Book Review: All of Us Villains (All of Us Villains, #1)

When I first heard that Amanda Foody had a new book coming out, I was positively giddy. But then I saw that it was a dual collaboration with Christine Lynn Herman and they were going for a very dark plot… Well let’s just say that I was very jazzed about it. And I have to say that All of Us Villains definitely lived up to my original hype. I need more ASAP.

All of my thanks to Macmillan/Tor Teen for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.


The blockbuster co-writing debut of Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman, All of Us Villains begins a dark tale of ambition and magick…

 

You Fell In Love With The Victors of The Hunger Games.
Now Prepare To Meet The Villains of The Blood Veil.

After the publication of a salacious tell-all book, the remote city of Ilvernath is thrust into worldwide spotlight. Tourists, protesters, and reporters flock to its spellshops and ruins to witness an ancient curse unfold: every generation, seven families name a champion among them to compete in a tournament to the death. The winner awards their family exclusive control over the city’s high magick supply, the most powerful resource in the world.

In the past, the villainous Lowes have won nearly every tournament, and their champion is prepared to continue his family’s reign. But this year, thanks to the influence of their newfound notoriety, each of the champions has a means to win. Or better yet–a chance to rewrite their story.

But this is a story that must be penned in blood.

Have you ever wanted a very dark story about an intensely complicated family relationships and a magical death match between a bunch of antihero teenagers with very questionable motives? Well friends, you are in luck! Foody and Herman have totally delivered on all accounts! The plot in this story is so incredibly dark and twisted, delivering some very interesting revelations from start to finish. I thought the pacing was perfectly done. I loved the build up to the curse, learning about each of the seven families and their chosen participant. Truthfully, I was surprised to find myself super invested in the personal family histories and relationships. As exciting as the violent and super action-packed competition was, I could have read an entire book on the Ilvernath elite.

What also helped really move the story along, was that we were given a POV from a few of the seven competitors. Alistair Lowe – the broody boy who plays the villain to keep others at a distance. Isobel Macaslan – the veryyy reluctant champion of a family who uses her as a media darling to drum up support. Briony Thorburn – the strongest member of her family, but suffers from a serious savior-complex. Gavin Grieves –  Gavin’s family is at the very bottom in terms of prestige but he has very different plans for this tournament. Each of these main characters were different with a unique voice and personality. I never struggled to remember who was who. I also loved seeing how their interactions changed and developed over the course of the story, as the characters themselves went through personal growth. If I had to choose a favorite POV though, I think it would be a toss-up between Alistair and Gavin. They scream villain/antihero and I never knew what they were going to do next.

Roland gave her a courtier’s smile. “And what sort of work do you do for my uncle”Dorian shifted on his feet and Chaol went very still, but Celaena returned Roland’s smile and said, “I bury the king’s op

Like I mentioned before, this book is VERY dark. For me, that is always a bonus when it comes to YA stories, as they usually try to steer more towards cutesy and sweet. I think this more recent push to elevating YA towards heavier themes and darker settings is much more in my wheelhouse. But with that being said, if you are a little squeamish or just prefer your books to have an overall upbeat tone, then you may want to skip this one. Villains is dark, it’s violent, and the majority of the characters aren’t good people. Basically what I’m saying is, it’s the perfect book to pick up in time for Halloween. 

This is one of the rare times where I can’t really think of any issues I had with a book. The general plot of the book may seem very similar to other novels (namely The Hunger Games), but it was done in such a unique way that I didn’t even notice it while I was reading. The setting was fantastic, the characters were interesting, and I am very VERY much here to find out how it all ends. I would like to send a quick prayer to the book gods for a speedy release date for the sequel. I’ve been very good this year (HA!) and deserve for my dream to come true…. Wait, none of y’all believe me?! Drat.

Final Verdict: 5/5 Stars


Is All of Us Villains on your TBR this fall? Do you prefer to read dark or lighthearted stories more?  Do you like it when books revolve around a competition?

WWW Wednesday – August 25th, 2021

Welcome to WWW Wednesday which is currently being hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words. It’s really just a place to do little update on what all you’ve been reading lately. Anyone is welcome to join, just leave a link to your post in the comments and be sure to give the appropriate credit to Sam!


