Tag: Brigid Kemmerer

WWW Wednesday – May 27th, 2020

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?

Currently Reading

  • Vow of Thieves (Dance of Thieves, #2) by Mary E. Pearson – physical book
  • The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune – audiobook

I am zipping through Vow of Thieves and am LOVING it. This sequel is nonstop action and intrigue so far. Pearson is killing it with this one and I am super excited to see how it all ends. I also kind of like how the two main characters have been split up in this book. It’s brought a new look to the story, one that was really needed I think.

I haven’t fully started listening to House in the Cerulean Sea yet but will get to it later today. I’ve only heard amazing things about it so I’m ready!

What did you recently finish reading?

  • The King of Crows (The Diviners, #4) by Libba Bray – physical book
  • The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy, #1) by S.A. Chakraborty – audiobook, reread
  • Aurora Burning (Aurora Cycle, #2) by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff – physical book

I enjoyed all of these books for the most part, though I do feel a little letdown with The King of Crows. It was a finale that didn’t quite live up to the rest of the series which is always a bummer. I felt like the buildup took a really long time and then the climax was over very quickly, and lacked some of creepiness of the previous books.

What do you think you’ll read next?

  • A Heart So Fierce and Broken (Cursebreakers, #2) by Brigid Kemmerer – physical book
  • Jade War (The Green Bone Saga, #2) by Fonda Lee – physical book
  • Ruthless Gods (Something Dark and Holy, #2) by Emily A. Duncan

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 – May 20th, 2020

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?

Currently Reading

  • The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy, #1) by S.A. Chakraborty – audiobook, reread
  • Aurora Burning (Aurora Cycle, #2) by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff – physical book

My reread of City of Brass is going well. I’m not super keen on the narrator so I definitely prefer the physical book to the audio, though I do appreciate learning how to correctly pronounce all of the character names!

I’m enjoying Aurora Burning so far. It’s a little slower than I was hoping for and seems to lack some of the snappy personality that the first book had. But I’m only halfway through it so far so maybe things will start to really get going soon.

What did you recently finish reading?

  • The Oracle Year by Charles Soule – physical book
  • Now Entering Addamsville by Francesca Zappia – audiobook

The Oracle Year was a really fun read. I enjoyed all of the different perspectives, as they made it seem much more realistic in how a situation like this would go down. The ending was super crazy and not at all what I was expecting but it was still a fun ride.

I have to say that I did not really enjoy Now Entering Addamsville. It ended up being a lot stranger than what I was expecting and the story didn’t always make a whole lot of sense. I get what Zappia was trying to go for, but the execution was definitely lacking. And the ending just wasn’t any good at all. I’ve heard her other novels are better so I may give one of them a shot at some point.

What do you think you’ll read next?

  • The King of Crows (The Diviners, #4) by Libba Bray – physical book
  • Vow of Thieves (Dance of Thieves, #2) by Mary E. Pearson – physical book
  • A Heart So Fierce and Broken (Cursebreakers, #2) by Brigid Kemmerer – 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!

My February TBR

February is going to be a month where I try and focus on a bunch of sequels/series that I need to catch up on. So I plan to try and get through a few of those this month, while sticking to standalones for the most part when it comes to my audiobooks. I really want to mix up the genres too so I don’t get too bogged down on any one for too long. Let’s see if that keeps me from falling into any sort of reading slump!

February TBR

  • Suggested Reading by David Connis – audiobook
  • Kingsbane (Empirium Trilogy, #2) by Claire Legrand – physical book
  • Valiant (Modern Faerie Tales, #2) by Holly Black – physical book
  • The Guinevere Deception by Kiersten White – audiobook
  • Winter of the World (The Century Trilogy, #2) by Ken Follett – physical book
  • The Vine Witch (Vine Witch, #1) by Luanne G. Smith – audiobook
  • Dark Age (Red Rising, #5) by Pierce Brown – physical book
  • Before the Devil Breaks You (The Diviners, #3) by Libba Bray – physical book
  • Radiance by Catherynne M. Valente – physical book
  • What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon – audiobook
  • The Devil’s Thief (The Last Magician, #2) by Lisa Maxwell – physical book
  • Reign of the Fallen (Reign of the Fallen, #1) by Sarah Glenn Marsh – physical book, buddy

What do you plan on reading in February? Do you have a lot of sequels or series that you haven’t caught up on yet? Have you read any of the books on my TBR? If so, what did you think of it?

