The Infinite (Gates of Thread and Stone #2) by Lori M. Lee - Paul's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Amazon's Children's Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: The Infinite (Gates of Thread and Stone #2)
Author: Lori M. Lee
Recent Release Date: March 10, 2015

Paul's Review of Gates of Thread and Stone #1

Synopsis: The walls of Ninurta keep its citizens safe.

Kai always believed the only danger to the city came from within. Now, with a rebel force threatening the fragile government, the walls have become more of a prison than ever.

To make matters worse, as Avan explores his new identity as an Infinite, Kai struggles to remind him what it means to be human. And she fears her brother, Reev, is involved with the rebels. With the two people she cares about most on opposite sides of a brewing war, Kai will do whatever it takes to bring peace. But she’s lost her power to manipulate the threads of time, and she learns that a civil war might be the beginning of something far worse that will crumble not only Ninurta’s walls but also the entire city.

In this thrilling sequel to Gates of Thread and Stone, Kai must decide how much of her humanity she’s willing to lose to protect the only family she’s ever known. 

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Review: One of the trends in YA right now that I am loving is the blend of sci-fi and fantasy. This series is a perfect example of this genre mash-up. There are immortal godlike beings, mechanical animals powered by gem stones, and a world recovering from an apocalyptic event. 

I really enjoyed Gates of Thread and Stone, the first book in this series, but I was unimpressed by the way it ended. There was a lot of exposition, so many reveals. This sequel picks up right after that with all those revelations' effects taking place. In my opinion, this book did not suffer from the ills of the first's ending. 

I loved the Grays of the first book. The scouts in this book were even cooler! Magic metal cats that you ride! They are just one aspect of this world that I absolutely adore. The worldbuilding in this series is so interesting. This book really delves into some political and economic issues. In Vethe, the farmers are the upper class. Lee really put a lot of thought into the worldbuilding. 

There are so many great characters in this book, especially females in leadership roles. There are hints of a love triangle, but it makes complete sense within the story. I really liked Mason in this book. Avan is in an interesting place. I liked how it was handled. 

Overall, I liked this book even more than the first! I give it a 5/5. I highly recommend this series and if you read the first and were a little turned off by the exposition in the ending, you don't need to worry. Read this book! 


--PAUL

The Infinite (Gates of Thread and Stone #2) by Lori M. Lee - Paul's Pre Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Amazon's Children's Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: The Infinite (Gates of Thread and Stone #2)
Author: Lori M. Lee
Recent Release Date: March 10, 2015

Paul's Review of Gates of Thread and Stone #1

Synopsis: The walls of Ninurta keep its citizens safe.

Kai always believed the only danger to the city came from within. Now, with a rebel force threatening the fragile government, the walls have become more of a prison than ever.

To make matters worse, as Avan explores his new identity as an Infinite, Kai struggles to remind him what it means to be human. And she fears her brother, Reev, is involved with the rebels. With the two people she cares about most on opposite sides of a brewing war, Kai will do whatever it takes to bring peace. But she’s lost her power to manipulate the threads of time, and she learns that a civil war might be the beginning of something far worse that will crumble not only Ninurta’s walls but also the entire city.

In this thrilling sequel to Gates of Thread and Stone, Kai must decide how much of her humanity she’s willing to lose to protect the only family she’s ever known. 

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Why?: I really enjoyed the world of the first book. It blended sci-fi and fantasy in an interesting way. Magic and technology. I found the end of the first book a little heavy on the exposition, but I think this sequel won't have that problem. I want to learn more about the world. 

Expectations:  I'm expecting to learn more about the past of this world. I want to know what the Infinites are all about. I am excited to see more of the cool blend of magic and technology. 

Judging a book by its cover: I really, really, really like this cover. The gray in the form of a cat is really cool. Kai looks more like a weathered warrior. The red eyes of the feline are so captivating. This is definitely a good cover. 