Currently Reading

  • The Bone Season (The Bone Season, #1)  by Samantha Shannon – audiobook, reread
  • Water’s Wrath (Air Awakens, #4)  by Elise Kova – ebook

I have about 25% left of Bone Season and I’m loving it just as much as I did the first two times I read it, haha. The audiobook does lend something new to the story so I’m really glad I chose to go that route this time around. And I’ve finally picked Wrath up again and making some progress in it. This series keeps taking new turns with each book so I’m ready to see where this one goes!

What did you recently finish reading?

  • All of Us Villains (All of Us Villains, #1)  by Amanda Foody & Christine Lynne Herman – ebook, ARC
  • So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix (Reimagined Classics, #2)  by Bethany C. Morrow – ebook, ARC

I’m really glad that I spent the past week reading through some of my ARCs. And that I loved them both!! Villains was so fantastically dark and violent. I especially loved the family drama parts the most. I found their history and relationships to be almost as interesting and engrossing as the action of the curse. As for Beginnings, I don’t know what I was expecting but I do know that I wasn’t prepared to love it as much as I did. Little Women is one of my all-time favorites so I was a little worried, but I didn’t need to be. Morrow did such a fantastic time transforming it into an important story tackling the lives of the March family as newly freed slaves. I’ll have full reviews for both being posted over the next week.

What do you think you’ll read next?

  • Crystal Crowned (Air Awakens, #5)  by Elise Kova – ebook
  • Cazadora (Wolves of No World, #2) by Romina Garber – ebook
  • Under the Whispering Door  by TJ Klune – ebook, ARC

What are you currently reading? What books did you finish this week? What are you planning on reading next? Have you read any of the books on my list? If so, what did you think of them? Leave a link to your WWW Wednesday post in the comments below!

WWW Wednesday – August 18th, 2021

Welcome to WWW Wednesday which is currently being hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words. It’s really just a place to do little update on what all you’ve been reading lately. Anyone is welcome to join, just leave a link to your post in the comments and be sure to give the appropriate credit to Sam!


Currently Reading

  • All of Us Villains (All of Us Villains, #1)  by Amanda Foody & Christine Lynne Herman – ebook, ARC
  • The Bone Season (The Bone Season, #1)  by Samantha Shannon – audiobook, reread

I’m a little over halfway through Villains and am LOVING it! This book is dark with so many different layers to it. I love how the different families are all super complicated and interesting in different ways. It also has a creepiness factor that would make for the perfect Halloween read… Hint Hint!

I’m also about a third of the way through the audio for The Bone Season. This is my third reread of the series, but I always have to do this when a new sequel comes out as there’s such a long time between releases. Ya girl needs a refresh!

What did you recently finish reading?

  • The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith – ebook, ARC
  • The Guncle by Steven Rowley – audiobook
  • Covet (Crush, #3)  by Tracy Wolff – physical book

I really enjoyed every single of these! You could say I definitely had a really good reading week last week. If you want to know more about The Witch Haven before its release on the 30th, please check out my full review that I posted yesterday!

What do you think you’ll read next?

  • Crystal Crowned (Air Awakens, #5)  by Elise Kova – ebook
  • The Iron Queen (The Iron Fey, #3)  by Julie Kagawa – physical book
  • Tilly and the Bookwanderers (Pages & Co., #1)  by Anna James – physical book

What are you currently reading? What books did you finish this week? What are you planning on reading next? Have you read any of the books on my list? If so, what did you think of them? Leave a link to your WWW Wednesday post in the comments below!

2021 Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag

Folks, it’s true. I’m back! It’s been a long 18 months since you’ve heard from me, but my job got extremely busy and complicated last year and has just now decided to finally slow back down and let me get back to the wonderful world of blogging. Did you miss me? You know I missed you! And hey, what better way to get reintroduce myself to you than a mid-year catch up?


Best Book You’ve Read So Far

Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far

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New Release You Haven’t Read Yet But Want To

Most Anticipated Release For The Second Half Of The Year

Biggest Disappointment

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I was super excited for this book when it was first announced. However, I found it to be incredibly slow and the mystery didn’t quite capture my interest like I thought it would. I was just expecting a little bit more from this one.

