Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

About Pooja

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Ardent reader of pretty much anything, including the backs of shampoo bottles. (Learn more about this Cannonballer: Pooja's Quick Questions interview.)

Pooja's Reviews:

After the Hero’s Quest Ends

So This Is Ever After by FT Lukens

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After defeating the Vile One as the prophecy foretold, Arek has somehow ended up as king – and now he must find someone to wed if he is to survive his eighteenth birthday. And his first choice, his best friend and mage Matt, obviously doesn’t like him back. I was very excited by the idea of this book – the Chosen One having to settle down after fulfilling his prophecy and now actually getting on with the business of governing his newfound kingdom. However, though […]

Violent Delights

Truly, Madly: Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, and the Romance of the Century by Stephen Galloway

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Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier were an iconic couple in the acting industry, with their combined talent and looks. But the turbulent thread of mental illness ran through their intense romance, ultimately tearing them apart. I only vaguely know both these figures, Leigh better than Olivier because of Gone With the Wind. However, I have always been fascinated by old Hollywood romances because of how turbulent they are, and I was excited for this one. The author has a pleasant narrative voice – he is respectful of […]

Family Feud: Medieval Scotland

The Highlander's Stolen Bride by Madeline Martin

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Elspeth is on her way to wed a childhood friend when she is abducted by Calum Campbell, who hopes to use her as a bargaining chip to gain an audience with her brother. But when they begin to fall in love, they must figure out how to end the war between their clans if they hope to be together. Though it was slow going at first, I soon got sucked into this story of warring clans and unlikely romance. Calum’s gentle nature provides an interesting […]

The Sixth Day is for Music

Sofi and the Bone Song by Adrienne Tooley

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Sofi has been training all her life to replace her father as Musik, but when beautiful, untrained Lara wins the role instead, she suspects  there may be illegal magic involved. A long while ago I read about the Polgár sisters, a trio of Hungarian chess prodigies who were very carefully reared by their father to eat, sleep, and breath chess. I found myself simultaneously fascinated and horrified at this single-minded cultivation of genius, because it sounded like a terrible thing to do to children, robbing […]

A Witch Comes Home

Payback's A Witch by Lana Harper

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Emmy is a Harlow, the least powerful family in Thistle Grove – and after nine years away, she has come home to arbitrate a magical competition, thumb her nose at her ex, and… possibly get revenge? I picked up this book because one of the Popsugar challenges says to read a book blurbed by your favorite author, and my absolute deity Jacqueline Carey blurbed this. It was certainly an enjoyable romp of a read. The town of Thistle Grove is vividly alive – I really […]

Baby’s First Fantasy Court Intrigue

Castles in Their Bones by Laura Sebastian

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Daphne understands, suddenly, exactly what she is – not a girl, not a princess, not a spy or a saboteur. She is a poison, brewed and distilled and fermented over sixteen years, crafted by her mother to bring ruination to whomever she touches. Beatriz, Daphne, and Sophronia have been raised since birth to wed into the royal families of their neighboring countries – and then sow discord to bring them under their mother’s control. But the triplets find that when their loyalties are tested, it […]



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