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

I’m actually proud of starting off the new reading year fairly strong. My main goal this year was to not let myself get bogged down by trying to cram as many books into it as possible. I want to actually focus on what I really want to read, even if it’s a long book (which were the majority of my reads this month). And if January was any indication, I think I’m doing a pretty good job so far. Isn’t it a nice feeling when you take the pressure off yourself?


Books Read

  • Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly – physical book, buddy read with Geronimo Reads
  • City of Lies (Poison War, #1) by Sam Hawke – physical book
  • Furyborn (Empirium Trilogy, #1) by Claire Legrand – audiobook, reread
  • The Last Magician (The Last Magician, #1) by Lisa Maxwell – physical book
  • The Wicked City by Beatriz Williams – physical book
  • Iron Gold (Red Rising, #4) by Pierce Brown – audiobook, reread
  • The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern – physical book
  • The Lioness of Morocco by Julia Drosten – audiobook

Total Books Read: 8

Overall in 2020: 8

Reading Challenge Updates

POPSUGAR

  • A book published the month of your birthday – The Wicked City
  • A book with “gold”, “silver”, or “bronze” in the title – Iron Gold
  • A book with a four-star rating on Goodreads – The Lioness of Morocco
  • A book with a main character in their 20’s – The Starless Sea

Goodreads Challenge

Total: 8

Previous Total: 0

Blog Posts

Book Reviews

WWW Wednesday

Discussions/Misc.


Did you get a lot of reading done in January? 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 February?

WWW Wednesday – January 29th, 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?

What are you currently reading?

  • Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly – physical book, buddy read
  • Furyborn (Emipirium Trilogy, #1) by Claire Legrand – audiobook, reread
  • The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough – physical book

 I’m still slowly making my way through Furyborn but I hope to finish it by the end of the week. I didn’t realize just how long this audiobook version is, so its been a bit more of a challenge than I originally thought. I really love the story (as was the first case when I first read it) but I’m not entirely sold on the audio narrator.

Lilac Girls is a heavy read but I’m loving it so far. I really like how we’re getting three totally different viewpoints to follow and I’m excited to see how they all come together. I hope to finish it this weekend but we shall see. My buddy is quite a ways behind me on the reading, haha.

I’m about a fourth of the way through The Thorn Birds. It’s a really interesting setting as it’s in the Australian Outback. However, the story is quite different from what I was originally expecting. I’ve heard soooo many people rave about this story and the miniseries from the 80’s, but maybe I’m just not far enough into it yet to really see what the fuss is about.

What did you recently finish reading?

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  • City of Lies (Poison War, #1) by Sam Hawke – physical book

This was a really interesting and fun read. I enjoyed the murder mystery plot that really propelled the story forward, as you were kept guessing the entire time. I was really engrossed in the overall story but I felt the worldbuilding was sorely lacking. I didn’t get enough description or background history of the world and that had me fairly confused in the beginning of the book. Maybe the sequel will explore the world more?

What do you think you’ll read next?

  • The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy, #1) by Katherine Arden – physical book
  • Kingsbane (Empirium Trilogy, #2) by Claire Legrand – physical book
  • Suggested Reading by David Connis – audiobook

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 – January 22nd, 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?

What are you currently reading?

  • City of Lies (Poison War, #1) by Sam Hawke – physical book
  • Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly – physical book, buddy read
  • Furyborn (Emipirium Trilogy, #1) by Claire Legrand – audiobook, reread

I’ve FINALLY started on my reread (or listen) to Furyborn, so I can refresh my memory on what happened in the first book before moving on to the sequel. I do remember absolutely loving it though! I’m not the biggest fan of the audio narrator so far, but I don’t think it will affect my experience too much.

I also am picking back up with City of Lies after putting it aside last week for The Starless Sea. I think I’m finally able to really buckle down and focus on this fantasy world. I’ve also started on Lilac Girls that I’m buddy reading with Britt @ Geronimo Reads. I’m fully expecting to need tissues beside me at some point. I’m a little over 100 pages into it and am already completely drawn into the lives of these three badass women.

What did you recently finish reading?

  • Iron Gold (Red Rising, #4) by Pierce Brown – audiobook
  • The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern – physical book

I absolutely freaking adored The Starless Sea! It was so much more than what I was originally expecting, as I didn’t particularly like The Night Circus. However, this book was so whimsical and basically an ode to the magic of stories, that I connected with it immediately. My full review will be posted tomorrow!

I also finally completely my reread (or listen) of Iron Gold and I’m so glad I chose the audiobook route for my reread of the entire series. The narrators are all amazing and I felt a completely different connection to the story this time around. It was truly a fantastic experience and highly recommend anyone interested to check it out. I can’t wait to dive into Dark Age next.