Biggest Surprise

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This is a series that I came across on Kindle Unlimited and I had no idea what to expect. But man, oh man, did this series have me hooked from the very first page. It’s not amazing, nor will the writing win any prizes, but it is soooo stinking fun. It’s my guilty pleasure series of 2021… and no, I do not feel one ounce of guilt for loving it. Definitely recommend it if you want some naughty fun, but fair warning that a large portion of it does deal with some very adult situations around extreme bullying.

Favorite New Author (Debut/New To You)

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Whattttttt?! Larkin’s choice is a rom-com writer?! Yes, it’s true! I started listening to Jenny Colgan’s books on audio earlier this year and really fell in love. They’re cozy and cute and the small Scottish village setting really becomes its own character. Her books are like eating your favorite comfort food. I can’t get enough!

Newest Fictional Crush

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Selwyn Kane. Bad boy and resident Merlin… Be still my beating heart.

Newest Favorite Character

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Sophie and Howl. I couldn’t really choose just one of them because their hilarious back and forth sassy comments made this book for me. I caught myself laughing aloud whenever they got into one of their arguments. And controversial opinion time: The book is wayyyy better than Miyazaki’s film adaptation. Like not even close.

Book That Made You Cry

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Yes, I bawled my eyes out at this finale. No shame.

Book That Made You Happy

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I was provided an ARC of this book from the publisher and enjoyed it so much. It had the cutest little romance that made me smile the entire time I read it.

Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought So Far This Year

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What Books Do You Need To Read By The End Of The Year

Favorite Book To Movie Adaptation You’ve Seen This Year

It’s not a movie, but the Shadow and Bone series on Netflix was absolutely amazing. It completely blew my expectations out of the water! I just really need season two to come out immediately, please!


What is your favorite book read of 2021 so far? Biggest disappointment? Have you discovered a new favorite author? What book are you most looking forward to reading in the second half of the year?

My 2020 Must Read TBR List

I will totally admit that I make one of these lists every single year and then never actually end up reading the majority of the books on that list. However, this year I really plan to try and be the adult that I am and finally knock some of these titles off of my TBR. Some of these books have been sitting on my shelves gathering dust for years, while others are newer releases that I had been anxiously waiting for but still haven’t picked up yet. Why do I do this to myself you ask? I honestly have no idea. Maybe it’s just part of a being a bookworm… too many books, too little time.


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King of Fools (The Shadow Game, #2) by Amanda Foody

I read the first book in this series when it came out and really enjoyed it. I was super excited for this sequel… and then totally forgot about it when it was released. Does anyone else do this too or is it just me? We should start a club.

On the quest to find her missing mother, prim and proper Enne Salta became reluctant allies with Levi Glaisyer, the city’s most famous con man. Saving his life in the Shadow Game forced Enne to assume the identity of Seance, a mysterious underworld figure. Now, with the Chancellor of the Republic dead and bounties on both their heads, she and Levi must play a dangerous game of crime and politics…with the very fate of New Reynes at stake.

Thirsting for his freedom and the chance to build an empire, Levi enters an unlikely partnership with Vianca Augustine’s estranged son. Meanwhile, Enne remains trapped by the mafia donna’s binding oath, playing the roles of both darling lady and cunning street lord, unsure which side of herself reflects the truth.

As Enne and Levi walk a path of unimaginable wealth and opportunity, new relationships and deadly secrets could quickly lead them into ruin. And when unforeseen players enter the game, they must each make an impossible choice: To sacrifice everything they’ve earned in order to survive…

Or die as legends.

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Defy the Fates (Constellation, #3) by Claudia Gray

This series has been such a wild ride and I’ve loved every minute of it. I like to think that I’ve been putting off reading this finale because I’m just not ready for this story to end. Claudia Gray just gets me so well with her stories.

Hunted and desperate.

Abel only has one mission left that matters: save the life of Noemi Vidal. To do that, he not only has to escape the Genesis authorities, he also must face the one person in the galaxy who still has the means to destroy him. Burton Mansfield’s consciousness lives on, desperate for a home, and Abel’s own body is his last bargaining chip.