Exciting January 2020 Releases

Yes, I’m finally back! I’d like to apologize for my mini absence over the last few weeks, just had a lot going on with work and then the Thanksgiving holiday. I was also in a bit of a reading slump, but I luckily knocked that out over the past weekend by finishing two books! Which has really gotten me into back into the reading spirit and looking forward to the upcoming holidays where I can just do all of the binge reading that my heart desires. With that being said, I started thinking about all of the awesome releases that are coming in the new year, especially in January. And I really want to highlight some of the ones that I’m most excited about.. and if I can introduce you to some new ones at the same time, even better!

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A Heart So Fierce and Broken (Cursebreakers, #2) by Brigid Kemmerer

Find the heir, win the crown.
The curse is finally broken, but Prince Rhen of Emberfall faces darker troubles still. Rumors circulate that he is not the true heir and that forbidden magic has been unleashed in Emberfall. Although Rhen has Harper by his side, his guardsman Grey is missing, leaving more questions than answers.

Win the crown, save the kingdom.
Rumored to be the heir, Grey has been on the run since he destroyed Lilith. He has no desire to challenge Rhen–until Karis Luran once again threatens to take Emberfall by force. Her own daughter Lia Mara sees the flaws in her mother’s violent plan, but can she convince Grey to stand against Rhen, even for the good of Emberfall?

The heart-pounding, compulsively readable saga continues as loyalties are tested and new love blooms in a kingdom on the brink of war.

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Seven Deadly Shadows by Courtney Alameda & Valynne E. Maetani

Seventeen-year-old Kira Fujikawa has never had it easy. She’s bullied by the popular girls in school. Her family ignores her. And she’s also plagued with a secret: She can see yokai, the ghosts and demons that haunt the streets of Japan. But things accelerate from bad to worse when she learns that Shuten-doji, the demon king, will rise at the next blood moon to hunt down an ancient relic and bring the world to a catastrophic end.

Not exactly skilled at fighting anything, much less the dead, Kira enlists the aid of seven powerful death gods to help her slay Shuten-doji. They include Shiro, a kitsune with boy-band looks who is more flirtatious than helpful, and O-bei, a regal demon courtesan with covert reasons of her own for getting involved.

As the confrontation with Shuten-doji draws nearer by the day, the fate of Japan hangs in the balance. Can Kira save humankind? Or will the demon king succeed in bringing eternal darkness upon the world?

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Layoverland by Gabby Noone

Beatrice Fox deserves to go straight to hell. At least, that’s what she thinks. On her last day on Earth, she ruined the life of the person she loves most–her little sister, Emmy. So when Bea awakens from a fatal car accident to find herself on an airplane headed for a mysterious destination, she’s confused, to say the least. Once on the ground, Bea receives some truly harrowing news: not only is she in purgatory, but she has been chosen to join the Memory Experience team. If she wants another shot at heaven, she’ll have to use her master manipulation skills to help 5,000 souls suss out what’s keeping them from moving on.

There’s just one slight problem. Bea’s first assigned soul is Caleb, the boy who caused her accident, and the last person Bea would ever want to send to the pearly gates. But as much as Bea would love to see Caleb suffer for dooming her to a seemingly endless future of listening to other people’s problems, she can’t help but notice that he’s kind of cute, and sort of sweet, and that maybe, despite her best efforts, she’s totally falling for him. And to make matters worse, he’s definitely falling for her. Now, determined to make the most of her time in purgatory, Bea must decide what is truly worth dying for–romance or revenge.

