Monthly Endings December 2015: *awkward laughter*

[ It's Rin & Al Here! ]

Au Revoir, December!

HELLO MY LOVELIES!

In this post, Under Covers is officially saying goodbye to 2015 (even though we totally said goodbye like 3 months ago...). This is the last post of 2015 in which we talk about how much we hated this year.

Just kidding... not really, but we're also going to be talking about some of the good things that happened! But first, we're going to say thank you to all the people and things that have made our lives more worth living for!

RIN

I wanted to start off with a THANK YOU to all of you guys who have stuck by us and with this blog.  You guys are the best! :D We love all of you very much! *hugs each and everyone of you* *throws food into your arms*

This blog is fairly new (with a total of 3 1/2 months) and I remember all the fails I had as a newbie blogger (wait...I'm still a newbie blogger...). I know how much I've grown as a blogger who at first, didn't exactly know what "book blogging" was, just that I wanted to do it anyway.

I want to say a special thanks to Kaitlin @ Next Page Please! who helped me set up this blog and has helped me with all of my html troubles, because "Rin can't html". Love you! *gives you a can of Nutella*

And since I've been really MIA these past few weeks, I'm hoping for kind of a new start in 2016 to get my shit together :)

It's a wonder how I even lasted this long. Phew!

AL

Hi guys! Sorry couldn't be here sooner. But I also wanted to say THANK YOU to you guys because it's my first time ever blogging and I am still learning so I would like to Thank all of you for staying with us! 

 I love blogging and Rin and Kaitlin have also helped me so much so they also deserve a big fat THANK YOU because I know that it must've been hard to teach me since I was like what is a html? 

But these two people have really helped me improve and grow!

I just wanted to let you guys know that we love you guys and Happy New Years! I have come a long way in such a short period of time and I am thankful for you guys and Rin and Kaitlin! Happy New Years! *Hugs all of you*

THIS MONTH WE:

Reviewed: 

Rin -

• Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman 
• The Copper Gauntlet (Magisterium #2) by Holly Black & Cassandra Clare 

Al -

• The One (#2) by Kiera Cass

Read:

Rin -

• Nowhere But Here (Thunder Road #1)
• This Monstrous Thing 
• Seriously Wicked
• Famous Last Words
• The Sword of Summer 
• Sanctum 
• Hollow City
• The Heir
• Illuminae  
• Rebel Spring 
• The Creeping

Memes, Features, etc:

Waiting on Wednesday - 

• #19: The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgens  | Al
• #20: Wanderlost by Jen Malone  | Rin 
• #21: The Crown by Kiera Cass | Al 
• #22: Wink Poppy Midnight by April Genevieve Tucholke | Rin 
• #23: Passenger by Alexandra Bracken  | Al 

Book Tags - 

• The To Be Read Tag! | Rin 

SOME NEWS:

Under Covers is officially open to guest posts. This took a while to plan out and bit of time to actually put into actions, because of my absence. *squeals* Aside from that... Click here to view the page for more information about guest posting on Under Covers. 

NEXT MONTH . . .

Is library month, so be sure to check in with us with updates as we spend two months reading from the library.

And with library month, Under Covers will have a series of review weeks. This means that we will post a review for every single day of that week (without Wed, Sat, and Sun counted in). We will do this for two weeks straight to get caught up with our reviews and to clean off our list and start the year with a semi-clean start. 

So stay tuned for all those reviews ;)

tell me: tomorrow is a brand new year, what are you going to do?

Waiting on Wednesday #23: Passenger

[ It's Al Here! ]

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme created and hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Passenger 
by Alexandra Bracken
publisher: Disney-Hyperion
pages: 464
genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Science Fiction

expected publication date: 5 January 2016
find on: Goodreads / Amazon 

passage, n.
i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.
ii. A journey by water; a voyage.
iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.

In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them— whether she wants to or not.

