages of development of more than a dozen girls who've transformed their visions into action
Eye-catching graphs, charts, and diagrams covering such topics as the Basics of Any Business, Financial Implications of Borrowing at Different Interest Rates, The Importance of Superstar Marketing, Anatomy of a Girl Boss, Portrait of the Diva Anti-Boss, and the Social Media Influencer's Flow Chart

Examples of logos, savvy packaging and branding ideas, great thank-you notes and other effective communication, texts never to send, and more

M Y  T H O U G H T S

She's So Boss is a wonderful guide to educate females how to start their own business. Stacy Kravetz does a remarkable job breaking down all the main aspects of how to be an entrepreneur. The book is divided into sections such as starting with an idea, brand awareness, how to utilize social media to promote your business and how to borrow money and eventually how to gain a profit.

Testimonials are scattered throughout the chapters about females entrepreneurs and what they learned from running a business. They also provide valuable tips. The layout of the pages is easy on the eyes and charts are provided to divide the information. Testimonials are in block quotes against a blue background.  Each chapter has a powerful quote by a female in leadership. Hearing positive advice from female peers and female founders encourage females to reach higher and that they can do whatever they set their minds to. Not only does this boost self-esteem for girls but it's empowering them. Tap into your interests and seek out a passion! Do what you love to do!

Although I do not run a business, I can use a lot of these tips in order to promote my blog or to help me in my current job when we plan to fundraise. My current students can benefit from a lot of the tips mentioned in this book. Whether you plan to start an Etsy shop or plan to launch a new product via Kickstarter, definitely pick up She's So Boss!

Stalking Jack the Ripper: Chapter Thoughts 5-9

Thank you to Sabrina from Beyond the Book Reviews, Ava from Bookishness and Tea and Kerri Maniscalco for organizing this wonderful Stalking Jack the Ripper Read-A-Long. I am thrilled to showcase chapter thoughts for chapters 5-9. I hope everyone is enjoying the read-a-long. You still have time to catch up if you just heard about this wonderful read-a-long. The Stalking Jack the Ripper Read-A-Long started on Monday, October 17th and will end on Friday, October 28th. Check out this document for more information about the Stalking Jack the Ripper Read-A-Long.

Sabrina (@Splintered_Luv) will be hosting a twitter chat on Saturday, October 29th to discuss non-spoilery thoughts about the book and also to share our love for Stalking Jack the Ripper. There is also a goodreads group to further discuss your opinions about Stalking Jack the Ripper.

Title: Stalking Jack the Ripper
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publisher: Jimmy Paterson
Publication date: September 20, 2016
Pages:  336
Find it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Books of Wonder | Book Depository | Target 

Synopsis: 

Presented by James Patterson’s new children’s imprint, this deliciously creepy horror novel has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion…

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord’s daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father’s wishes and society’s expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle’s laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.
The story’s shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.

Exclusive Chapter Thoughts Chapters 5-9

[photo credit: reserved to copyright holders/the movie Se7en]

I both loved and found myself silently screaming for Audrey during these chapters. We get a glimpse at how annoying society and gender restrictions would have been. Instead of focusing solely on the horrific case, the majority of men in her life question whether or not she can handle it. The parts I loved, however, were Thomas’s skills of deduction being on full display. Audrey’s admiration for him is growing as he encourages her and her ability to handle the murders, and the way they go out and actively hunt down clues. It was fun seeing their friendship and relationship move forward, and Audrey has a chance to show off a bit of her strengths.

Fun tidbit for chapter 9: during this scene I’d envisioned Mr. Thornley lying in bed, covered in sores, and barely breathing. I’m a visual person and find that pulling up photographs usually assists my muse with writing a clearer picture. There’s this scene in the movie Se7en that I felt closely matched my own mental images, so this is what I pulled up to “inspire” the visceral atmosphere of the breathing curtains and the tension in the room.

Xoxo,

Kerri 

About Kerri Maniscalco

Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats.

STALKING JACK THE RIPPER, a #1 NYT Bestseller, is her debut novel. It incorporates her love of forensic science and unsolved history.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Tumblr | Pinterest

Stalking Jack the Ripper Chapter Thoughts Schedule

October 18th Chapters 1-4 thoughts: Ava, Zee, and Booknut

October 20th Chapters 5-9 thoughts: Sabrina Tam, Nicole’s Novel Reads

October 22nd Chapters 10-14 thoughts: Nicole (Little Fantasy Land)

October 24th Chapters 15-19 thoughts: Irene

October 26th Chapters 20-24 thoughts: Sabrina (Library Luv)

October 28th Chapters 25-end: Jordan, Nisha

Want a Signed Personalized Bookplate?

Kerri Maniscalo has been very generous and those who review Stalking Jack the Ripper will receive a signed personalized bookplate! To qualify for a bookplate, please participate in the read-a-long whether it be it by tweeting about it, commenting on one of the goodreads discussion threads or simply joining the twitter chat on the Saturday, October 29th. Also, you will need to post a review within a month after the read-a-long concludes. By November 28th, please have a review up on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble or on your blog.

To enter your information to receive a bookplate, please fill out this Google form or if you are more comfortable with emailing, please can email sjtrreadalong@gmail.com.