Alone in the universe.

Brought back from the brink of death, Noemi Vidal finds Abel has not only saved her life, but he’s made her into something else, something more. Not quite mech, yet not quite human any longer, Noemi must find her place in a universe where she is utterly unique, all while trying to create a world where anyone–even a mech–can be free.

The final battle between Earth and the colony planets is here, and there’s no lengths to which Earth won’t go to preserve its domination over all humanity. But together, the universe’s most advanced mech and its first human-mech hybrid might have the power to change the galaxy for good.

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We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix

I’ll admit that I got a signed ARC of this book at BookCon in 2018 and still haven’t read it. I’m not proud of that either. I still can’t believe I haven’t read this book either since it sounds like something that I’d really enjoy.

In the 1990s, heavy metal band Dürt Würk was poised for breakout success — but then lead singer Terry Hunt embarked on a solo career and rocketed to stardom as Koffin, leaving his fellow bandmates to rot in rural Pennsylvania.

Two decades later, former guitarist Kris Pulaski works as the night manager of a Best Western – she’s tired, broke, and unhappy. Everything changes when she discovers a shocking secret from her heavy metal past: Turns out that Terry’s meteoric rise to success may have come at the price of Kris’s very soul.

This revelation prompts Kris to hit the road, reunite with the rest of her bandmates, and confront the man who ruined her life. It’s a journey that will take her from the Pennsylvania rust belt to a Satanic rehab center and finally to a Las Vegas music festival that’s darker than any Mordor Tolkien could imagine. A furious power ballad about never giving up, even in the face of overwhelming odds, We Sold Our Souls is an epic journey into the heart of a conspiracy-crazed, paranoid country that seems to have lost its very soul…where only a girl with a guitar can save us all.

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The Philosopher’s Flight (The Philosophers Series, #1) by Tom Miller

I got this book from Book of the Month Club when it first came out and yet here it still is, unread and alone. I’m pretty sure this is a story that I’ll love too. There’s really no reason for me not having picked it up yet.

Eighteen-year-old Robert Weekes is a practitioner of empirical philosophy—an arcane, female-dominated branch of science used to summon the wind, shape clouds of smoke, heal the injured, and even fly. Though he dreams of fighting in the Great War as the first male in the elite US Sigilry Corps Rescue and Evacuation Service—a team of flying medics—Robert is resigned to mixing batches of philosophical chemicals and keeping the books for the family business in rural Montana, where his mother, a former soldier and vigilante, aids the locals.

When a deadly accident puts his philosophical abilities to the test, Robert rises to the occasion and wins a scholarship to study at Radcliffe College, an all-women’s school. At Radcliffe, Robert hones his skills and strives to win the respect of his classmates, a host of formidable, unruly women.

Robert falls hard for Danielle Hardin, a disillusioned young war hero turned political radical. However, Danielle’s activism and Robert’s recklessness attract the attention of the same fanatical anti-philosophical group that Robert’s mother fought years before. With their lives in mounting danger, Robert and Danielle band together with a team of unlikely heroes to fight for Robert’s place among the next generation of empirical philosophers—and for philosophy’s very survival against the men who would destroy it.

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Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

This is a beloved bestseller and I have yet to experience its beauty. But do not fear, I plan to finally pick up this beauty this year, especially since I want to read it before the adaptation is released.

Set in the days of civilization’s collapse, Station Eleven tells the story of a Hollywood star, his would-be savior, and a nomadic group of actors roaming the scattered outposts of the Great Lakes region, risking everything for art and humanity.

One snowy night a famous Hollywood actor slumps over and dies onstage during a production of King Lear. Hours later, the world as we know it begins to dissolve. Moving back and forth in time—from the actor’s early days as a film star to fifteen years in the future, when a theater troupe known as the Traveling Symphony roams the wasteland of what remains—this suspenseful, elegiac, spellbinding novel charts the strange twists of fate that connect five people: the actor, the man who tried to save him, the actor’s first wife, his oldest friend, and a young actress with the Traveling Symphony, caught in the crosshairs of a dangerous self-proclaimed prophet.