--PAUL

Paul's Top Books Read in 2014

2014 was another wonderful year for Young Adult books, especially in the Fantasy genre. I didn't meet my Goodreads Reading Challenge, but I did read over 50 books in 2014. I wanted to share a few of my favorites. First, I have my favorites that are not sequels. Then at the bottom I have listed my favorite sequels. Click on the titles or the cover pictures for links to my reviews!

TOP BOOK OF 2014

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

Runner Ups

                                   

The Wizard's Promise                                   No Place Like Oz

Honorable Mentions

                  

Here are some sequels that I loved in 2014:

                      

What were your favorite books of 2014? Check out my reviews of these books by clicking on the titles or the cover images.

-PAUL

Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee - Paul's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Amazon Publishing/SkyScape on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Gates of Thread and Stone
Author: Lori M. Lee
Publication Date: August 5, 2014

My Pre-Reading

Ashley's Pre-Reading

Synopsis: In the Labyrinth, we had a saying: keep silent, keep still, keep safe.

In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret—she can manipulate the threads of time. When Kai was eight, she was found by Reev on the riverbank, and her “brother” has taken care of her ever since. Kai doesn’t know where her ability comes from—or where she came from. All that matters is that she and Reev stay together, and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth. Kai’s only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper’s son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her.

Then Reev disappears. When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him. She will leave the only home she’s ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making. But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power.

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Review: Books that merge fantasy and sci-fi are my favorite. Gates of Thread and Stone does this excellently. There is magic, but there is also technology. The gap between the magic and technology has diminished and the history of the world is full of wonder. There are allusions to some semi-apocalyptic event, but little is revealed about it. There are godlike beings and people with magical powers. There's also this amazing mode of transportation known as Grays. They are run by magic stones, but made of metal. They come in all types of animal shapes. The horse Gray reminded me so much of Robot Unicorn Attack:

Besides the amazing world-building, the story and characters are also so captivating. Kai has an unknown past and has a slight obsession over her friend and companion, Avan. I liked the way Avan was shown to have ambiguity when it came to his orientation. The romance was a main part of the story, but it made sense as the story was from a romance-interested teen girl with a crush. The progress of their relationship was natural. And Kai keeps her focus on rescuing her brother. 

Kai's ability to bend the threads of time had a lot of potential. It seems like it could have been used more, but I could see that happening in the sequel which is supposed to come out sometime in 2015. There was a lot more introduced that I could see being delved into more in the sequel, like the gargoyles. 

My favorite aspect of this book was the world-building. Towards the end of the book, there was almost constant exposition. I guess this is bound to happen when a protagonist has a blank past and it is explained, but there were so many reveals at once.

I really enjoyed this book and although it was a slow read for me, I give it a 4/5. I highly recommend it to fans of books that blend sci-fi and fantasy. I will definitely be looking out for the sequel.  


--PAUL

Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee - Paul's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Amazon Publishing/SkyScape on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Gates of Thread and Stone
Author: Lori M. Lee
Publication Date: August 5, 2014

Synopsis: In the Labyrinth, we had a saying: keep silent, keep still, keep safe.

In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret—she can manipulate the threads of time. When Kai was eight, she was found by Reev on the riverbank, and her “brother” has taken care of her ever since. Kai doesn’t know where her ability comes from—or where she came from. All that matters is that she and Reev stay together, and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth. Kai’s only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper’s son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her.

Then Reev disappears. When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him. She will leave the only home she’s ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making. But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power.

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Why?: Okay, so pretty much everything about this book sounds amazing! A Labyrinth! Secret Magic! Secret Magic that involves manipulating TIME! 

Expectations: I kind of don't want read any reviews or find out more about this book because from the little I know, I think I'm going to love it. I'm expecting a really interesting take on a unique magic system. I am also expecting an awesome labyrinth.

Judging a book by its cover: This cover is gorgeous! The clothing style and the dirty alley is intriguing. And the magic threads that create the title font are so cool. This is one of those covers that definitely draws me in. 


