October Wrap-Up and November TBR

  Hey everyone!  It's been real October, but we're finally into the holiday season, which is easily my favorite time of year (as I'm sure most of you can agree).  I'm not really a Halloween person, so I basically just wait for it to pass until I'm free of it.  I'm really proud of myself for the amount of books I was able to finish this month.  I ended up reading 5 total, which is a huge surge in comparison to other months.  I ended up reading most of the books I wanted to, plus some I had to add for school.  I'm hoping to keep my reading game strong heading into November too.  As usual, I'll start with my October reviews and then move into my TBR for November.

(goodreads.com)

    The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski: This book was a fast read in comparison to the books I usually go for (400-500 pages).  This book pretty much met my expectations.  The world is interesting, but not that exciting.  It reminded me of ancient Rome or the Middle East at times with it's traditions and the war-torn setting.  The characters were standard; one main female character, her trusty side-kick friend and the lone mystery boy who grabs their attention.  There are other characters too, but they are less memorable.  The court scandal and backstabbing made this story interesting.  The ending of this first book in the series leaves plenty of room for an action-packed sequel in which Kestrel must keep up appearances to maintain her position.  I'm curious to see where the story goes from here, but not enough to jump into this world again so soon.  I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo:  This book was EVERYTHING that I wanted it to be.  Before I start with my review, can I just say that when I got my hands on this beautiful thing I was amazed.  The pages edged in red, along with the whole cover underneath the dust jacket, the black inside.  I was actually really upset with myself that I didn't just go out and buy this series, but I'm trying to save my money for Christmas shopping, so I'll be putting these books at the top of my list for my birthday.  Anyway, in Six of Crows, we left our gang of thieves reeling after a gut-wrenching betrayal and the kidnapping of one of their own.  It was so great to see these guys try to regroup after a devastating loss.  The characters and their motives are what propel this story, so it was interesting to see everyone change gears and adapt some different mentalities as the story progressed.  Jesper has a few breakthroughs in this book with a few different characters.  I loved the tension of this book as well, much stronger than the first book, especially from within the group itself.  The banter was also great and really lightened up the mood a bit, but not too much.  We stay in Ketterdam for most of this book, which was a nice contrast to the questing of the last book.  Seeing the crew work on their own turf obviously gave them an advantage.  The ending was so genuine and well thought out.  My only real critique with this book is that it should have ended a chapter early.  That's literally my only complaint with this book.  I thought the way Kaz and Inej dealt with their relationship was appropriate for them and their situations.  The whole book was heartbreaking and satisfying at the same time.  I obviously gave this book 5 out of 5 stars and I definitely plan on re-reading this again after I get my own copy.

(goodreads.com)

    Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman: This one I actually read for a class I'm taking.  I've always wanted to read this graphic novel, but never really felt that I had the right amount of time to devote to reading it.  It took me longer than I expected, but I flew through this.  This nonfiction graphic novel tells the true story of Vladek Spiegelman, retold by his son Art, in the manner of illustrations depicting mice as the Jews and cats as the Nazi Germans.  It's all in black and white, which adds to the morbidity and the seriousness of this book.  The fact that it's real is very humbling.  Art uses his father's own voice, a broken sort of English due to his father's status as an immigrant, which adds more to the story because you can hear him speak.  Art also depicts his own frustration with his father because of Vladek's old ways and customs he just can't let go of.  The book dragged at times, but overall the pacing was what it should be for this kind of in-depth retelling of history.  This book is definitely a must-read for fans of World War II literature.  I gave it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater: This is the second book in the Raven Cycle series, so I was worried that my memory of the first book that I read a year ago would be a little foggy.  I need not have worried because the book takes off right where we left off.  We learn more about Ronan's talent and about the way the mysterious forest of Cabeswater works.  We are also introduced to a new character, The Gray Man, who gives me the creeps, but is actually more than he seems.  Where the first book is definitely more on the paranormal side, this one adds more fantastical elements.  This book is also more exciting and has more action than the first book.  We learn a little more about each of our characters and it's nice to see the progression each character takes in their development.  I'm already planning on finishing this series sooner rather than later because I don't want to risk forgetting anything.  You really have to pay attention to this story because there are small hints and clues spread throughout.  The way Stiefvater writes is really enthralling and I appreciate her almost poetic version of narrating.  I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.  Only two more to go!