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Oasis by Katya de Becerra

In this young adult thriller for fans of Lost and The Twilight Zone, a group of teens are saved when they come across a mysterious oasis. But who will save them from the oasis?

Alif had exciting summer plans: working on her father’s archeological dig site in the desert with four close friends … and a very cute research assistant. Then the sandstorm hit.

Their camp wiped away, Alif and the others find themselves lost on the sands, seemingly doomed … until they find the oasis. It has everything they need: food, water, and shade–and mysterious ruins that hide a deadly secret. As reality begins to shift around them, they question what’s real and what’s a mirage.

The answers turn Alif and her friends against each other, and they begin to wonder if they’ve truly been saved. And while it was easy to walk into the oasis, it may be impossible to leave …

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Dreamland by Nancy Bilyeau

The year is 1911 when twenty-year-old heiress Peggy Batternberg is invited to spend the summer in America’s Playground.

The invitation to the luxurious Oriental Hotel a mile from Coney Island is unwelcome. Despite hailing from one of America’s richest families, Peggy would much rather spend the summer working at the Moonrise Bookstore than keeping up appearances with New York City socialites and her snobbish, controlling family.

But soon it transpires that the hedonism of nearby Coney Island affords Peggy the freedom she has been yearning for, and it’s not long before she finds herself in love with a troubled pier-side artist of humble means, whom the Batternberg patriarchs would surely disapprove of.

Disapprove they may, but hidden behind their pomposity lurks a web of deceit, betrayal and deadly secrets. And as bodies begin to mount up amidst the sweltering clamour of Coney Island, it seems the powerful Batternbergs can get away with anything…even murder.

Extravagant, intoxicating and thumping with suspense, bestselling Nancy Bilyeau’s magnificent Dreamland is a story of corruption, class and dangerous obsession.

What books are you excited for that are coming out in January? Do you enjoy reading new releases or backlisted books more? Are you excited for any of the books on my list?

Pokemon (Gotta Read ‘Em All!) Book Tag

I grew up during the Pokemon craze of the late 90’s and early 00’s. It was a very exciting time to be a kid, trying to collect all of the trading cards and beating every single video game… Pokemon Snap, anyone?! And with the recent release of Detective Pikachu and popularity of Pokemon Go (and yes, I do play on a regular basis), the nostalgia has been amped up. So when I saw this tag on Peruse Project’s channel, I knew I had to participate.

Please feel free to do this tag if you’re interested!

Type: Normal

Favorite Contemporary

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Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry

This book was such a delight to read. Y’all know that I’m not much of a contemporary reader, but this story was one that I immediately fell in love with. The characters were all unique and interesting. I also really enjoyed the family dynamics that were a main focus of the story. This is just a really fun and emotional read that I would recommend anyone to pick up.

Type: Fire

Hot Fire Romance

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A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy, #1) by Deborah Harkness

A witch and a vampire walk into a library… Sounds like the start of a joke, doesn’t it? But no, this is just the start of a steamy romance full of magic and mayhem. This is one of my favorites series and the television series is reallyyyy good too.

Type: Water

A Flowing, Easy To Read Book

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Love & Luck by Jenna Evans Welch

Contemporary romances are probably most people’s go-to easy read. I personally have been enjoying Welch’s romances, as they feature cute boys and international destinations such as my favorite place in the world, Ireland.

Type: Electric

A Book That Kept You Buzzing Long After Finishing

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The City of Brass (The Daevabad Trilogy, #1) by S.A. Chakraborty

I read this book immediately upon its release and I could not get it off my mind for the rest of the year. It truly had the biggest impact on my reading life last year. I loved everything about it.

Type: Grass

Your Favorite First Book In A Series

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

I’m not one for horror or scary stories, however this book changed my mind. I was immediately engrossed in the Roaring Twenties NYC setting and the characters living there. I really enjoy the multiple POVs and how each have their own story to tell.