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are play­ing, treacherous forces threaten to sep­arate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home . . . forever 

I'm waiting for this book because it sounds like such a fun and adventurous read. I am also eager to find out what will happen to this girl and why she lost everything that she loves. Mysteries always interest me because it's fun to try to figure out what will happen next. I can't wait until this book comes out, so I can just start reading it!

thoughts? share and comment down below!

Review: The Copper Gauntlet (#2) by Holly Black & Cassandra Clare

The Copper Gauntlet (#2)
by Holly Black & Cassandra Clare
publisher: Scholastic Press
pages: 304
genre: Middle Grade | Fantasy | Young Adult 
published on: September 1, 2015 

find on: Goodreads / Amazon 
 

Callum Hunt’s summer break isn’t like other kids’. His closest companion is a Chaos-ridden wolf, Havoc. His father suspects him of being secretly evil. And, of course, most kids aren’t heading back to the magical world of the Magisterium in the fall.

It’s not easy for Call . . . and it gets even harder after he checks out his basement and discovers that his dad might be trying to destroy both him and Havoc.

Call escapes to the Magisterium -- but things only intensify there. The Alkahest -- a copper gauntlet capable of separating certain magicians from their magic -- has been stolen. And in their search to discover the culprit, Call and his friends Aaron and Tamara awaken the attention of some very dangerous foes -- and get closer to an even more dangerous truth.

As the mysteries of the Magisterium deepen and widen, bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare take readers on an extraordinary journey through one boy’s conflict -- and a whole world’s fate.

Much like The Iron Trial, review right here, I couldn't really decipher whether or not I was feeling absolute love and joy for this book, or absolute adoration for this series. I couldn't get over the fact that I love Call (Callum) so much that it hurts. I love that he has this secret identity that he has to hide and I love who he is and his background. 

"Don't kill her! Only maim her a little!" - Holly Black & Cassandra Clare, The Copper Gauntlet

In the Copper Gauntlet we go through this story about how the Alkahest has been stolen and Call and his friends + Jasper, escape the Magisterium in order to find it before the wrong side discovers it first. Throughout the story, Tamara was getting on my nerves. Yes, I understand where she is coming from. Yes, I know that she thought she was doing the right thing, but that doesn't mean that I have to like it or agree with her. 

I wanted to cover how much I thoroughly love the storyline and every single detail that was put into it to create this elaborate story that is all through unique and unexpected. I was happy, I was smiling, I was just overjoyed, because this book was a mix of my imagination. Not only did I feel like it was a dream come true to read about, but it made me day dream about other scenarios and other options and events that could take place next. 

I guess it's safe to say that The Copper Gauntlet was even epicer (is that a word?) than The Iron Trial. (which I LOVED VERY MUCH!). 

"I don't know," Call said. He was starting to worry that there weren't any good guys. Just people with longer or shorter Evil Overlord lists." - Holly Black & Cassandra Clare, The Copper Gauntlet 

I'm definitely going to be sticking with this series through and through! Definitely a book that has to be read!

Waiting on Wednesday #22: Wink Poppy Midnight

[ It's Rin Here! ]
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme created and hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Wink Poppy Midnight 

by April Genevieve Tucholke

publisher: Dial Books 

pages: 352

genre: Young Adult | Mystery | Contemporary 

publishing date: March 22, 2016

find on: Goodreads / Amazon 

The intrigue of The Virgin Suicides and the "supernatural or not" question of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer coalesce in this young adult mystery, where nothing is quite as it seems, no one is quite who you think, and everything can change on a dime. 

Every story needs a hero. 
Every story needs a villain. 
Every story needs a secret. 

Wink is the odd, mysterious neighbor girl, wild red hair and freckles. Poppy is the blond bully and the beautiful, manipulative high school queen bee. Midnight is the sweet, uncertain boy caught between them. Wink. Poppy. Midnight. Two girls. One boy. Three voices that burst onto the page in short, sharp, bewitching chapters, and spiral swiftly and inexorably toward something terrible or tricky or tremendous. 