(goodreads.com)

    A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess:  This book caught my eye on someone else's TBR and it sounded interesting, so I decided to pick it up on a whim.  This was also not on my original TBR, so I'll summarize it briefly.  Henrietta Howel (cool name, right?) has the power to burst into flames.  In this alternate version of Victorian London, sorcerers and magicians are not revered, but hunted and killed for possessing magic.  After using her powers to protect her friend Rook from a creature called a Familiar, servants to greater beings known as the Ancients, Henrietta is found out and brought to London to train with other sorcerers.  She finds out that not only are sorcerers not murdered for their powers, but their trained specifically to protect London from the Ancients.  She also finds out that she's the first female sorcerer...or is she?  The premise immediately grabbed me, along with raves from some of my favorite authors.  The similarities to some of my favorite series, like The Infernal Devices and Harry Potter were obvious, and a little weird.  Wands are called "staves," an attack by an Ancient leaves you scarred, and the magic system was somewhat complicated.  Sorcerers and magicians are feuding factions of magic users.  Magicians apparently have the ability to manipulate space and time with their thoughts while sorcerers act as conduits for elemental magic.  It was interesting to see how both magicians and sorcerers use magic in different ways.  The setting was one I've seen and loved before, so that wasn't very difficult to picture.  The fact that Henrietta was the only female in this guild of sorcerers was also interesting.  I thought that, for all the male characters in the story, only two stood out to me.  The author used Magnus and Blackwood for the boys' names, which are obviously Shadowhunter related.  What irked me the most was that Henrietta named her stave "porridge."  I couldn't ever let that go.  The ending I think was the best part because it left room for more questions.  I ended up giving this book 3 out of 5 stars.

(barnesandnoble.com)

    *I also read an audio book this month, which is something I've never done before.  This was also for a class, so I chose a book I've read before and always wanted to re-read.  I've heard wonderful things about Jim Dale and his award-winning narration and I wasn't disappointed.  The story was brought to life in such a way that made me miss my childhood and wonder why it took me so long to re-read this series.  I was also pleased with the fact that the book and the movie are actually quite similar, more so than I had actually thought.  I loved listening to this on my way to work and this experience opened me up to reading more audio books.  How can you not give Harry Potter 5 stars?


Now on to the books I plan on reading during the month of November!

(goodreads.com)

    A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir is the second book in the An Ember in the Ashes series and follows Laia and Elias as they flee the Empire on a journey to free Laia's brother Darin.  This book was on my TBR last month, but I had to rearrange my reading list to make room for overdue library books, so I ended up finishing it this month instead.  You can check out my summary in my last blog post and my review of this book will be up soon!

(goodreads.com)

    Outlander by Diana Gabaldon is the first book in the Outlander series.  I've been watching the show and I'm intrigued by the premise and the setting so much that I decided it's time to read the book.  I've heard so many great things about Gabaldon's writing and this book seems perfect for November.  For those of you who aren't familiar with this series, it begins in 1945 at the end of World War II and follows a combat army nurse named Claire as she goes on a second honeymoon with her husband Frank in Scotland.  While out on a stroll through the countryside, Claire accidentally activates a portal through a standing stone circle to the year 1743 during the Jacobite rebellion.  Claire must use her knowledge of history to aid her in surviving in this time period so she can figure out a way to get back home to 1945.  She also meets the swoon-worthy Scotsman James Fraser, who helps her understand the unfamiliar Scottish court.  The series is great and the scenery is breathtaking, so I'm really excited to start reading the book!

(goodreads.com)

    Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater is the third book in the Raven Cycle series.  As I said before, I'll hopefully be able to finish this series by the end of the year and I don't want to forget anything from the first two books, so I'm reading this one straight away.  The synopsis doesn't leave much to be desired, but I'm assuming this book will take place directly after the events of the last book, where we left off on a cliffhanger.  The gang has trespassed over dangerous territory and now there be monsters, both human and inhuman.  The hunt for Glendower continues!

(goodreads.com)

    As Old As Time by Liz Braswell is another Beauty and the Beast retelling I've been eyeing lately.  This book is part of a series called "Twisted Tales" that tell fairy tales from alternative viewpoints.  This one in particular asks the question: What if Belle's mother cursed the beast?  The story seems to hold true to the original while sprinkling in elements of invention here and there to create a what-if scenario.  The fact that Disney is involved makes me feel hopeful.  This should be really interesting, if I can get to it before the end of the month.  Also, LOOK AT THAT COVER!

    And there you have it, my wrap-up for October and my TBR for November.  It should be a good month for reading and I have a few more books I may add that I'm reading for my classes, so stay tuned for the reviews to come!  What books do you associate with fall or November specifically.  I'm always in the mood for a dark, gritty romance or fantasy series this time of year.  Let me know what you're reading down below in the comments or if you've read any of the books I've listed above.  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

September Wrap-Up and October TBR

  It's that time of year again!  Fall is most definitely in the air and that means darker reading material.  I'm hoping to put more of a dent in my reading goals this month, considering it took me almost an entire month to finish Empire of Storms (more on that later).  I've been trying to get my schoolwork under control as well, which also includes some reading, so making time to read has been difficult with everything else going on.  Let's get into the books I managed to finish last month and the books I plan on reading this month.