Type: Ice

Cold As Ice Character(s)

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Victra au Julii from Golden Son (Red Rising, #2) by Pierce Brown

Victra is most definitely my main bitch. She is strong-willed, independent, and armed with the sharpest tongue. I love how cold and vicious she can be on the outside, while also having a pretty warm heart.

Type: Fighting

An Action-Packed Book

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Truthwitch (The Witchlands, #1) by Susan Dennard

This book starts off in the middle of a chase scene and doesn’t let off from there. I fell in love with the energy in this novel and I can say that it carries throughout the entire series so far. I am super excited for the next installment!

Type: Poison

A Toxic But Still Enjoyable Book

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A Curse So Dark and Lonely (Cursebreakers, #1) by Brigid Kemmerer

I’m not sure this book is really problematic in any way, but due to it being a remake of Beauty and the Beast, and how some find that story to be nothing but an example of Stockholm Syndrom.. I guess it works. Either way, it’s soooo good. It really might be my favorite retelling.

Type: Ground

Down-To-Earth Character(s)

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Nikki from Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal

I really love Nikki as a main character. She was so relatable trying to be independent and live her own life, while trying to also keep her family and community happy. I also loved the relationships she formed with all of the widows. It almost made me jealous of her… Haha!

Type: Flying

Favorite High Fantasy Book

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Furyborn (Empirium, #1) by Claire Legrand

I loved this book soooo much when I first read it. I have the sequel as well, but I think a reread is needed first before diving into it. It’s definitely coming up on soon again on my TBR.

Type: Psychic

A Predictable Plot

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Freeks by Amanda Hocking

Yeahhhhhh, the “twist” in this book wasn’t even a twist. I knew that was going to be the case from the very beginning. Yawn.

Type: Bug

A Book That Annoys You

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The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James

This book got so much buzz when it was first released, but it really didn’t do anything for me. The concept and story was really interested but I hated the whiny main character so much that it ruined everything else for me.

Type: Rock

A Hard To Describe Book

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Navigating the Stars (Sentinels of the Galaxy, #1) by Maria V. Snyder

This book is a futuristic science fiction that focus on science groups locating and trying to unlock the secrets of some artifacts that have been found on multiple planets. That’s about all that I can really explain without getting into a whole bunch of stuff. It’s one of those books with just a lot going on.

Type: Ghost

Everyone’s Dead, A Book Where No One Is Safe

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Jade City (The Green Bone Saga, #1) by Fonda Lee

This family is basically cursed with bad luck. When you mix gang fighting with magic powers, bad things are bound to happen and happen quite a lot. This book will definitely keep you on your toes.

Type: Dragon

A Book With Fantastic Creatures

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The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air, #2) by Holly Black

This series is centered around Fae, so of course magical creatures run amok all through the pages. And I love it so much!

Type: Dark

Dark And Twisted Story

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Give the Dark My Love (Give the Dark My Love, #1) by Beth Revis

A book all about necromancy and how one woman uses her dark side to keep loved ones around in hopes to save her country. As you can imagine, things get really dark pretty quick.

Type: Steel

A Book With Pirates

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Daughter of the Siren Queen (Daughter of the Pirate King, #2) by Tricia Levenseller

This book is literally about the daughter of a pirate king and a siren. There are battles and sword fighting, and of course a bit of romance. What more can you ask for?

Type: Fairy

A Book With Fae/Fairies

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Aurora Rising (The Aurora Cycle, #1) by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

This one is going to come out of left field a bit, but hear me out… Kal Gilwraeth is actually an alien version of Fae. That is coming straight from the mouths of Amie and Jay, too! So yes, let’s give it up for some space elves! They deserve some love and recognition as well.

What are some answers you would use for this tag? Have you read any of the books on my list? Do you agree with my choices?