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Middlemarch by George Eliot

I finally started on this classic last summer and I haven’t picked it up since… FOR SHAME, LARKIN.

Taking place in the years leading up to the First Reform Bill of 1832, Middlemarch explores nearly every subject of concern to modern life: art, religion, science, politics, self, society, human relationships. Among her characters are some of the most remarkable portraits in English literature: Dorothea Brooke, the heroine, idealistic but naive; Rosamond Vincy, beautiful and egoistic: Edward Casaubon, the dry-as-dust scholar: Tertius Lydgate, the brilliant but morally-flawed physician: the passionate artist Will Ladislaw: and Fred Vincey and Mary Garth, childhood sweethearts whose charming courtship is one of the many humorous elements in the novel’s rich comic vein.

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Dance of Thieves (Dance of Thieves, #1) by Mary E. Pearson

As someone who became obsessed with The Remnant Chronicles, I cannot wait any longer to finally read this new story in the same world.

A formidable outlaw family that claims to be the first among nations.

A son destined to lead, thrust suddenly into power.

Three fierce young women of the Rahtan, the queen’s premier guard.

A legendary street thief leading a mission, determined to prove herself.

A dark secret that is a threat to the entire continent.

When outlaw leader meets reformed thief, a cat-and-mouse game of false moves ensues, bringing them intimately together in a battle that may cost them their lives―and their hearts.


Do you struggle to read all of the books on your shelves in a timely manner? Are you able to read your books when you say you will? Have you read any of the books on my list? If so, what did you think of it?

Books On My TBR With Unattractive Covers

I think we can all agree that book covers have gotten sooooo much more attractive in the last couple of years, especially comparing to releases from the 2000’s. However, even though books have gotten prettier on the whole, we do still occasionally come across ones that just don’t quite live up to our expectations or its peers. Honestly, if we never see another cover with just a girl in a dress, then I think our lives are already improved by 10%.


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The Beautiful Strangers by Camille Di Maio

Seriously, a book set on a movie set during Hollywood’s Golden Age and THIS is what you came up with? Soooo much missed opportunity here and it pisses me off.

1958. Kate Morgan, tethered to her family’s failing San Francisco restaurant, is looking for an escape. She gets her chance by honoring a cryptic plea from her grandfather: find the beautiful stranger. The search takes her to Hotel del Coronado, the beachfront landmark on the Southern California coast where filming is underway on the movie Some Like It Hot.

For a movie lover like Kate, it’s a fantasy come true. So is the offer of a position at the glamorous hotel. And a new romance is making her heart beat just as fast. But as sure as she is that the Coronado is her future, Kate discovers it’s also where the ghosts of the past have come to stay. Sixty years ago a guest died tragically, and she still haunts the hotel’s halls.

As the lives of two women—generations apart—intertwine, Kate’s courageous journey could change more than she ever imagined. And with the Coronado wending its way through her soul, she must follow her dreams…wherever they may lead.

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Antigoddess (Goddess War, #1) by Kendare Blake

I guess they were trying to go for badass, but it just ended up looking terrible. The only thing I like is the font. Why would I want to stare at someone’s back?

Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning.

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out.

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

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King of Fools (The Shadow Game, #2) by Amanda Foody

I actually have not liked either book cover for this series. They’re a little too plain and miss the whimsy and decadence of the setting of the story.

On the quest to find her missing mother, prim and proper Enne Salta became reluctant allies with Levi Glaisyer, the city’s most famous con man. Saving his life in the Shadow Game forced Enne to assume the identity of Seance, a mysterious underworld figure. Now, with the Chancellor of the Republic dead and bounties on both their heads, she and Levi must play a dangerous game of crime and politics…with the very fate of New Reynes at stake.

Thirsting for his freedom and the chance to build an empire, Levi enters an unlikely partnership with Vianca Augustine’s estranged son. Meanwhile, Enne remains trapped by the mafia donna’s binding oath, playing the roles of both darling lady and cunning street lord, unsure which side of herself reflects the truth.