--PAUL

RELEASE DAY CELEBRATION: Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee + GIVEAWAY

Hello! Today is the release day for Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee and we're really excited to be participating in the release day celebrations! We both are really looking forward to reading this book, and hope you are too.

Below, you can find a little bit about Gates of Thread and Stone, Lori, and enter to win the awesome giveaway. Make sure to enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card and swag pack via the Rafflecopter form at the end of this post! You can also click on the banner above to be taken to the master post over at Me, My Shelf, and I.

About the Book

Indiebound | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Gates of Thread and Stone (Gates of Thread and Stone #1)
Author: Lori M. Lee
Release Date: August 5th, 2014
Publisher: Skyscape

In the Labyrinth, we had a saying: keep silent, keep still, keep safe.

In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret—she can manipulate the threads of time. When Kai was eight, she was found by Reev on the riverbank, and her “brother” has taken care of her ever since. Kai doesn’t know where her ability comes from—or where she came from. All that matters is that she and Reev stay together, and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth. Kai’s only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper’s son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her.

Then Reev disappears. When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him. She will leave the only home she’s ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making. But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power.

Praise for Gates of Thread and Stone

“Lori M. Lee excels in building a world of intrigue, oppression, and magic amidst a Labyrinth setting as twisted and winding as the secrets hidden inside her characters’ hearts. Fans of strong heroines who don’t need a boy to hold their hands, action-packed fighting scenes, and whispers of steampunk and mythology, will find themselves wishing they, too, could manipulate the threads of time, if only to stay inside the story a little longer.”

A.G. Howard, the SPLINTERED series

“Inventive, romantic, and gripping. I was hooked from the first page!”

Amy Tintera, REBOOT and REBEL

“A fast-paced, heart-wrenching whirl of a story full of magic, immortals, and a romance that will leave readers gasping for more. I adored the tough, scrappy narrator and fell in love with the boy chasing after her heart. Lori M. Lee introduces us to a fantasy world unlike any other and gives us the first taste of an epic love story in the making. I can’t wait for more!”

Mindee Arnett, THE NIGHTMARE AFFAIR series and AVALON series

About the Author

Lori is the author of young adult fantasy Gates of Thread and Stone, coming August 5, 2014 from Skyscape. She has a borderline obsessive fascination with unicorns, is fond of talking in capslock, and loves to write about magic, manipulation, and family. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, kids, and a friendly pitbull.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Pinterest

The Giveaway!

1 winner will get (1) $25.00 Amazon Gift Card + a Swag Pack

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by! 

--Ashley & Paul

Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Amazon Publishing/SkyScape on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Gates of Thread and Stone
Author: Lori M. Lee
Publication Date: August 5, 2014

Synopsis: In the Labyrinth, we had a saying: keep silent, keep still, keep safe.

In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret—she can manipulate the threads of time. When Kai was eight, she was found by Reev on the riverbank, and her “brother” has taken care of her ever since. Kai doesn’t know where her ability comes from—or where she came from. All that matters is that she and Reev stay together, and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth. Kai’s only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper’s son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her.

Then Reev disappears. When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him. She will leave the only home she’s ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making. But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power.

Why?: Well first of all, that cover! Secondly, magic, a city of walls and secrets, a girl who can manipulate the threads of time, and a Labyrinth are all things that I believe make up the beginnings of a fantastic book. The whole thing just sounds like an epic adventure and like my type of book. I really just want to skip the other books that I need to read first and jump right into this one!

Expectations: I love the concept of this book so much that I have pretty high expectations for it. Probably unreasonably high, considering this is Lori's debut and that I haven't read any reviews for the book. I've been so excited to read this book since I first heard about it and I just hope that it's as good as I think it will be!

Judging a book by its cover: I could stare at this cover all day. Seriously. It's just so pretty! I love the way the light goes across the front and merges with the words, I love how the girl looks and how you can't tell what her face looks like, and I love the colors. The cover is what drew me to this book in the first place and I can't wait to have a physical copy for my shelves.


--Ashley