My Top Fave Reads of the First Half of 2019

Six months of reading in 2019?! ALREADY?! Yes, it is crazy and I cannot believe it either. Why is this year just going by so freaking fast? I would say I want it to slow down somewhat, but then it would take longer for fall to arrive and I just can’t have that. I need cooler weather and legging season to arrive already. But I digress… It’s time to talk about some of my favorite reads of 2019 (so far).

39348113Skyward (Skyward, #1) by Brandon Sanderson

Believe it or not, this is my first Sanderson novel… And boy, does it not disappoint! I really enjoyed Spensa as a main character, with her quirky and strong personality. I loved how action packed this story was and that ending left me dying to find out what is going to happen next.

 

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Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

You’re probably tired of hearing people rave about this story, but trust me when I say that it is truly worth the hype. I also recommend listening to the audiobook version, as I think it brings the story to life and the physical book might lose some of that magic.

 

 

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The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo

This was such a lovely historical fiction novel set in Malaysia. I’m not usually one for magical realism stories but I think it really worked well here, as it was blended with Chinese folklore. This is another book that I recommend the audio version of as well.

 

 

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Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Books that alive?! Sassy sorcerers?! Extremely polite and chivalrous demons?! Yes, you can find all of that an more in this awesome novel. Rogerson has solidified herself to be a new auto-buy author for me. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

 

 

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A Curse So Dark and Lonely (Cursebreakers, #1) by Brigid Kemmerer

I love retellings but this one really found itself a special place in my heart. All of the characters were complex and interesting, and I can always appreciate when the love-to-hate trope is done really well. And oh boy, that ending… WOW.

 

 

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Jade City (The Green Bone Saga, #1) by Fonda Lee

This was a book that I never knew I needed – an Asian inspired story about mafia-like families and kungfu. I really enjoyed the in-depth look of family relationships and what loyalty really means. This story was brutal and yet it kept leaving me wanting more.

 

 

What were some of your favorites reads of 2019 so far? Have you read any of the books on list? If so, what did you think of them?

 

 

 

2019 Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag

Another half year has gone by super fast. I think it really is true what they say, “The years go fast, but the days go slow.” I think that’s especially true as you get older. I mean I will turn 30 in 18 months and that doesn’t even compute with me sometimes. However, that also means that we’ve had 6 months of reading time so far in 2019 and that is awesome. It also means that I’m THIS much closer to my favorite time of year – fall. Cold weather is calling me and I cannot wait!

Best Book You’ve Read So Far In 2019

I couldn’t pick just one book because all four of these books just rocked my freaking world this year for different reasons. I cannot recommend them enough to people.

Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far In 2019

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I’m honestly just trash for this series. The first one was so unique but maybe suffered from a bit of slow pacing, but holy moly this sequel was insanely amazing. There was an outlaw style space port, cage-style fighting, etc. I don’t even know how Caine and Aguirre are going to be able to top this sequel, but I have really high hopes!

New Release You Haven’t Read Yet But Want To

Basically I’m kicking my ass over having not read these books because I am obsessed with Jeff Zentner and Emily Henry’s novels. But I will say that I own Kingsbane but I’ve been putting it aside until I do a reread of Furyborn. It’s happening soon though, for sure.

Most Anticipated Release For The Second Half Of The Year

Okay, just give me all of the books at this point. I promise I won’t complain.

Biggest Disappointment

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I wish I understood what the hype was with this book but it did not work at all for me. The main character was so whiny and naïve, making it really hard for me to care about any of her thoughts. I get that maybe that’s a reason because she’s been so isolated but still, it just didn’t work for me.

Biggest Surprise

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I know there was a lot of hype going around this book when it first came out, especially considering it was Reese Witherspoon’s book club pick. But even with that, I wasn’t sure it was going to work for me as I’m super picky when it comes to contemporary novels. However, I freaking loved it so much! I listened to the audiobook and it was amazing. I’ll definitely be picking up whatever else this author writes.

Favorite New Author (Debut/New To You)

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I am so impressed by the world-building Fonda Lee created in Jade City. It was so impressive and interesting. This was my first read by her but I know I’m already obsessed. I can’t wait to continue with this series and also explore some of her other novels.