(goodreads.com)

    The first book I finished last month was And I Darken by Kiersten White.  This book is a historical fiction gender-bend story about the life of Vlad the Impaler.  I haven't read historical fiction in awhile, so I wanted to try and branch out and away from fantasy literature for a whole two minutes.  This book was better than I had anticipated.  I am not familiar with the author's other works, if there are any, but I found her writing style to be pleasant and easy to read, but still complex in its world-building and description of the characters.  It's a familiar story, but White twists it so that it is also unfamiliar, by making Vlad into Lada, a blood-thirsty warrior princess who's out for revenge against her father and her Ottoman captors.  I also found the portrayal of Islam to be fascinating.  I'm very interested in religion and the history of religion so this was an interesting presence to see in this book, especially with its historic context.  I also really liked Radu and his conflicting emotions about turning on his own religion, his family and his feelings.  It was a really satisfying read and I will be looking out for the sequel whenever it comes out.  I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    The second and last book I managed to complete (in the nick of time) was Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas.  This is the 5th book in the Throne of Glass series and IT WAS AMAZING as usual.  There isn't really much I can say about this book without spoilers because it's the second to last book in this series (cue the waterworks) but I can tell you that the continuation of the story was a little more hectic that before.  I wasn't necessarily drawn to the main characters as much as I was the side characters, and that pretty much seems to be the theme with other readers who have reviewed this book.  We spent a lot of time on the coast and barely any of it in Adarlan, where we spent the last few books.  The character development in this book was its strong point, as Sarah has a way with writing fabulous side characters and romance.  A lot of my favorite ships have docked in the harbor or flown away on top of a Wyvern, so we'll wait and see what happens in the finale but I'M STILL NOT READY SARAH.  I gave this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

    Now for my over-reaching reading goals for the month of October:

(goodreads.com)

    The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski is book one in The Winner's Trilogy and follows our main character Kestrel as she attempts to avoid joining the military in a militarized society.  Kestrel ends up purchasing a slave at auction by accident (?) and immediately regrets her decision.  Arin, the slave in question, is indifferent towards his new master and really doesn't listen to orders.  Because of their unique personalities, Kestrel and Arin begin to bond and form an unlikely friendship, but when it turns into something more, Kestrel and Arin must sacrifice everything for the betterment of their people.  I have already read this book (I finished it in four days) but I'll save my extended thoughts for the wrap-up.

(goodreads.com)

    Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo is currently in my possession and I CAN'T HANDLE THE EXCITEMENT.  I didn't think I would be this excited about a book, especially since I wasn't expecting to love this first one as much as I did.  This book is the finale in Bardugo's duology about a rag-tag team of thieves and criminals as they attempt to complete the heist they started in book one.  Everyone has debts to settle, revenge to exact, and money to earn.  I hope we get some closure for our characters in this book, but all I'm expecting is heartbreak and death.  Should be a fun ride!

(goodreads.com)

     The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater is the second book in The Raven Cycle series.  It's been about a year since I finished the first book and it seems like a great series to continue with this month considering its spooky nature.  Our friends are still working out the mystery of Glendower as they also deal with Ronan's revelation about his dream-thieving.  But Ronan isn't the only one who's interested in his abilities.  I have no idea where this story is going, so I'm excited to find out!

(goodreads.com)

    Lastly, I want to try to get to A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir.  Since I finished the first book a few months ago, I've been dying to read the next installment.  This second book this series follows Elias and Laia as they run from the law, including Elias's best friend Helene, who is now the new Emperor Marcus's Blood Shrike.  It looks like it will be a test of survival and loyalty, which I can't wait to read.

    This is actually a pretty ambitious TBR for me, so we'll see if I can get to everything.  So far I'm on book #2, so if I can keep up the pace, I may make it!  What are you reading this month?  If you've already read some of these books, what did you think?  Let me know in the comments below.  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

September TBR

    Welcome back!  I can't believe it's already September.  This month always signifies the start of fall, which is my favorite month of the year, and not just because of the weather and the cider donuts.  September also has a lot of great releases for books usually, so I'm eager to get my hands on a few of those in the coming weeks.  I officially start classes this week and I'm actually pretty excited about both of my courses, so hoping to incorporate some of what I'm reading for fun into my coursework.  Here's my modest list of books I hope to get to this month.

(goodreads.com)

    And I Darken by Kiersten White has one of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen.  I MEAN LOOK AT THAT COVER GUYS.  I really hope this is on ongoing theme for the other covers that will grace this series.  Artwork aside, I have had my eye on this book since it was announced.  The premise intrigued me and obviously the cover had me at hello, so I had to pick this up.  A not-exactly-entirely-accurate YA historical fiction focusing on a gender-swapped Vlad the Impaler?  Shut up and take my money.  I started this book on September 1st and I'm about half way through and I can safely say that I'll be reading the sequel.  The characters are really intriguing (and somewhat annoying at times) and I'm really interested in where the story is going, based on historical facts and the author's interpretation.  Definitely enjoying this one so far!