Side Note: I did attempt to listen to the audiobook of The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad, but unfortunately I knew I wouldn’t connect with the writing style within the first 20 minutes. So I’ve decided to DNF that novel for now.

What do you think you’ll read next?

  • The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy, #1) by Katherine Arden – physical book
  • The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough – physical book
  • Suggested Reading by David Connis – audiobook

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 – January 15th, 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?

What are you currently reading?

  • Iron Gold (Red Rising, #4) by Pierce Brown – audiobook
  • The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern – physical book
  • City of Lies (Poison War, #1) by Sam Hawke – physical book

I am finally making real progress with Iron Gold. This book is everything that I remember it being when I read it the first time. It’s full bitterness, action, regret, and hope. I still find Lysander’s chapters to be my favorite and not the biggest fan of Lyria’s. She’s always whining and refusing to open her mind to other viewpoints than her own.

I’m only about 75 pages into City of Lies. There’s a lot going on and it’s one of those stories that you’re just dropped in the middle of without any real background. It’s a little hard to follow and wish it came with a foreword or prologue. However, the plot is interesting so I do plan to keep with it.

I decided to pick up another book to help break up the dense City of Lies… and oh my gosh, The Starless Sea is so freaking good. I don’t want to put it down ever. It is everything that The Night Circus wasn’t (actually being interesting). Depending on how the rest of the story goes, I expect this to be a new favorite book.

What did you recently finish reading?

  • The Lioness of Morocco by Julia Drosten – audiobook, 4/5 stars
  • The Wicked City by Beatriz Williams – physical book, 3/5 stars

I enjoyed both of these books. I much preferred The Lioness of Morocco though, as it was my first translated novel ever. I also loved that the setting was unique and not some place that I had ever gotten to learn about through a novel. It definitely makes me want to visit Morocco even more now! The Wicked City was good but the writing style left a little to be desired, as I think Williams was trying to go for style over substance in her 1920’s timeline.

What do you think you’ll read next?

  • The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy, #1) by Katherine Arden – physical book
  • The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad – audiobook
  • Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly – physical book, buddy read

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 – January 8th, 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?

What are you currently reading?

  • Iron Gold (Red Rising, #4) by Pierce Brown – audiobook
  • The Lioness of Morocco by Julia Drosten – audiobook
  • The Wicked City by Beatriz Williams – physical book

I am finally making some progress with my audiobooks and hope to actually finish The Lioness of Morocco this week. This has been a really interesting read so far and I’m enjoying it. It’s making me want to pick up more translated works in the future.

I’m about a third of the way through The Wicked City and the plot is starting to pick up. It’s a really interesting concept and I can’t wait to see how the two different timelines come together. I think I’m in for a wild ride, especially in Gin’s POV.

What did you recently finish reading?

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  • The Last Magician (The Last Magician, #1) by Lisa Maxwell – physical book, BOOK REVIEW

I thought this was an entertaining read, though not exactly a perfect book. I do plan to continue with the series to see what will happen to our characters next. I feel like the sequel will be better than this one.

What do you think you’ll read next?

  • The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy, #1) by Katherine Arden – physical book
  • The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad – audiobook
  • City of Lies (Poison Wars, #1) by Sam Hawke – 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 November TBR

I know I’m a little late this month getting around to posting my TBR, but work has been insane lately and I just haven’t had the time until the past couple of days to get back to all of you beautiful friends. I do think I plan to be doing a person read-a-thon this weekend but I’m not committing fully to it yet until closer. You just never know what’s going to come up, you know? Like tonight, I don’t plan on getting much reading done because… IT’S TIME FOR THE MANDALORIAN!!!! That’s right, my Star Wars obsessed butt is going to be glued to the television after work. No one bother me, k thanks. 😉

Anyways, I’m pretty far behind on my Goodreads Challenge and so I’m going to aim pretty high for the remainder of the year. Luckily, I have plenty of vacation time coming up to really focus on my reading. Let’s just hope I don’t dive into a reading slump any time soon.


November TBR

  • Somerset by Leila Meacham – physical book
  • The Last Magician (The Last Magician, #1) by Lisa Maxwell – physical book
  • The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking Trilogy, #1) by Patrick Ness – physical book
  • Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl – physical book
  • The Poppy War (The Poppy War, #1) by R.F. Kuang – physical book
  • Valiant (A Modern Faerie Tale, #2) by Holly Black – physical book
  • City of Lies (Poison Wars, #1) by Sam Hawke – physical book
  • The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad – audiobook

What do you plan on reading in November? Is there a specific genre that you like reading during the holiday season? Have you read any of the books on my TBR?