Stalking Jack the Ripper Blog Tour: Tea Pairings

Thank you Ava from Bookishness and Tea for organizing this wonderful Stalking Jack the Ripper blog tour! I am super excited to be part of the Knights of Whitechapel! For my blog tour post, I decided to combine my Pages to Tea feature with my love for Stalking Jack the Ripper. I hope everyone has a chance to read Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco. Check out my review of the book if you want to read about my thoughts. You can pre-order your very own personalized copy of Stalking Jack the Ripper from Books of Wonder. Perhaps you can have a cuppa while you unravel the mysteries of the novel.
Character Images from phantomrin.tumblr.com and Jack image from davepalumbo.deviantart.com.

STALKING JACK THE RIPPER TEA PAIRINGS

[Audrey Rose Wadsworth + Earl Grey Darjeeling Organic Black Tea by American Tea Room]

Audrey Rose is not your conventional lady. This particular Earl Grey is the champagne of Earl Greys made entirely of fine Darjeeling black tea and scented with fine bergamot citrus. It's a little woodier than a traditional Earl Grey, with a hint of soil which is perfect for Audrey Rose since she is not afraid to get her hands dirty. The Darjeeling Earl Grey twist is a homage to her English and Indian roots and her sophistication.

[Thomas Cresswell + Vanilla Bean Black Tea by Rishi]

Rishi's Vanilla Bean Black Tea is perfect for the charming, sweet and smooth talking, Thomas Cresswell. This black tea is decadent and creamy. It's a blend of a malty, smooth-bodied tea from Yunnan with premium vanilla extract and high quality chopped vanilla bean to create a silky, layered taste experience. Have a cuppa with this lad!

[Jack the Ripper + Da Yu Lin Oolong by Red Blossom Tea] 

Da Yu Lin has a reputation as Taiwan’s most coveted tea. Although he is not coveted, Jack believes he is above all and it's a no brainer that Da Yu Lin Oolong is the perfect match for him. This particular oolong is rare and complex. The taste and the aroma morphs throughout the life span of each brew. This smooth and full bodied tea begins with a buttery texture and finishes with a hint of tangerine, sugar cane and cream. Jack is a slippery character and is able to fall through the cracks as people try to figure out the murderer.

Title: Stalking Jack the Ripper

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Publisher: Jimmy Patterson

Publication date: September 20, 2016

Pages: 336

Find it:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

Presented by James Patterson's new children's imprint, this deliciously creepy horror novel has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion...

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.

ABOUT KERRI MANISCALCO

Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats. Stalking Jack the Ripper is her debut novel. It incorporates her love of forensic science and unsolved history, and is the first in a new series of gothic thrillers. 

For more information about Kerri Maniscalco, check out her social media platforms.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Tumblr | Pinterest
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Looking Ahead: Cover Reveals #6

Lately cover art for Fall 2016 and Winter 2017 titles have been popping all over the internet. Last week Entertainment Weekly wowed us with cover art for Caraval and Wayfarer. This week there are four covers that were revealed. All four books are ones that I am looking forward to and the cover art  is absolutely gorgeous with the jewel tones and dark colors. I have to say that the following beauties look rather lovely next to each other.

On Wednesday, April 20th, Entertainment Weekly revealed the cover to Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco. All I can say is WOW! The cover definitely screams historical fiction and Gothic horror. The red and the green look stunning against the black background. Not only is the cover gorgeous but the excerpt is eerily satisfying and it's definitely not for the faint of heart. Stalking Jack the Ripper is the first YA title under James Patterson's JIMMY imprint. Also, Stalking Jack the Ripper's previous title was Of Blood and Shadow.

Title: Stalking Jack the Ripper
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Publication date: September 20, 2016

On Thursday, April 21st, YA Interrobang revealed the cover art to Branded, which is the sequel to Inked by Eric Smith. The reds, oranges and purples are stunningly vibrant and they look fantastic next to Inked's sea of blues and greens. Graphic designer, Jenny Zemanek, did a fantastic job designing both covers. Click here to enter to win a e-book of Inked and some posters.

Title: Branded
Author: Eric Smith
Publisher: Bloomsbury Spark
Publication date: September 6, 2016

On Thursday, April 21st, Mashable unveiled the cover to The Midnight Star which is the last book in The Young Elites trilogy by Marie Lu. Not only is this cover art my favorite out of all of the three in the series, but I cannot wait to see how the trilogy ends. The contrast of the coppery bronze lettering against the backdrop of blues is very pleasing to the eyes.  Check out what Lu has to say about The Midnight Star here.

Title: The Midnight Star
Author: Marie Lu
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young
Publication date: October 11, 2016

On Thursday, April 21st, YA Books Central wowed us with the cover art to Starfall which is the companion book in the Starflight duology by Melissa Landers. Not only is the cover art ravishing, but Starfall is one of my most anticipated book for 2017. The glowing pink and purple pop out of the page, highlighting the title text well. I love how the orb is a planet and the black background brings out the white, purple and pink. Also, I love the movement within space. It definitely screams sci-fi!

Title: Starfall
Author: Melissa Landers
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication date: February 7, 2017

 

What do you think of the cover art for the books listed above? Do you have a favorite?