May Wrap-Up

    Hey everyone.  I know it's like the middle of the month, but I've been way busier with schoolwork than I anticipated (summer courses, amirite?).  Anyway, since I completely missed the beginning of the month, I thought I would grace you guys with at least one blog post this month.  Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be getting to a June TBR, but that just means I'll be doing a mystery wrap-up, hopefully on time this time.  I read four books in May, so let's get started!

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    This book was EVERYTHING I HAD HOPED IT WOULD BE AND SO MUCH MORE.  Honestly, I'm not even kidding when I say this was already the best book I read this year.  A Court of Mist and Fury certainly lived up to all the hype.  This book tackled all the issues that weren't really present (but possibly hinted at) in the first installment of this series.  We see Feyre and other characters struggling with PTSD after the events that took place in ACOTAR.  I was surprised to see so many relevant social issues addressed in this YA fantasy book.  I LOVED the character development and it really propelled the story forward.  All of the new characters and their backgrounds were really fun to read and I loved the dynamic among all of them (Night Court squad goals for sure).  The story line began very similarly to ACOTAR with Feyre being taken against her will as per the bargain she made with Rhysand in the previous book.  Without giving too much away, the characters all learn a lot more about themselves, their abilities and their feelings throughout this book.  I couldn't put it down and I immediately began re-reading it upon finishing.  I laughed, ugly-cried and screamed during this book, so you probably will too.  Sarah J. Maas does not disappoint.  She is my queen.  Rhys is the fae version of Will Herondale (FIGHT ME).  10 out of 5 stars.  Take me to the Night Court forever please.

(goodreads.com)

    Tell the Wind and Fire was a book I was hesitant about at first, but decided to read anyway.  I have mixed feelings about it.  For one, the beginning is very slow and I wasn't entirely sold on this futuristic version of New York City.  Despite the fact that it was set in a place I've been to, I still had trouble picturing the entire setting.  The characters were also not relatable and sometimes downright frustrating to read about.  Some of the choices the characters make throughout the book made me want to scream.  I really only liked Carwyn because he was the ONLY character with substance and personality.  I ate up the end of this book.  The last five or so chapters went by very quickly and I found myself unable to put the book down.  The ending was sad but expected, based on the original.  I wanted to like it more than I did because it was advertised as a retelling of A Tale of Two Cities and like the sucker I am for The Infernal Devices, I dove into it without thinking.  Maybe if I had actually read the original, I would have liked it more?  Maybe not.  I ended up giving this a 2.5 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    Gathering Darkness and Frozen Tides are the third and fourth books in the Falling Kingdom series.  These books were very different in the aspect of plot and had more character development for certain characters.  Gathering Darkness moved a bit slower for me than Frozen Tides, but they are both middle books in a series, so it's to be expected.  This series is all about the characters and is very similar to Game of Thrones and other books that follow multiple perspectives, which really makes the series interesting.  I really liked the development of Cleo and Magnus (I am so Team Magnus's Happiness).  I've begun to hate Jonas more than I wanted to, but his character has become very annoying and he's definitely not the same rebel he was in the first book.  I think all of the failure he's experiencing is ruining his spirit, but I'm hoping his luck turns around in book five, which will come out this fall.  I love this series because everything can change so quickly and you never know what's going to happen.  We get to visit a different kingdom in Frozen Tides, so it was interesting to see a different side of this world we haven't seen before.  I'm eagerly awaiting the next book!  I gave Gathering Darkness a 4 out of 5 stars and Frozen Tides a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

    Those are all the books I read in May.  Like I said before, I'll be doing a June wrap-up at the end of this month and prepping my July reading list for the summer very soon.  Right now it looks like I'll be reviewing at least two books, so you'll have to wait and see which ones I chose.  I can't wait to have a chance to read more!  I'll also hopefully have time to blog a little more.  I'll be starting to blog for my library on their reader's advisory blog for the books I've been reading, so stay tuned for more information on that.  Have a great Father's Day weekend everyone!  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

April Wrap-Up and May TBR

    Hey everyone!  I feel like it's been awhile, but it's only been a month.  I just finished my classes for the spring semester and it was a HECTIC last week.  I had about three major projects (two group ones) due last week all around the same time and it was crazy.  Luckily I now have a few weeks off before my summer course starts, so I'm looking forward to not having too many responsibilities this month.  That being said, I am excited that I'll have more time to read all the books I have planned for this month!  I decided to combine my wrap-up and TBR because I only read two books last month, so I didn't think it was necessary to make two posts.  I am planning on reading 4 books this month, so we'll see if I can handle that.  Let's get started!