What really happened? 
Someone knows. 
Someone is lying. 

 For fans of Holly Black, We Were Liars, and The Raven Boys, this mysterious tale full of intrigue, dread, beauty, and a whiff of something strange will leave you utterly entranced.

The blurb just really catches my attention fair and square. Wink Poppy Midnight seems like one of those unpublished books where you don't need a lot of information to become entranced. Judging from the cover and the very interesting synopsis, I'll be expecting a lot from this novel once I get my hands on it ;)

tell me: what do you think about this book?

The To Be Read Tag!

[ It's Rin Here! ]

Here's the thing: My tbr pile is stacked to the brim at the moment since the impending doom of NaNoWrimo and everything in between that. Since my lack (or thereof) of posting regularly, I decided to do a book tag as I've never done one on this blog yet. 

This tag was originally created by Rachel @ A Perfection Called Books

The Rules: 

1. Answer these questions truthfully.

2. Once you’ve completed this tag, tag some other book bloggers to answer these questions next.

• How do you keep track of your TBR pile?

I have a post once a month where I post the book on my month's TBR. Of course this is not all that effective, because I can't remember what I put on it, so I leave my month's TBR in a stack on my desk. This might sound strange, but I know exactly what how many books I have to finish in a week to finish all the books on my TBR.

• Is your TBR mostly print or e-book?

Print. Unless I'm reading an Arc or a book that just happened to be on sale for 99 cents on amazon, then almost every copy I own is in print. 

• A Book That’s Been On Your TBR List The Longest

There is this one book that I seem to put on my monthly TBR almost every month, but can never actually get it read. Hollow City (#1) by Ransom Riggs. *runs away*. I've had this book for months. I remember always looking at it every month wondering when the hell I was ever going to read it. Then a miracle happened. I put it on my November TBR list. And then -

Nothing. 

Because I didn't get to it, so... :/

• A Book You Recently Added To Your TBR

The most recent book that was added to my TBR would be Strange Sweet Song by Adi Rule. 

• A Book In Your TBR Strictly Because of Its Beautiful Cover

Oh have I judged myself for looking at books with beautiful covers. I don't always do this, but most of the time I'm guilty of doing just that. The book that is on my shelf, is The Leaving by Tara Altebrando. 

• A Book On Your TBR That Basically Everyone’s Read But You

The entire Mortal Instruments series. I borrowed it from a friend. It's still on my shelf. I feel like I could maybe one day give it a chance, but then it just never happens.

• How many books are on your Goodreads TBR shelf?

In total I have 446. 

I tag ...

Mary @ Books in Her Head 
Anissa @ Anissa Reads
& Anyone who wants to do this tag! 

All the Questions:

1. How do you keep track of your TBR pile?

2. Is your TBR mostly print or e-book?

3. A Book That’s Been On Your TBR List The Longest
4. A Book You Recently Added To Your TBR
5. A Book In Your TBR Strictly Because of Its Beautiful Cover
6. A Book On Your TBR That You Never Plan on Reading

7. An Unpublished Book on Your TBR That You’re Excited ForA Book On Your TBR That Basically 8. Everyone’s Read But You

9. A Book On Your TBR That Everyone Recommends To You

10. A Book On Your TBR That You’re Dying To ReadHow many books are on your Goodreads TBR shelf?

tell me: what are your tbr troubles?

Doodle Review: One Emotion Describing The One (#3) by Kiera Cass

[ It's Al Here! ]

The One (#3) 
by Kiera Cass
publisher: HarperTeen
pages: 323
genre: Dystopia | Romance

published on: May 6, 2014
find on:Goodreads / Amazon 

The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

Shocked. I was shocked about everything because everything in this book turned out to be a shock. I was so interested and infested with this book because I didn't know what or when things were going to happen. I absolutely love books that are shocking and thrilling because it makes the reader want to continue reading and to never stop because a plot twist just happen right now when you think that everything is peaceful, I loved and enjoyed reading this book because of how thrilled and shocked I was. I would definitely recommend this book.

thoughts? share and comment down below!