(goodreads.com)

    Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas is coming out TOMORROW AND HONESTLY I CAN'T WAIT ANOTHER SECOND.  I will be driving to the book store directly after work to buy this immediately and start devouring it with my eyes.  If you aren't already aware, I'm a HUGE Maas fan and I think I can speak for everyone in this fandom when I say that we've been waiting for book #5 for what seems like forever, (when in reality it's probably only been a year which is a totally acceptable deadline for Queen Maas I guess but whatever).  If you're new to this or haven't even read Throne of Glass yet and have been living a lie under a rock somewhere, then I'll very briefly summarize.  Celaena Sardothien, the best assassin in the realm, is given the opportunity to prove her worth in a contest to become the King's Champion, setting in motion a bunch of shit that hits the proverbial fan with both glorious and terrifying repercussions.  At this point I can't say much without spoiling everything, but there's a lot of Fae, hand-to-hand combat, romance, murder, court intrigue, and witty banter, which is basically everything you need in a high-fantasy series.  Plus a kick-ass protagonist with a score to settle and a taste for luxury isn't bad either.  Do yourself a favor if you haven't and start from the beginning; you won't be disappointed.

(goodreads.com)

    The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkowski came out what feels like a million years ago but everyone has been telling me that I'll love it so I decided why the heck not?  This series follows a girl named Kestrel, who lives in a realm that values war above all other things.  Kestrel is a general's daughter who's fate seems already sealed, until she buys an unusual slave at an auction.  Soon everything she has worked for is being threatened and she must sacrifice everything in the name of love.  Seems like your typical plot structure for a court-centered YA fantasy novel, but I'm willing to give it a shot, even if I can already tell where it'll lead me.  Better late than never!

    Alrighty, those are all the books that I'm committing to this month.  Are you excited for Empire of Storms?  Have you read The Winner's Curse already?  What did you think?  What are you all reading this month?  Let me know in the comments and I'll catch you all later!  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

August Wrap-Up

    Hello everyone!  I'm actually doing a wrap-up on time for once!!  I've also finished most of the books that I promised I'd read this month, so I'm feeling pretty accomplished right now.  I'm taking huge strides into being an actual adult.  I'll be starting more courses next week since it's officially September (where did August go?!) so I feel comfortable in my 3 book limit.  My next post will dive into the books I hope to read this month and I'm already excited about my prospects.  Here are the three books I read in the month of August.

(goodreads.com)

    I FINALLY finished Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson!!  The first half of this book dragged on for soooo long with me, I didn't think I could manage it, but about half way through I changed my mind and soldiered on, with great results.  The second half of this book was full of action, intrigue and mystery that had me reading faster to see what would happen.  Surprisingly, there was a lot more court politics in this book than I had originally anticipated, especially after the first half taking place in the slums mostly.  Although the story was interesting, I didn't feel as connected with the characters like I have with other books.  I enjoyed Vin the most for her wit and determination, with Kelsier and Elend as close seconds, but everyone else seemed pretty forgettable.  The setting was all over the place during the second half so at times it was difficult for me to picture what was going on.  Overall I'll probably pick up the second book in this series, but not any time soon.  I gave this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch: This book had been on my radar since I finished A Court of Thorns and Roses last year because of the seasonal kingdoms similarity.  Although I enjoyed the story (after getting through the first few chapters where nothing really happened) I wasn't really invested in it.  I thought all the characters were very unsure of themselves and Meira was the only one to really take any risks, and even then she blamed herself.  Her life goal seemed to be pleasing her Captain, which is a pretty lame existence to be sure.  I caught on to the "big secret" about half way through because it was somewhat predictable.  The setting was interesting, but again, not as much detail or charisma as there was in the description from ACOTAR.  The world building seemed lacking to me.  I had high expectations for this book that just weren't met.  I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either, so I just sort of feel "meh" about the whole thing really.  I  may finish the trilogy and I might not. I've heard mixed reviews about the second book, so it may take me awhile to get to it.  I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab: I decided against reading Cursed Child until October because I want to be in more of a fall mood when I read it, so I chose this book instead and I regret nothing.  I knew that I would enjoy Schwab's writing because honestly, who doesn't, but this book surpassed my expectations tenfold.  I went into this not really knowing what to expect because the concept of the plot was so unlike anything I've read before or that Schwab has written about before.  I was actually somewhat hesitant to pick this up, but I'm so glad I did.  The world was similar to what I read in Tell the Wind and Fire in the sense that there are two halves of a whole city who are at war with each other, but that's really where the similarities stop.  There are monsters in this Dystopian world who come into being as the result of violent events.  The three types of monsters are the results of various stages of violence and each have different abilities.  Kate Harker's father runs and protects the prosperous area of the city while August Flynn's adoptive father assumes control of the dangerous zone.  These two teens come together to prevent a war and in the process come to discover what it really means to be human.  I wasn't sure where this book was going until the middle and then I could barely put it down.  The only thing I'm still on the fence about it the lack of romance.  The story really didn't call for it, but while I was reading I could tell that there was something there that wasn't being addressed and it KILLED ME, but I was still happy with the outcome of the story.  There will be two more books in this series, so maybe my prayers will be answered, but even if they're not, I'll be waiting patiently for the next Schwab book.  I ended up giving this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