APRIL WRAP-UP

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    The first book I read last month was A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab.  This book was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and it definitely did not disappoint.  I enjoyed this book because we got to get a different look at the world we've already been introduced to from A Darker Shade of Magic.  In this second book we follow Kel and the repercussions of his actions from the events of the first book.  He's struggling inwardly with his decisions and what has become of his life in the castle.  We also get to follow Delilah Bard as she embarks on her quest to see the world(s).  The magical competition storyline was a nice contrast to the gritty, action-packed storyline of the first book.  Not to say there wasn't a lot of action in this one, but we see more of the political side to the world.  The alternating perspectives of the characters flowed really nicely and I was entertained throughout.  I can't believe how it ended, but I'll be eagerly waiting for the third (and final?) book in this series, whilst crying in a corner...  I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    The second and last book I read this month was Uprooted by Naomi Novik.  I've had this book on my TBR shelf for awhile and finally got the nerve and time to pick it up.  I had heard great things about the story and that it was very fairytale-esq, which is was.  The book takes you in a completely different direction about half way through, so I was pleasantly surprised by that.  The book starts off with building the story, but not much world-building.  There are descriptions, but nothing concrete where I can actually picture something in my head.  The middle was great and I loved the chemistry between the Dragon and Nieszka.  Most of the time I'm pretty sure the Dragon resented her very existence, but she just went on not caring about a damn thing, so it was hilarious to see him get so frustrated with her all the time.  I did think that he bordered along the jerk line a bit though.  I thought that at some point he would express feelings for her (ANY feelings besides hatred or frustration) but he didn't...even after they shared an intimate connection.  He just reverted back to his usual self.  I was a little disappointed with that and the ending.  After chapter 30, I was done.  I loved the reveal at the end, but it took a long time to get there and too much descriptive narrative.  Overall I gave this book a 3 out of 5 stars.  I enjoyed most of it, but I'm sad that it's only a stand alone.

MAY TBR

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    The first book I'm reading this month is OBVIOUSLY A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas who has my life in her hands.  I actually went to the bookstore when I got out of work yesterday and bought the book so I could read it immediately.  This is easily my most anticipated book of the year, by far.  This book is the second one in Maas's new fantasy series, the first being A Court of Thorns and Roses, (which is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast and RUINED MY LIFE).  ACOMAF takes place after the events of the first book, so if you haven't read ACOTAR yet, GO READ IT, because there may be spoilery territory ahead.  Anyway, this book follows Feyre after the events of the first book, which left her broken.  She has also been bound by oath to the High Lord of the Night Court, whom she doesn't trust at all.  Her loyalties will be tested and tried as she navigates both the light and dark worlds she feels drawn to.  I've been hearing that this one is a retelling of the Persephone myth, which is one of my favorites.  For those of you who don't know, Persephone was married against her will to Hades, the God of the Underworld.  She spends half her time down there with him and the other half on Earth, which is an explanation of the seasons in Greek mythology, (the very abridged version...just Google it).  Anyway, since Feyre has to spend at least some time with Rhysand (SWOON) in his Court, I can only see this affecting Feyre in some major way.  Her love for Tamlin is obvious, but is it enough?  We shall see.  I literally haven't even started the book yet because I'm scared that I won't be able to stop...  SO EXCITED.

(goodreads.com)

    The next book on my list is Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan.  This book was kind of a random pick based on the retelling alone.  Since reading and obsessing over everything Shadowhunters, mainly The Infernal Devices, I've been trying to get back into classics like A Tale of Two Cities.  This book apparently retells this story, which I am very keen on.  I don't know too much about it other than that, so I'm going into this blind outside of the summary.  The main character's name is even Lucie!  This book should have a lot of angst, revolution and romance, which I am all game for.  Bring it on!

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    I will also FINALLY be reading Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes, which is book three in her high-fantasy series Falling Kingdoms.  Think GoT, but with teenagers and lots of magic.  I won't go into too much detail here because this is the middle of the series and I've already read the first two, so a lot has happened, as you can imagine.  There are at least four main perspectives with a few more minor characters' thrown in for good measure.  Rebels, witches, royals and gods erupt in a kingdom-wide conflict to rule.  I also have book four in this series and I'm contemplating finishing it before the next one comes out in December.

    I am torn on the last book I want to read, so it could end up being a toss up between a few I've been eyeing for some time.  Like I said, I may just finish the Falling Kingdoms series to get caught up, or I could choose something else.  I've been thinking about either Six of Crows or The Dream Thieves, since I've only read the first book in The Raven Cycle and they just released the last book (which is BEAUTIFUL btw).  Anyway, I have a huge decision to make, but I think I'll leave my fourth book up to chance, if I can even get that far.  We'll see!