As Enne and Levi walk a path of unimaginable wealth and opportunity, new relationships and deadly secrets could quickly lead them into ruin. And when unforeseen players enter the game, they must each make an impossible choice: To sacrifice everything they’ve earned in order to survive…

Or die as legends.

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Every Man a Menace by Patrick Hoffman

This cover literally tells me nothing about what the book is about. Not to mention the fact that the font makes it look like a thriller or murder mystery released in the 70’s.

San Francisco is about to receive the biggest delivery of MDMA to hit the West Coast in years. Raymond Gaspar, just out of prison, is sent to the city to check in on the increasingly erratic dealer expected to take care of distribution. In Miami, the man responsible for getting the drugs across the Pacific has just met the girl of his dreams—a woman who can’t seem to keep her story straight. And thousands of miles away in Bangkok, someone farther up the supply chain is about to make a phone call that will put all their lives at risk. Stretching from the Golden Triangle of Southeast Asia to the Golden Gate of San Francisco, Every Man a Menace offers an unflinching account of the making, moving, and selling of the drug known as Molly—pure happiness sold by the brick, brought to market by bloodshed and betrayal.

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The Black Prism (Lightbringer, #1) by Brent Weeks

This cover is just garish. I feel like a lot of adult fantasy is given the worst book covers that continue to look the same as they did 20 years ago. Brent Weeks really does deserve better than this.

Guile is the Prism, the most powerful man in the world. He is high priest and emperor, a man whose power, wit, and charm are all that preserves a tenuous peace. Yet Prisms never last, and Guile knows exactly how long he has left to live.

When Guile discovers he has a son, born in a far kingdom after the war that put him in power, he must decide how much he’s willing to pay to protect a secret that could tear his world apart.


What are some books on your TBR that have ugly covers? Do you judge books by their cover? Does that affect if you will read a book or not?

 

 

 

 

10 Book Recommendations To Pick Up This Fall!

For those of us in Texas, it doesn’t really start to feel like fall until October rolls around. We aren’t as blessed with temperature drops in September like those of you to the north of us (so jealous, by the way!). However, we are finally expecting our first cool front to roll through later this week and so I thought this would be the perfect time for me to share some recommendations for you to cozy up with this fall. I can already smell all of the cinnamon and pumpkin candles being lit!


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Scream All Night by Derek Milman

I just finished this audiobook yesterday and really enjoyed it. I mean, a book set in a horror films studio that’s basically a big creepy castle? Oh yes! Mark this one as quirky rather than scary, as it lacks the horror and focuses more on the eccentrics.

 

 

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The Diviners (The Diviners, #1) by Libba Bray

I’m sure most of you are aware of Bray’s atmospheric reads, and this series is no different. It’s got plenty of the supernatural, all mixed up with the excitement of the Roaring 20’s. So fun!

 

 

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The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1) by Holly Black

I don’t know why but I always associate books about the Fair Folk with autumn. Something about them just screams changing leaves and crisp fall air to me. And I cannot get enough of multi-dimensional characters in this series! Cardan is just sooo delicious. 😉

 

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These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

I’m a sucker for really good historical fiction, so combine that with a murder mystery set in the turn of the 20th Century and I’m totally here for it!

 

 

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The Cutting Season by Attica Locke

I really enjoyed this atmospheric contemporary mystery set on an old plantation in Louisiana. Old buried secrets come to light when a young women who grew up there becomes the manager and must confront her past, as well the as haunted past of the plantation itself.

 

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Sadie by Courtney Summers

I listed to this audiobook recently and fell in love. It was intense and full of emotion, and I cannot recommend it enough. If you enjoy unresolved mysteries then you’ll really like this one.

 

 

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Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody

Come on, a traveling magical circus?! That just screams fall and you cannot tell me otherwise! I can already taste the caramel corn…. Yum!

 

 

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How to Hang a Witch (How to Hang a Witch, #1) by Adriana Mather

If you thought the Salem Witch Trials ended in the 1600’s, then you’re wrong. All hell breaks loose once again when a descendant of the one of the original victims returns to Salem, and that’s only the beginning…

 

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The Bone Season (The Bone Season, #1) by Samantha Shannon

Something about the gloomy nature of this dystopian London just screams fall to me. Also, this series is one of my all-time favorites, so I really just want to read it any time of year. I’m dying for the next book to be released!