    So there you have it, those are the three books I managed to finish last month.  Let me know in the comments below if you've read any of these and what your thoughts are.  I also recently started writing book reviews at the library I work at, so if you're interested in reading those, I'll leave a link here so you can follow me there!  I'll be back soon with my September TBR, which I'm very excited about because there are a few highly anticipated releases coming out this month that I'm itching to get my hands on!  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

August TBR

    Sorry it's taken me so long to get to my TBR for this month, but this past weekend was super crazy!  Boston Comic Con was awesome and I'd do it again in a heartbeat, but after three packed days and a lot of walking around the city, I was totally spent.  I definitely needed the 10 hours of sleep.  Unfortunately, I also had no time to read, so it looks like my August TBR may be a bit small in comparison to last month, (since August is already half way done).  Here are the books I'll attempt to get to this month.

(goodreads)

    Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson:  I think I've been working on this book for at least two months now, but I'm determined to finish it!  This book is the first in a lengthy series about a society where certain people can bend metals to manifest extraordinary powers.  These people are rare and most reside with the noble class, whereas the lower class Skaa citizens are treated as slaves.  A rebellion is brewing, led by a Skaa rebel named Kelsier, who is also a Mistborn, someone who possesses the power to wield all metals.  Vin, his young apprentice, gets thrown into the mix as we follow her journey from Skaa street urchin to rebel spy.  I'm about 70% finished and I'm really enjoying it so far.  I'll definitely be adding more Sanderson books to my to-read pile.

(goodreads)

    The next book I'm planning on reading is Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch.  I think I had planned on getting to this one last month, but ended up running out of time, (story of my life).  Someone recommended this series to me after I read A Court of Thorns and Roses because the setting revolves around kingdoms separated by seasons.  The kingdom of Winter has been conquered and enslaved and Meira, a surviving refugee, has taken on the task of retrieving Winter's lost magic and restoring her kingdom back to glory.  This looks like a fun YA Fantasy series and I've been looking forward to starting it for awhile now.  The third book, Frost Like Night, comes out in September, so I'm hoping to get caught up before then.

(goodreads)

    The last book I will hopefully get to before the end of this month is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling.  This book is actually a published screen play for the theatrical eighth installment of the Harry Potter series and follows the gang and their children almost 20 years after the events of The Deathly Hallows.  I'm surprised at myself for not immediately wanting to read this because I bought it like two weeks ago, but I've been having trouble bringing myself to open it.  I have to read Snow Like Ashes before this because it's a library book that has a due date as opposed to a book I already own, so I will eventually get to this, hopefully within the next few months, but maybe not this month, due to the lack of time.

    So there you have it, my lackluster attempt at a TBR list.  Let me know if you've read any of these books and what you're planning on grabbing next month.  September is a big month for new book releases and I'll be doing a post soon about the books I'm most looking forward to next month.  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

June Wrap-Up and July TBR

    Hello everyone!  Can you believe it's already July?  I'm super hyped about my upcoming camping trip vacation and that means planning out what I'll read on the beach every day.  July is always a great reading month for me because I can usually knock out at least four books if not more while I'm on vacation, not including the rest of the month.  Before we look at my tentative reading list for July, let's talk about the two books I finished last month.

(goodreads.com)

    An Ember in the Ashes was actually a book that I wasn't initially interested in.  Desert fiction and Arabian fantasy don't really interest me or get me excited, so based on my judgment of the cover and synopsis, I didn't think I would like this book.  I judged this book way too quickly, which I will never do again.  The setting was actually based on Ancient Rome, which interests me greatly.  I really enjoyed the characters of this book and the connections between each of them.  The pacing at the beginning was a bit slow for me and I wasn't always sure what was going on.  I still had a tough time picturing the setting throughout the book, so I spent a lot of time going back and forth between the cover and the map inside to help me out.  I think Laia's development over the course of the book was great, especially since I found her annoying in the beginning.  My favorite character was probably Elias because he was very conflicted, but also very noble, which is an anomaly for his "profession."  I'm anticipating the sequel coming out soon to be just as action-packed as this first book, so hopefully I won't be disappointed.  I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

(goodreads.com)

    The second book that I managed to finish last month was Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton.  This book was recommended to me by a colleague and I wanted to give it a try.  Set in the Scottish wilderness (and China for a bit) this book follows a young girl named Quinn and her fellow Seekers-in-training John and Shinobu as they work towards their goals of becoming full-fledged Seekers like their parents.  Little do they know the price they are about to pay for that knowledge and power.  I thought the concept of this story was intriguing and the setting was gorgeous.  I'm a sucker for anything in the UK, so bring me there immediately please.  The concept of Seekers, which is the main conflict in the story, still seem to be a bit ambiguous.  By the end of the book, we understand what Seekers are doing now and the powers they possess through their artifacts, but we really don't understand what they are supposed to be doing or what they are supposed to represent, before they were turned into something other.  I'm hoping they elaborate more on that in the second book.
    The characters were a little stagnant for me in the sense that I didn't think that any of them really stood out or did anything to be recognized as cunning, important, strong, etc.  The character I liked the most and the one whom I thought had the best development and story line was Shinobu.  He had the biggest transformation for me and I found myself rooting for him in the end.  The story really revolved around him, with John portrayed as more of a villain (but even then, not really) and Quinn, whom I had thought was the main protagonist, but didn't really seem like it.  Overall, I think I would read the second book just to see where the story goes from where we left off.  I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars.