    So what do you guys think?  Which book should I read for my fourth pick?  Would you choose something completely different?  What are you reading in May?  Leave me a comment down below!  I may even post something extra this month on account of my free time...check back to find out.  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

Most Anticipated Books of 2016

  Happy New Year everyone!  I'm glad that 2015 is coming to a close; it was a very stressful year full of academic woes and health issues.  I know this sounds cliche, but it feels like I'm starting from scratch in 2016.  I should only have about a year of recovery left after this year, (which will probably be more like two, but I'm optimistic for once), I just started my ideal job at the library and I'll be starting my Library and Information Science degree at URI at the end of the month, officially beginning my career as a librarian.  I feel like I can finally relax now and get on with my life instead of waiting around for nothing.  I can finally move forward now that I know exactly what I want for myself.  That being said, I hope that whatever your goals for 2016 may be that you achieve them with gusto.  I have a bad habit of not following through, so I try not to make promises, even to myself.  My only resolution for next year is to stay alive, which I think I can manage.
    This year, as I discussed in my previous post, we had a lot of great books.  This coming year is no exception, which is why I wanted to highlight some of my most anticipated books of 2016.  This is a list solely based on what I am personally excited about, not necessarily a list of ALL the popular books coming out next year, (that would be a very long post and one I don't think many people would get through).  I'll mention each book in the order in which they will be released and then I will note my top three most anticipated books for next year.  I will also link each title to it's Goodreads page for those of you who want to read more about each book and check them out!

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    Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard:  Aveyard saw success last year with her best-selling book Red Queen, which is the first book in this series.  I read her first book and really enjoyed the story and the characters.  Mare Barrow has been revealed to the kingdom as a red-blooded normal girl with the silver ability to control lightning, which is considered an abomination.  After the kingdom suffers a blow and the new King Maven is appointed to the throne, he'll stop at nothing to get to Mare back.  Mare seeks to find more of her own kind in order to build an army to fight back against the vindictive new king.  This book sounds a lot more action-packed than the first, so I'm hoping that's true.  I'm also curious to see what the aftermath of the shocking twist of the end will look like.  Glass Sword comes out February 9th.

(goodreads.com)

    The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine:  This book intrigued me because it's a retelling of Snow White and sounds very similar to the Snow White story line from Once Upon a Time.  Our main character, Lorelai, is a princess who possesses magic, but has been banished from her kingdom of Ravenspire after the evil Queen took her throne and killed her father.  In a neighboring kingdom, Prince Kol is propositioned by the evil Queen of Ravenspire after a band of magical ogres kill his family and he is left unprotected.  She promises him magical assistance in exchange for his services in hunting down Lorelai and bringing back her heart.  This sounds incredibly juicy and the addition of magic to this story makes it even better.  I love the idea of a courageous and completely independent Snow White-like character, so I'm hoping Lorelai is the champion we deserve from this story.  The Shadow Queen debuts February 16th.

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    A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab:  I have been waiting for this book for a long time!  It feels like I read A Darker Shade of Magic ages ago, but it was only last January, almost a year ago.  LOOK AT THAT COVER THOUGH.  This is the second book in this adult fantasy series and follows Kell, the last of his kind of magicians who can travel between alternate universes.  It has been four months since the events at the end of the first book and all seems well.  Kell has given up smuggling between dimensions and is preparing for the Element Games, a pageant to keep pleasant ties between countries, including Red London, Kell's home.  But Black London is stirring after the unfortunate events from four months ago and Delilah is on her way back from her trials at sea at the least opportune moment.  I have very high expectations for this book, so I hope it lives up to them.  A Gathering of Shadows comes out February 23rd.

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    Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare:  Although I won't have to wait too long between books for this one, (seeing as I finished City of Heavenly Fire in November of this year), I am still planning on going to the closest book store and buying it immediately upon its release.  As you all know by now, I am OBSESSED with the Shadowhunters series and this is Clare's next installment.  This new series takes place at the Los Angeles institute five years after the events in City of Heavenly Fire.  Emma Carstairs has been determined to find out what happened to her murdered parents.  She lives at the institute with the Blackthorn family, including her parabatai and best friend Julian, who lost his father five years ago as well.  Mundanes and Downworlders are being murdered around Los Angeles and they look eerily familiar to Emma's parents' own murder.  In order to find out what's happening and determine the connection between the murders, the Shadowhunters and the Fair Folk will initiate an uneasy alliance in order to stop the bloodshed.  If all goes according to plan, The Fair Folk will release one of the Blackthorns they have held captive for the past five years.  The stakes are high, but will they succeed in time?  Forbidden love, a race against time and a Downworlder feud for the ages make this story sound irresistible.  With the TV show set to start in 12 days and this new book I CAN'T WAIT FOR MORE SHADOWHUNTERS!  Lady Midnight comes out March 8th.