Review: Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman

Vengeance Road
by Erin Bowman

publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
pages: 336
genre: Young Adult | Historical Fiction | Western 

find on: Goodreads / Amazon 

Revenge is worth its weight in gold.

When her father is murdered for a journal revealing the location of a hidden gold mine, eighteen-year-old Kate Thompson disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers—and justice. What she finds are untrustworthy strangers, endless dust and heat, and a surprising band of allies, among them a young Apache girl and a pair of stubborn brothers who refuse to quit riding in her shadow. But as Kate gets closer to the secrets about her family, a startling truth becomes clear: some men will stop at nothing to get their hands on gold, and Kate’s quest for revenge may prove fatal.

Month9Books Cover Reveal: Dragonrider Chronicles by Nicole Conway (with Giveaway)

Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal!

This week, we are reveal the cover for

Traitor (Dragonrider Chronicles #3) by Nicole Conway

an upcoming Month9Books title!

Not only are we revealing this gorgeous new cover, we are also reveal the redesigned cover for the series!

You guys are in for a treat!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

 

Can anyone survive being lost in Luntharda? 

No amount of training has prepared Jaevid Broadfeather for the frontlines of battle. Now facing the true horrors of war, with Luntharda looming on the horizon, Jaevid has begun to question everything he thought about his heritage. The only thing keeping him going is his oath to protect his dragonrider brothers. But in an instant, even that slips through Jaevid’s fingers as he steps from the safety of his dragon’s saddle into the depths of his mother’s wild homeland—the kingdom of the gray elves. 

Stranded in Luntharda with his partner, Lieutenant Jace Rordin, Jaevid must finally confront the demons of his own past as he uncovers the truth about a war that began before he was ever born. Armed with a new appreciation for destiny, and flanked by his trusted friends, Jaevid moves to make the final strike against an enemy that has hidden in plain sight for far too long. 

One kingdom’s traitor will become the world’s last hope.

Available for Pre-Order: Chapters | Amazon | B&N | TBD

 

AND NOW HERE ARE THE REDESIGNED COVERS FOR BOOKS 1 AND 2!

 

When Jaevid Broadfeather is given the rare opportunity to become a dragonrider for the king’s army, the 15-year-old boy has no idea that he is part of a conspiracy that will rock the very foundations of the kingdom. 

Jaevid Broadfeather has grown up as a wartime refugee, hiding from the world because of his mixed racial heritage. He feels his future is hopeless, until a chance encounter with a wild dragon lands him in Blybrig Academy—a place usually forbidden to anyone but the rich and royal. But Jaevid’s case is special; no dragon has voluntarily chosen a rider in decades, so the proud riders of Blybrig must begrudgingly let him join their brotherhood despite his bloodline. Lieutenant Sile Derrick, a sternly tempered man with a mysterious past, becomes his instructor and immediately takes a peculiar interest in Jaevid’s future. 

While struggling through the rigorous physical demands of training, things begin to go awry. Jaevid witnesses the king’s private guards kidnapping Sile in the dead of night. When none of the elder riders are willing to help him, Jaevid begins a dangerous adventure to save his instructor. 

Everything Jaevid learned at the academy will now be put to the ultimate test.

Google Play | BAM | Chapters | IndieBound | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

 

Jaevid wants to pass his Avian year of training . . . but will he even survive it?