    Ok, so now I want to talk about the books that I plan on reading this month.  This will be a tentative list because things tend to come up and I may or may not get to all of these, despite my best intentions.  I also tend to change my mind over the course of a month (for example, I had no intention of reading Seeker last month until my coworker asked me to).  These are books I want to read in the month of July and over the summer or have just been on my TBR shelf for awhile.

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    The first book I plan on reading (or finishing) is Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.  I've already started it and it's taken me a long time to get to this book as it is.  This book follows six outlaws as they strive to complete the most impossible heist.  There's magic, backstabbing, and cunning gangs in this version of the Grisha world, which is a stark contrast to her other books.  I wasn't a huge fan of Bardugo's Grisha trilogy, so I was hesitant to pick this one up, which is set in the same world.  However, many Booktubers have been raving about this book, even if they didn't care for the original trilogy, so I thought I would give it a shot.  So far I'm not disappointed, so we'll see how it goes.

(goodreads.com)

    Hollow City by Ransom Riggs has also been on my TBR list, ever since I finished Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children last fall.  As you may already know, the movie adaptation is being released by the end of the year, so I'd like to brush up before going to see it.  I'm glad Tim Burton is directing, but it seems like they've already changed a lot of things about the characters so far, so I'm a bit wary.  Hollow City is a continuation of the original book, taking place directly after the events of the first book and following Jacob on his quest to London to meet up with other peculiars in order to fend off The Hollows.  This is one of the most interesting and unique story lines I've ever read and all of the characters bring something unique to the table, so I'm excited to continue with this series.

(goodreads.com)

    It's been almost a full year since Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: Sword of Summer was released and the next one will be coming out soon, so it's about time I read it.  I've never read any of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series or any of his other books, but the setting in Boston and the focus on Norse mythology had me interested in this book (not to mention the stunning cover).  I've had this book in my hands countless times but have never been able to pull the trigger until now.  This was my number one summer read on my list, so lets hope it lives up to the hype.

(goodreads.com)

    Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman recently infiltrated my TBR shelf.  I've been looking to fill the gaping void left by the Falling Kingdoms series (the next book doesn't come out until December) and this looked like a good fit.  There seems to be similarities in the variation in character perspectives as well as the alternative motives and manipulations of these characters.  The story takes place during an alternative past and follows a young Alexander the Great as he attempts to secure his kingdom.  This looks really interesting and I'm totally in the mood for another great fantasy, so bring it on!

(goodreads.com)

    Another book that's recently caught my eye is Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch.  I don't know much about this series besides the fact that the kingdoms are separated by seasons, which reminded me immediately of ACOTAR, obviously.  There seems to be a magical element as well, which is always interesting.  This story follows a young female refugee of the fallen Winter realm as she trains to avenge her people and help them rise to power again.  The cover is stunning as well, so I hope I have time to cram this book into my summer reading pile.

(goodreads.com)

    Last, but not least, another long-time resident of my TBR shelf is the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson.  I really couldn't tackle a huge series with the amount of schoolwork I've had lately, so the summer is really the best time to dive into a new epic fantasy series.  I've also been trying to read more adult books, regardless of genre, so I'm working my way towards that goal (albeit slowly).  This series is raved about on Booktube so much it would be a disservice to myself not to read it.  The main seller of this series is the magic system, which centers around Allomancy, (the manipulation of metals).  Sounds like a fun and epic read to be sure.  I can't wait to get into it!

    As I stated earlier, this is only a tentative list of books I hope to read next month.  In all likelihood, some many end up on August's reading list, but as long as I get to them before the fall, I think I'll feel accomplished either way.  I have some new releases coming out at the end of the summer and the early fall that I have to make room for, so I'm eagerly anticipating the next few months of reading.  What are you planning on reading this summer?  Have you read any of these books yet?  Let me know in the comments!  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!

(goodreads.com)

    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.

March TBR

    Hello again!  Welcome back.  As promised, I've returned to give you my March TBR.  It's not impressive by any means, but they are books I'm looking forward to reading, so let's get started!

    The first book I'm planning to read, (or finish), this month is Prudence, which is book one in The Custard Protocol series by Gail Carriger.  I already went into some detail on this book in my previous post because I'm currently in the process of reading it, so you can check out my thoughts so far down below.  I am enjoying it so far, but I can't wait to get to the other two books on my list!