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    A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas:  OH MY GOD THIS BOOK.  I've wanted this book since the minute I finished ACOTAR and the NEED IS STRONG.  As you know, ACOTAR was my favorite book of 2015, so I have just cause to want this book.  This will be the second book in this new trilogy, (?), by Maas, who has become one of my favorite authors.  Feyre is struggling with her guilt after the events that took place at the end of the first book.  She has paid a heavy price for her freedom and the freedom of the High Fae she now calls friends.  Feyre also has to hold up her end of her bargain with the High Fae of the Night Court, the powerful Rhysand.  Feyre will have a chance to use her powers for good and prevent a great evil from striking the Night Court.  I have heard that this book may include elements of the Persephone mythology, much like the first book was a nod to Beauty and the Beast.  I want there to be a love triangle SO BAD.  Does that make me a horrible person?  Personally, I'm all for Rhysand and whatever he wants to do, so bring it on!  I can't see how I could be disappointed in this book and it's still so far away!  A Court of Mist and Fury comes out May 3rd.

(goodreads.com)

   Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine:  I read the first book in The Great Library series, Ink and Bone, this past year and really enjoyed the alternative reality that would be our present if The Great Library of Alexandria still existed.  The Great Library controls the knowledge of the world and Jess Brightwell has gone from a child smuggler of rare books to a soldier in the Library's army.  All is not as it seems and Jess soon finds himself in trouble again, fleeing Alexandria, away from the girl he loves, home to London in order to escape the Library's automata.  He must use his quick thinking skills to survive and decide where his loyalties truly lie.  The first book was a bit slow paced, but I'm hoping this will have a lot more action in it.  Paper and Fire comes out July 5th.

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    Throne of Glass #5 (no title) by Sarah J. Maas:  Maas is so important to me that she made my list twice!  After reading Queen of Shadows in 2015 and I can't wait to see where the story goes from here.  Aelin has succeeded in asserting herself on the throne in her own kingdom, but will she hold her people's adoration for long?  Magic and non-magic people are feuding and the remaining kingdoms of Erilea are beginning to shatter.  In order to save her world from looming dark forces, she must embark on a quest that may endanger those she holds dear.  There are going to be a total of six books in this series, so the synopsis definitely sounds like the beginning of the end for Aelin's adventures.  I'm praying for a happy ending for all of my precious cinnamon rolls, (talking about you Dorian!)  Although there's no title or picture for this book yet, I did find something pretty sweet while I was snooping for some inside info.  There has been talk of the Throne of Glass series being optioned as a TV series!  I'm praying that this becomes a reality, but only if it's similar to Game of Thrones.  There's an article that talks a little about this development from September with recommendations for casting.  Check it out in the link here!  Book five in the Throne of Glass series debuts September 6th.

(goodreads.com)

    The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon:  There's no picture for this book either, plus a really pathetic synopsis, but considering the release date I'm not surprised.  This will be the third, (and final?), installment to the Bone Season series.  This series follows Paige Mahoney as she discovers her incredible clairvoyant powers as well as an alien invasion, a crime lord murder and a secret government plot.  There's a lot going on in this series so it's difficult to summarize, but basically Paige has to save everyone and ignore her feelings.  There's a revolution starting in Scion London and Paige, as the new Mime Lord of her sector, she is in charge of protecting her new subjects.  Someone is out there to prevent Paige from succeeding, an enemy of her past.  Will she finally be strong enough to stop the onslaught of destruction?  This adult series has really surprised me and although it took me a long time to finish the first book, I really enjoyed it.  The story is original, complex and intriguing in the way both sci-fi and fantastical elements collide in a whirlwind of action.  I'm really excited to see where this ends.  The Song Rising comes out November 3rd.

    Overall, my top three books that I'm most anticipating for 2016 are A Court of Mist and Fury, Lady Midnight and the fifth Throne of Glass book, in that order.  Those are the series that I'm most obsessed with at the moment, so those are the books I'm going to focus most of my energy on in the coming year.  Luckily I won't have to wait too long for Lady Midnight!  What books are you eagerly anticipating in the new year?  Are you pumped about any on my list?  Let's discuss in the comments below or you can hit me up on any of my social media platforms.  I hope everybody has fun at the various New Year's celebrations tonight.  See you all in 2016!  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.