WWW Wednesday – July 24th, 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?

  • Surprise, Kill, Vanish by Annie Jacobsen – physical book
  • The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon- physical book
  • Golden Son (Red Rising, #1) by Pierce Brown – audiobook, reread
  • Middlemarch by George Eliot – physical book

I haven’t read any of Middlemarch or Surprise, Kill, Vanish this week but I plan to do nothing but read this weekend so that should help catch me back up on those two. I have made it over the halfway point through Golden Son and if I can turn off my podcasts for long enough, I should be able to finish it before the end of the week. I’ve also made some more progress in The Priory of the Orange Tree. This book is actually moving slower than I was expecting it to, and hasn’t quite consumed all of my attention like I thought it would originally. I do expect it to start picking up more the further I get into it. It’s just so dang huge!

What did you recently finish reading?

Nothing this week!

What do you think you’ll read next?

  • The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy, #1) by Katherine Arden – physical book
  • The Savior’s Champion (The Savior’s Series, #1) by Jenna Moreci – physical book
  • Morning Star (Red Rising, #2) by Pierce Brown – audiobook
  • City of Lies (Poison Wars, #1) – 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!

WWW Wednesday – July 17th, 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?

  • Surprise, Kill, Vanish by Annie Jacobsen – physical book
  • The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon- physical book
  • Golden Son (Red Rising, #1) by Pierce Brown – audiobook, reread
  • Middlemarch by George Eliot – physical book

I read another couple of chapters in both Middlemarch and Surprise, Kill, Vanish. So I’m happy about that little bit of progress. I haven’t listened to Golden Son in a few days, as I’ve been on a podcast kick this week but I plan to dive back into it as soon as I’m caught up with the podcast He Read, She Read.

I just started diving into Priory a couple of days ago, but I haven’t made a whole lot of progress with the story. It’s a high fantasy novel so I’m having to move through it a little slower due to all of the different characters and world-building going on.

What did you recently finish reading?

Foundryside RD4 clean flat

  • Foundryside (Founders, #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett – physical book

I finished this wild ride of a book and you can find my full spoil-free review, HERE. And yes, I did really enjoy this book.

What do you think you’ll read next?

  • The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy, #1) by Katherine Arden – physical book
  • The Savior’s Champion (The Savior’s Series, #1) by Jenna Moreci – physical book
  • Morning Star (Red Rising, #2) by Pierce Brown – audiobook
  • City of Lies (Poison Wars, #1) – 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 July TBR

Now let’s see if I can get through this intense TBR for July, which is basically just my TBR for the Iron Tome-A-Thon, with a few random current reads mixed in. Fingers crossed that I make it through!


July TBR

  • City of Lies (Poison Wars, #1) by Sam Hawk – physical book
  • The Poppy War (The Poppy War, #1) by R.F. Kuang – physical book
  • Red Sister (Book of the Ancestor, #1) by Mark Lawrence – physical book
  • The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy, #1) by Katherine Arden – physical book
  • The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon – physical book
  • Kings of the Wyld (The Band, #1) by Nicholas Eames – physical book
  • Foundryside (Founders, #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett – physical book
  • The Savior’s Champion (The Savior’s Series, #1) by Jenna Moreci – physical book
  • Middlemarch by George Eliot – physical book, currently reading
  • Surprise, Kill, Vanish by Annie Jacobsen – physical book, currently reading
  • Red Rising (Red Rising, #1) by Pierce Brown – audiobook, currently reading

What do you plan to read during July? Have you read any of the books on my list? If so, what did you think about them?

The Iron Tome-A-Thon: Announcement & TBR

So I haven’t done a read-a-thon in probably over a year at this point. I usually participate in Tome Topple but I’ve missed the last two events due to being busy or on vacation during those times. Which is why I was just super excited when I saw a brand new read-a-thon being hosted by Aimal @ Bookshelves and Paperbacks, based around Game of Thrones and focuses on reading adult fantasy novels… I mean, how freaking cool is that?! Also, I can always appreciate fairly chill reading challenges where I don’t feel super pressured.