(goodreads.com)

    A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab came for me in the mail yesterday, after pre-ordering it MONTHS ago.  The cover art is just as stunning in person and I literally cannot wait to dive into this book.  For those of you who aren't aware, this is the second book in Schwab's adult fantasy series, A Darker Shade of Magic, which follows the adventures of a magician named Kell and his friend Delilah Bard through alternative versions of London.  This book takes place four months after the dramatic events of the first book and Kell is left attempting to return to normal in his home of Red London as the kingdom prepares for a magical competition amid dark powers rising from a long-dead alternative universe.  This is one of the most original fantasy series I've ever read and I'm seriously invested in these characters, so I can't wait to see what happens in this next installment.  I literally have no idea what's going to happen, so I'm excited to find out for myself!  I mean LOOK AT THAT COVER ART THOUGH.

(goodreads.com)

    Lastly, but not least, I have Lady Midnight by Cassandra friggin Clare FINALLY comes out this month.  This is probably one of my most anticipated books of the year besides A Court of Mist and Fury.  LADY MIDNIGHT COMES OUT IN 5 DAYS GUYS.  5 DAYS!!!  Shadowhunters are back y'all, and they are in Los Angeles for this one.  This new series takes place five years after the events of City of Heavenly Fire from The Mortal Instruments series.  Emma's parents have been killed and she's still trying to figure out how when a long-lost family member returns at a price to help the Fair Folk regain what was lost to them in the war.  I'm already thoroughly invested in the Blackthorns and their predicament, not to mention the lone Carstairs giving me the Jem feels all over again.  I just can't wait to immerse myself in more of this world.  It's honestly an addiction guys.  I think I need help...

    Those are all the books I'm going to try to attempt this month.  I'm hoping I can get to all of them.  I've been having trouble keeping up with my reading, but I will definitely be plowing through those last two as soon as I can.  Also, at this point, I believe we're a little more than half way through Shadowhunters, so I'll try to post a review/recap at some point before posting my wrap-up for March, but I'm not promising anything.  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

February TBR

    Hello all! So today I'm bringing you my February TBR.  As I discussed in my previous post, I will most likely not be posting more than twice a month at this point based on the way my course work is going, (I'm still behind, but quickly catching up!).  I may choose to post a little something regarding Shadowhunters if something crazy happens, but other than that, expect just a wrap-up and TBR from me each month.  That being said, I wanted to do something a little different for this month.  Since I have no idea when I'll be able to read again or what will be available at the library, (which is where I've been getting most of my reading material as of late), I wanted to list a few books that I may end up reading this month and in the wrap-up reveal which ones actually made the cut.  I know it's a bit unorthodox, but I feel like it's the safest way to post a TBR without disappointing everyone at the end of the month when they find out I went totally off script, (like I did in October/November with The Mortal Instruments...)  Since I'm sure that I can't make time to read more than two or three books at this point, here are four books on my radar for February.

(goodreads.com)

    Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes is the second book in the Falling Kingdoms series.  I read the first book last month and loved it, so I'm obviously going to continue with the series.  Without revealing too many spoilers for those of you who haven't read it or haven't heard of it, we left off in Falling Kingdoms with an uprising led by King Gaius, leaving Mytica in shambles as Gaius attempts to merge all three kingdoms into one, led by himself.  Rebel Spring takes place directly after the events of the first book, with Cleo imprisoned in her own castle, Magnus vying for his father's attentions, Lucia discovering her long-dormant powers and Jonas attempting to counter the effects of the uprising with his rebel group.  I'm really enjoying the action and alternative perspectives in this book, so I don't think it'll disappoint me.  I currently have this book with me, so it's likely that I'll actually read it as well.

(goodreads.com)

    Prudence by Gail Carriger is a brand new series for me.  It was recommended by a former staff member of my library and it seemed like my kind of book, so I thought I would give it a try.  This is the first book in The Custard Protocol adult urban fantasy series, which I believe will be at least a trilogy.  It just came out last year and takes place some years after the events of Carriger's first series, The Parasol Protectorate.  Carriger also has a young adult series starting with the book Etiquette and Espionage, which I may pick up as well.  The Custard Protocol series follows a woman named Prudence, (or Rue), as she embarks on a rather pointless journey to India to get tea.  She runs into some supernatural beings and a mysterious plot involving kidnapping along the way.  This series seems to have both elements of steam punk nature as well as supernatural elements, such as vampires and werewolves.  Throw in a Victorian era vibe and some wit and you've hooked me immediately.  Just from reading the synopsis, I'm having flashbacks to my Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series days, which were HILARIOUS, so I'm hoping for more humor than drama in this book.  I also have this book partially in my grasp, so we'll see if I can hold onto it long enough to read it.

(goodreads.com)

    Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor is a book I've been TRYING to read for what feels like months now!  I originally made plans to read this book last month, however the person who currently has this book out from the library has yet to return it and has accrued a hefty late fee in the process.  Needless to say I requested it elsewhere, which means it should be in soon.  I've already blurbed this book, so I'll be brief.  It involves demons and angels, art students, magic and urban fantasy.  I've heard nothing but great things about this series, so I'm really eager to dive in!