Newest Fictional Crush

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Nathaniel Thorn is one sassy sexy sorcerer. I was living for his witty one-liners and the back and forth banter between him and Elizabeth.

Newest Favorite Character

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Spensa is so feisty and strong-willed. I love that she doesn’t take no for an answer but continues to fight for what she wants and what she believes in. She’s just a little firecracker. I am slowly dying inside waiting for the sequel to come out because I cannot wait to see what she’s going to do next.

Book That Made You Cry

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Yeah, I’ll admit that I shed a few tears at work while listening to this audiobook. They were happy tears though!

Book That Made You Happy

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This book was just such a joy. It was engaging and fun, with a really great family story as well. It wasn’t what I was expecting at first but turned out to be just as great.

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

I don’t know if it really counts since I haven’t read the books but I really enjoyed Dumplin’ and Mortal Engines.

Favorite Review You’ve Written This Year

What is your favorite book read of 2019 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?

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

Woohoo, I had a great reading month in February! I’m super back into the reading groove and I even notice that affecting me in general. I’m back into watching Booktube, I browse Goodreads pretty much every day, and I’ve even started listening to podcasts about books. So yeah, I’m feeling really good right now. I also got back into working out at the gym and I can feel such a difference in how I feel physically, especially in regards to my sleeping habits. So yeah, if you’re having trouble falling asleep or sleeping straight through the night on a regular basis, I totally recommend doing some sort of physical workout or even yoga at night before going to bed… And that is my tip for the day! Haha!

Books Read

  • A Curse So Dark and Lonely (A Curse So Dark and Lonely, #1) by Brigid Kemmerer – physical book, Review
  • Reign of Mist (The Oremere Chronicles, #2) by Helen Scheuerer – audiobook, 4/5 Stars
  • Bloodwitch (The Witchlands, #3) by Susan Dennard – physical book, Review
  • Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte – physical ARC, Review
  • The Kingdom of Copper (The Daevabad Trilogy, #2) by S.A. Chakraborty – physical book, Review
  • Pride by Ibi Zoboi – physical ARC, Review

Total Books Read: 6

Overall in 2019: 16

Reading Challenge Updates

POPSUGAR

  • A retelling of a classic – Pride

Goodreads Challenge

Total: 16/75

Previous Total: 10/75

Blog Posts

Book Reviews

WWW Wednesday

Discussions/Misc.

Did you get a lot of reading done in February? 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? What do you plan on reading in March?

Book Review: A Curse So Dark and Lonely (A Curse So Dark and Lonely, #1)

To say that I’ve been dying until this book was released would be a bit of understatement. I was able to snag a sampler at BookCon last year and was immediately hooked. And I am happy to say that A Curse So Dark and Lonely (A Curse So Dark and Lonely, #1) by Brigid Kemmerer, lived up to the hype!

Fall in love, break the curse.

It once seemed so easy to Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall. Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, he knew he could be saved if a girl fell for him. But that was before he learned that at the end of each autumn, he would turn into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. That was before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper Lacy. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother barely holding their family together while constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, she learned to be tough enough to survive. But when she tries to save someone else on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s instead somehow sucked into Rhen’s cursed world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom.

A prince? A monster? A curse? Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. But as she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.

Let’s be totally real here, I am a SUCKER for a fantasy retelling. I don’t care what fairytale is being redone, I’m probably gonna pick it up at some point. (Though now that I think about it, I haven’t read any Little Mermaid retellings.. Interesting.) And I will totally admit that Beauty and the Beast is my number one favorite story for retellings. I will fall for the broody and kind of jerk guy in need of some character development, every single time. Luckily, Kemmerer took this retelling and truly made it her own. Plot-wise, I really loved the mix of contemporary and fantasy. I also enjoyed how she twisted the story around to where it wasn’t a complete rehash of the original story, but instead gave us more background and expanded upon the fantasy world. There was war, some run ins with loan sharks, and an enchantress who actually has a presence throughout the story. Yeah, quite a bit different from the original story… THANK GOODNESS!