What kind of power is lurking inside him? After a year of training to become a dragonrider, Jaevid Broadfeather has been sent home to rest during a three-month interlude. But when he returns to find the king drake has chosen Beckah Derrick as his new rider, Jaevid realizes something big is about to happen. Every fiber of his being is pushed to the breaking point as Jaevid battles through his avian year, preparing for the final graduation test of the battle scenario. But there is more standing in his way than a few pushups and fancy sword moves. Jaevid must face a new fear as he is tormented by a gruesome nightmare of a mysterious gray elf warrior murdering the royal family of Maldobar. It seems obvious to him that this is some kind of message about how the war started long ago—until Felix assures him the king is very much alive. With his strange powers growing stronger by the day, and that violent dream replaying in his mind every night, Jaevid no longer wonders if he will pass his avian year or not—he wonders if he will even survive it. 

The truth will soon be set loose.

Google Play | BAM | Chapters | IndieBound | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

 

Nicole is the author of the children’s fantasy series, THE DRAGONRIDER CHRONICLES, about a young boy’s journey into manhood as he trains to become a dragonrider. She has completed the first two books in the series, and is now working on the third and final book. 

Originally from a small town in North Alabama, Nicole moves frequently due to her husband’s career as a pilot for the United States Air Force. She received a B.A. in English with a concentration in Classics from Auburn University, and will soon attend graduate school. 

She has previously worked as a freelance and graphic artist for promotional companies, but has now embraced writing as a full-time occupation. 

Nicole enjoys hiking, camping, shopping, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends. She also loves watching children’s movies and collecting books. She lives at home with her husband, two cats, and dog.

Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

 

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win. Title will be sent upon its release.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Life in 189 Words | Week Seven

[ It's Rin Here! ]

December hasn't been eventful, and Al and I have been MIA on posting, so I'm here to apologize about how much we were missing this month. Here's a post to catch you up on our lives outside of blogging :) #Life

currently reading ...

Seriously Wicked
by Tina Connolly 

publisher: TorTeen
pages: 208
genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Paranormal | Romance

find on: Goodreads / Amazon

The only thing worse than being a witch is living with one. 

Camellia’s adopted mother wants Cam to grow up to be just like her. Problem is, Mom’s a seriously wicked witch. 

Cam’s used to stopping the witch’s crazy schemes for world domination. But when the witch summons a demon, he gets loose—and into Devon, the cute new boy at school. 

Now Cam’s suddenly got bigger problems than passing Algebra. Her friends are getting zombiefied. Their dragon is tired of hiding in the RV garage. For being a shy boy-band boy, Devon is sure kissing a bunch of girls. And a phoenix hidden in the school is going to explode on the night of the Halloween Dance. 

To stop the demon before he destroys Devon’s soul, Cam might have to try a spell of her        own. But if she’s willing to work spells like the witch...will that mean she's wicked too?         

This book if off to a good start, I'm not very far into it, but I know that I am going to enjoy it ;)

Waiting on Wednesday #21: The Crown

[ It's Al Here! ]

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme created and hosted by Breaking the Spine.

The Crown
by Kiera Cass

publisher: Harper Teen
pages: 352
genre: Young Adult | Romance | Dystopia

expected publication date: 3 May 2016
find on:  Goodreads / Amazon 

Kiera Cass’s bestselling Selection series has enchanted readers from the very first page. Now the end of the journey is here, in a wonderfully romantic series finale that will sweep you off your feet.

Twenty years have passed since the events of The One, and America and Maxon’s daughter is the first princess to hold a Selection of her own. Princess Eadlyn didn’t think she would find a real partner among the Selection’s thirty-five suitors, let alone true love. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you...and now Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more difficult—and more important—than she ever expected.

The Selection series has sold more than 3 million copies and captured the hearts of fans around the world. This swoonworthy final installment is the happily ever after they’ve all been waiting for.

why am I waiting?

I am waiting for this book because I love the Selection series. I am also so sad that this will be the last book to the selection series. I am sure that it will be a lovely book because it's will be the last one and I can't wait for it to come out. I'm so eager to find out what will happen next and plus I always love the Selection book covers. 

thoughts? share and comment down below!