(goodreads.com)

    Another book that I've been meaning to read sooner but couldn't get my hands on is Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan.  This book has been on my radar ever since I saw that beautiful cover grace my bookshelves at the bookstore where I worked this summer.  I've already read the chapter titles and they were hilarious, so I can't wait to see what the rest of the book has to offer.  This will be my first middle grade book since Harry Potter I think, so we'll see how I feel about that.  Also, I'm a little worried that I won't like the "young-troubled-boy-is-actually-a-descendant-of-greatness-and-gets-sucked-into-a-powerful-battle-against-his-will" trope that I didn't really enjoy in The Warrior Heir.  I'm hoping I can get more into this one since there are vikings, Norse mythology and Boston involved, as well as a lot more humor.  Even though I've never read any other books by Riordan, I'm excited to start my Riordan collection with this particular book.

    Alright, those are my tentative plans for reading in the month of February.  Like I said, I have some of these books already, but I can't hold them forever.  My studies obviously come first, so we'll see what I can make time for.  I really want to at least finish Rebel Spring, so anything after that is gravy as far as I'm concerned.  I also have more going on this month besides school.  My little sister is having her first child and her due date is tomorrow, (!!!!), so I'll be on baby watch this weekend.  I miss reading as much as I did this summer, so hopefully things will settle down soon!  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

January TBR

    Hello, and welcome to 2016!  So far so good on this end, although I've been battling a pretty nasty cold.  I apologize in advance if I don't end up posting Thursday, but I've been pretty busy on top of being sick, planning my little sister's baby shower for next weekend.  Forgive me if I'm a little scatter-brained!  I'm here today to bring you my list of books I'll be attempting to read this month.  Seeing as I only read about 3 books last month, I'll only try to tackle 4 or 5 this month.  We'll see if I can get to them all.

(goodreads.com)

    The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima is the first book in Chima's older, (first?), 5-book fantasy series.  I had originally planned to read this book a few months ago, but never got around to it.  But now I have time!  This book follows a boy named Jack, who is a high school teenager with a heart defect.  One day he skips his very important medicine and actually feels great, superior even to his old self.  He then gets thrown into a secret underground world filled with wizards and enchanters and warriors who live among us normal humans.  I've already started this book and I'm about 200 pages in.  At this point, I'm not loving it as much as Chima's Demon King series, but I'm going to try to read a few more hundred pages before I give up on it.  I'm just not that into it at the moment, but we'll see if that changes by the end of the month.

(goodreads.com)

    Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes is a fantasy series I've heard a lot of great things about.  It's been on my TBR shelf for awhile and now that I have access to it through the library I work at, I can finally read it!  This first book introduces the reader to the three kingdoms of Mytica and their struggle to keep the peace between their realms.  Four very different people in each of the kingdoms become intertwined in the fate of the ruined world.  I think the idea of telling the same story from four different perspectives seems interesting and I've liked other books that have done that as well, so I have high hopes for this one!

(goodreads.com)

    Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor just seems like a wild ride!  This is another books I've heard a lot of great things about and the last book in this series came out last year, so I'm looking forward to starting it fresh.  This is also another story about demons and angels I guess, which perked my interest, considering my current obsession with Shadowhunters.  This story takes place in Prague and follows Karou, a budding art student with bright blue hair who gets involved with the wrong sort.  Akiva, a haunted but beautiful soul, will no doubt change Karou's life forever.  The synopsis on the book doesn't really give much away, but I kind of like that because I have no idea what this book is really about other than from what I've heard from other people who've read it already.  Really excited to pick this one up!

(goodreads.com)

    Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan is the first book in Riordan's new middle grade series, which came out last fall.  I am one of those people who've never read Percy Jackson, but what drew me to this particular book was the tie in with vikings and Norse mythology, which is very interesting to me, and the fact that the book takes place partially in Boston, which is my home city.  I recently picked up this book while I was at work and just leafed through all the titles of the chapters and I DIED LAUGHING.  I can't wait to read this and I can't wait it's taken me this long to put it on my TBR.  THAT COVER THOUGH.

(goodreads.com)

   Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare, because I really haven't gotten enough of this series and I'm TRYING to prepare myself for the SHADOWHUNTERS premiere in A WEEK GUYS.  IT'S OFFICIALLY A WEEK AWAY!!  If you still, for some reason, haven't read my synopsis or review of this book already, click the link here or forever hold your peace.  Still keeping track and posting the funniest quotes I find from the books, so hit me up on Instagram to check it out!  I'll be compiling a huge list and posting it to here, maybe this month, once I'm finished gathering the funniest quotes I can find.  Stay tuned!

    There you have it, my  condensed TBR for January.  I feel sad that I can't read as much as I could over the summer, but it will only get more difficult when I start classes at the end of the month.  I'm also trying to pay attention to what I want to read versus what I'm forcing myself to read, hence why I may abort that first book to make room for others.  Always follow your reading instincts!  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.