You're invited to ababy shower for

Oh my, is Harper the heroine that we’ve been needing. She is fierce, loyal, and so damn independent. I loved how she was willing to do whatever it takes to help someone or do the right thing. Harper is definitely no pushover and I freaking loved her for it. I also really appreciated that Kemmerer wrote her with cerebral palsy. You don’t get many physically disabled main characters and this one was so well done. Her disability never kept her from doing what needed to be done. It was just a part of who she was. Then there’s Rhen, whom I really liked his character. He was kind of an asshole but in an unassuming way. It was just the way he was and it took him a while to notice how he was treating others. I appreciated how willing he was to save his kingdom as well. Also, his and Harper’s interactions were so entertaining. I loved the banter between these two. Finally, we have Grey. My sweet sweet Grey.. He was so loyal to Rhen and eventually Harper. His relationship with Harper was probably my favorite in the book. They played off of each other really well, both being stubborn and immediately recognizing the strength in the other. I want him to get a happily ever after so badly!

I really only had a minor issue with the story overall. The pacing was never steady, but instead was up and down throughout the book. It started off really strong and then dipped a bit in the middle of the book before ramping back up at the end. I was still invested in the story the entire time but I do feel that the editors could have cut about 50 pages from the story to help ease some of those pacing issues.

If you enjoy fairytale retellings, then I definitely recommend this book. It was a unique twist on the original story filled with a diverse cast of characters. I think that readers will really appreciate how strong of a female main character Harper is, which is a nice break from the usual sappy romantic type that you typically find in fairytales. Just be aware that this story does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I cannot wait to see what Kemmerer has in store for us in the next book!

Final Verdict: 5/5 Stars

Have you read A Curse So Dark and Lonely? What did you think of Harper? Do you enjoy fairytale retellings?

 

WWW Wednesday – February 20th, 2019

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?

  • Whiskey When We’re Dry by John Larison – audiobook
  • Bloodwitch (The Witchlands, #3) by Susan Dennard – physical book

I’m still in the first chapter of Whiskey When We’re Dry so I don’t have an opinion on this one yet. It’s a literary fiction Western which I expect will may it more of a slower listen than my usual historical fiction audiobooks.

Okay, I’m 100 pages into Bloodwitch and it’s making me realize that I should’ve reread the first two books in the series before picking this one up. Two years is a long time between releases and I remember absolutely NOTHING from the previous books. I mean I vaguely remember bits an pieces, but that’s about it. I do remember that I love Aeduan so I can’t complain that he has such a big part in this one.

What did you recently finish reading?

  • A Curse So Dark and Lonely (A Curse Do Dark and Lonely, #1) by Brigid Kemmerer – physical book, review scheduled
  • Reign of Mist (The Oremere Chronicles, #2) by Helen Scheuerer – audiobook

I super enjoyed A Curse So Dark and Lonely. It was a really unique spin on the original fairytale, with some pretty kickass characters. I’m really glad that we’re getting a sequel to the story because there is so much more to explore in this world. I can’t wait to see what will happen next!

Reign of Mist was a really good follow up to the first book. I loved seeing all of the characters come together in different ways, each bringing a new perspective to the war that is brewing. Bleak is still my fave character and Swinton is growing on me as well. I really have no idea what will happen in the next book!

What do you think you’ll read next?

  • Immortal Reign (Falling Kingdoms, #6) by Morgan Rhodes – physical book
  • Pride by Ibi Zoboi – physical ARC
  • Rabbit & Robot by Andrew Smith – physical ARC

Still trying to work my way through all of my BookCon 2018 ARCs. If I can knock out two more this month, I will feel a whole lot better about myself. And of course it’s time for me to finish the Falling Kingdoms series. I’ve been putting it off because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these characters but I think it’s finally time. I just really want a happily ever after for Magnus…

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!