Details

  • Dates: July 1st through July 31st
  • Participation Rules:
    • must post an announcement/TBR post somewhere online (Twitter, Instagram, blog, etc.)
    • must link back to the original announcement post on Aimal’s blog
  • Points System and Prompts:
    • The number of pages per book will equal the amount of points you receive for completing it. Example: 330 page book will equal 330 points.
      • All graphic novels will equal 100 points each.
    • Participation in the @IronTomeAThon Twitter chat on July 28th will automatically receive 300 points.
  • Prizes: Two winners will receive a book of their choice worth less than $20 from Book Depository. There are two separate chances to win – one for just filling out the participation form and another for completing the most points winner form. Winners will be announced at the end of the first week in August to provide time to complete wrap-up posts.
  • House Options: Each participant may choose one of five Houses to represent and earn points for during the read-a-thon. One House will be announced the winner of the Iron Throne at the end of the challenge.
    • House Stark
    • House Targaryen
    • House Lannister
    • House Martell
    • House Baratheon

Reading Prompts

Please note that all reading prompts are only meant for fun and participation in them is not required for the read-a-thon. You can still win the prizes and collect points without doing a single prompt!

Castle Black

Castle Black is the main stronghold of the Night’s Watch, seat to their Lord Commander, and sits at the center of the Wall. The Night’s Watch is a military order tasked with protecting the Seven Realms from what lies beyond the Wall: old, evil supernatural forces and invading armies. The Night’s Watch’s men give up all titles, lands, honors and previous families when they join the order; their only brothers are each other, and they must rely on their own order to protect the realms of men.

You must read the group book, The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang.

Winterfell

Winterfell is the ancestral castle and home to one of the Great Houses of Westeros: House Stark. Built by Brandon the Builder with the help of giants after the Long Night, Winterfell is considered the capitol of the North and sits atop hot springs to keep it warm from the oft-brutal winters.

You must read a book set (partially or fully) in a cold environment.

King’s Landing

King’s Landing is the capitol of Westeros, located on its east coast. Built by Aegon the Conqueror 300 years prior to the events of A Song of Ice & Fire, King’s Landing is the home of the Iron Throne and the Red Keep. It is a study of contrasts: where kings and queens leisure in the castle walls, the city’s poor starve and die in the streets below. Home to the High Septon and the dragon pit, King’s Landing is wondrous and terrible at the same time.

You must read a book about or involving royalty, politics or government.

Sunspear

Sunspear is the capitol of the South, and is the seat of another of the Great Houses of Westeros: House Martell. During Aegon’s conquest, Princess Meria Martell defied the Targeryan invasion and House Martell became the only House to resist Targeryan conquest. Due to immigration from the Rhoynar, the Dornish peoples differ culturally and ethnically from the rest of Westeros.

You must read a fantasy book inspired by a non-Western setting, or read a book by an author of color or an indigenous author.

Oldtown

Old Town is one of the oldest cities in Westeros, said to be constructed by the First Men. It is home to the Citadel – a place where people all over the world come to train to be maesters: an order of healers, scholars, scientists and messengers. Oldtown is also home to the Starry Sept, which is historically the seat of the High Septon.

You must read a book about or involving an institution of knowledge or training.

Valyria

Valyria, also called Old Valyria, is a ruined city in Essos. Once home to the dragonlords, Valyaria is a long-dead city that was the capital of the Valyrian Freehold. Valyria was the center to much innovation, both good and evil – the dragonlords practiced magic that led to the development of wonders such as dragonglass and Valyrian steel, but also to abominations such as half-beast, half-human chimera borne of blood magic. It is the ancestral home of House Targaryan.

You must read a book about or involving dragons.

Asshai

Asshai is a mysterious port city located at the southernmost edge of the Shadow Lands. The buildings and streets are constructed of black, oily stone that absorb all light and make the city look dark and dreary. Despite its appearance, Asshai is a popular destination for trading ships, trading in goods such as dragonglass, gemstones, gold and amber. There are no children in Asshai and the people wear veils and masks. Bloodmagic, necromancy and all such depravities are practiced openly in Asshai – no practice is forbidden.

You must read a dark/grimdark fantasy or read an urban fantasy.


My House Targaryen TBR

  • City of Lies (Poison Wars, #1) by Sam Hawk – King’s Landing
  • The Poppy War (The Poppy War, #1) by R.F. Kuang – Castle Black, Sunspear
  • Red Sister (Book of the Ancestor, #1) by Mark Lawrence – Oldtown
  • The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy, #1) by Katherine Arden – Winterfell
  • The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon – Valyria
  • Kings of the Wyld (The Band, #1) by Nicholas Eames – Asshai
  • Foundryside (Founders, #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett
  • The Savior’s Champion (The Savior’s Series, #1) by Jenna Moreci

Will you be participating in Iron Tome-A-Thon? If so, which House will you represent? Do you enjoy reading adult fiction? What are some of your favorite adult fantasy novels?