 

 

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A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy, #3) by Deborah Harkness

I think this one is pretty self-explanatory based on that title. However, this is also just an amazing series. It’s got witches, vampires, Daemons, and all sorts of supernatural elements. And for all of my British friends, you can currently watch the television series on Sky! So jealous!

 


What are some books that you would recommend to read in the fall? Have you read any of the books on my list? If so, what did you think of them? Do you tend to read a certain genre in the fall?

 

June Wrap-Up: Reviews, Reading Challenges, etc.

I had a decent reading month in June, but nothing amazing. Things have been really busy and stressful at work, which has affected my reading some. I catch myself coming home and just watching tv to relax more than I have in years. I’d like to thank Hulu and Netflix for taking over my life recently, especially Hulu. Hopefully I can get back into reading consistently soon.


Books Read

  • Ace of Shades (The Shadow Game, #1) by Amanda Foody – physical book, 5/5 stars
  • Legendary (Caraval, #2) by Stephanie Garber – physical book, 5/5 stars, Book Review
  • Defy the Worlds (Constellation, #2) by Claudia Gray – physical book, 5/5 stars
  • Scarlet (Scarlet, #1) by A.C. Guaghen – audiobook, 3/5 stars
  • Lady Thief (Scarlet, #2) by A.C. Gaughen – audiobook, 4/5 stars
  • The Diviners (The Diviners, #1) by Libba Bray – audiobook (reread), 5/5 stars
  • Ahsoka (A Star Wars Novel) by E.K. Johnston – physical book, 4/5 stars
  • A Reaper at the Gates (An Ember in the Ashes, #3) by Sabaa Tahir – physical book, 5/5 stars, Book Review

Total Books Read: 8

Overall in 2018: 43

Reading Challenge Updates

POPSUGAR

  • A book you own but haven’t read yet – Ahsoka

Goodreads Challenge

Total: 43/75

Previous Total: 35/75

Blog Posts

Book Reviews

WWW Wednesday

Discussions/Misc.


How did your reading month in June go? Were you able to read all of the books on your TBR? Did you read any new favorites? What book did you like the least? Did you do anything fun or interesting?

WWW Wednesday – June 13th, 2018

Welcome to WWW Wednesday which is currently being hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words. It’s really just a place to do little update on what all you’ve been reading lately. Anyone is welcome to join, just leave a link to your post in the comments and be sure to give the appropriate credit to Sam!

The Three W’s are:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

  • A Reaper at the Gates (An Ember in the Ashes, #3) by Sabaa Tahir – physical book
  • The Diviners (The Diviners, #1) by Libba Bray – audiobook

I didn’t have time to read as much Reaper as I wanted to last night. However, even though I’m only 50 pages into it, I’m already hooked. I think the biggest problem for me right now is that I hardly remember a thing about what happened in the previous book. Bits and pieces are coming back to me but I probably should look up a complete synopsis before I pick it up again tonight. This is why I need authors to write their complete series first and then release them every 6 months, so I don’t have to continue to struggle with a terrible memory! Apparently Michael J. Sullivan does that and basically he’s my hero for it.

This is actually a reread of The Diviners. I first read it back when it was first released and so now that there are multiple sequels out, I thought it was a good time for a reread and than move forward with the series. I’m sooooooo glad I decided to do the audiobook this time around, because y’all, it’s AMAZING. The narrator is so darn good with giving a distinctive voice for each character and just creating the perfect atmosphere. I highly recommend the audiobook version if you’re interested in reading this series! Also, I remember being obsessed when I first read this and this reread has brought all of those feelings back. I love, love, love this story!

What did you recently finish reading?

  • Ahsoka (A Star Wars Novel) by E.K. Johnston – physical book, 4/5 stars
  • Ace of Shades (The Shadow Game, #1) by Amanda Foody – physical book, 5/5 stars, review to come

I’m so glad I decided to get back to reading my Star Wars novels regularly again and started with Ahsoka. She’s my favorite character and I thought that Johnston did a great job bringing her to life in this book. I really enjoyed finding out what happened to her after The Clone Wars.

I don’t think I’ll ever stop gushing over Ace of Shades. This book was just so damn good, y’all! It was dark, brutal, and deliciously sinful. It was like if you set Six of Crows in Las Vegas and made them lose all inhibitions. I loved how twisted the story was and cannot wait to find out what will happen next. I need the sequel immediately!!!

What do you think you’ll read next?

  • Trail of Lightning (The Sixth World, #1) by Rebecca Roanhorse – physical book
  • Defy the Worlds (Constellation, #2) by Claudia Gray – physical book

I’m really excited to dive into Trail of Lightning. The synopsis sounds like so much fun and I haven’t read any urban fantasy in a long time. Plus, it’s an own voices novel following a Native American girl who hunts monsters. I mean, that’s just awesome!

Also, I’ve been waiting for Defy the Worlds ever since I read the first book and I can’t put off picking it up any longer. Abel, my sweetheart, I’m coming for you!


What are you currently reading? What books did you finish this week? What are you planning on reading next? Have you read any of the books on my list? If so, what did you think of them? Leave a link to your WWW Wednesday post in the comments below!

WWW Wednesday – June 6th, 2018

Welcome to WWW Wednesday which is currently being hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words. It’s really just a place to do little update on what all you’ve been reading lately. Anyone is welcome to join, just leave a link to your post in the comments and be sure to give the appropriate credit to Sam!

The Three W’s are:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

  • Ace of Shades (The Shadow Game, #1) by Amanda Foody – physical book
  • Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman – audiobook

I just started reading Ace of Shades yesterday and am really enjoying it so far. The world is so interesting and I like that there’s a bit of mystery to the plot. I really enjoyed Daughter of the Burning City and so I hope that this one lives up to that book… so far, so good!

I’m not very far into listening to Call Me By Your Name but so far, I have mixed feelings on it. The prose is soooo over the top that I have the hardest time remembering that it’s a story being told by a 17 year-old. It just takes me out of the actual story. I won’t lie and admit that some parts give off a bit of a stalkerish vibe and make me a tad uncomfortable – this kid is definitely obsessed. However, I do love listening to Armie Hammer’s voice. He’s doing a great job as the narrator.

What did you recently finish reading?

  • Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys – audiobook
  • Legendary (Caraval, #2) by Stephanie Garber – physical book
  • War Storm (Red Queen, #4) by Victoria Aveyard – physical book
  • Scarlet (Scarlet, #1) by A.C. Gaughen – audiobook

I really enjoyed Out of the Easy. It was a really interesting and engaging story that continued that awesome legacy that Sepetys has. She’s such a great author of historical fiction and I don’t think I’ll ever tire of her stories.

Legendary was sooooooo good! I actually enjoyed it even more than Caraval and I never would’ve thought that could be possible. Tella makes for a much more interesting heroine and someone that you can really root for. All of the twists and turns in this book have left me begging for the finale to see what how it all ends. Why do we have to wait until next year?!?!

War Storm was a good finale, but not quite as amazing as I was hoping for. I think the pacing was a little off and slow to really get going. However, I’m satisfied with the way Aveyard decided to end it.

Now I’m still really unsure about my feelings on Scarlet. There was literally zero descriptions in this book. I have no idea what the characters are supposed to look like and that’s just very strange to me. I did like the way Gaughen decided to retell the story of Robin Hood though and will probably continue with the series.

What do you think you’ll read next?

  • Ahsoka by E.K. Johnston – physical book
  • Defy the Worlds (Constellation, #2) by Claudia Gray – physical book
  • A Reaper at the Gates (An Ember in the Ashes, #3) by Sabaa Tahir – physical book

I really need to get caught back up with all of my Star Wars books, so I’ll start from the oldest one chronologically with Ahsoka. Then I need to catch up with a couple of other series. I was so excited when I saw that A Reaper at the Gates shipped early and arrived with my other preorder yesterday, Sweet Black Waves!


What are you currently reading? What books did you finish this week? What are you planning on reading next? Have you read any of the books on my list? If so, what did you think of them? Leave a link to your WWW Wednesday post in the comments below!