WWW Wednesday – April 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?

Currently Reading

  • Descendant of the Crane by Joan He – physical book
  • Things in Jars by Jess Kidd – audiobook

I actually should finish both of these books up today. I’m enjoying both, though I think I prefer Things in Jars overall. I’m still making my mind up on how I feel about Descendant of the Crane. There are just some things about the world-building that don’t quite make sense to me and I find myself getting a little confused at times. Hopefully things will all make sense in the end! But Things in Jars is truly delightful – a little creepy, unique, and full of interesting characters.

What did you recently finish reading?

  • The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee – audiobook
  • Dance of Thieves (Dance of Thieves, #1) by Mary E. Pearson – physical book
  • House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City, #1) by Sarah J. Maas – physical book

Words cannot describe how much I loved all three of these books. Crescent City ended up being everything I had hoped it would and more. Maas knocked it out of the park with her first adult fantasy. Dance of Thieves was sooo good. I literally cannot wait to pick up the sequel to find out what will happen next! And The Downstairs Girl was very unique for a historical fiction. It showed us a time that’s hardly shown in novels, as well as painting it from a different perspective. I definitely recommend it!

What do you think you’ll read next?

  • Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia – audiobook
  • The Devil’s Thief (The Last Magician, #2) by Lisa Maxwell – physical book
  • Artemis by Andy Weir – 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 – April 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?

Currently Reading

  • The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee – audiobook
  • Dance of Thieves (Dance of Thieves, #1) by Mary E. Pearson – physical book

I finally decided to DNF Oona Out of Order for now, as I just wasn’t really feeling it. I think it was the best decision I could have made because after listening to two chapters of The Downstairs Girl last night, I am hooked. I think this book could easily become a new favorite of mine! Shout out to my #talkinglit girls for helping pick it out for me!

I am super excited to start reading Dance of Thieves today. I’ve heard some awesome things about this book. I LOVED the prequel trilogy to it and so I’m pretty sure I’m going to love this one as well. I am ready to dive back into this world!

What did you recently finish reading?

  • Straight On Till Morning (Disney Twisted Tales) by Liz Braswell – physical book
  • Starsight (Skyward, #2) by Brandon Sanderson – physical book

Holy guacamole… STARSIGHT IS AMAZING!!! I wasn’t sure how Sanderson was going to be able to match the awesomeness of Skyward. But have no fear, he freaking surpassed it! This book was everything I want in a science fiction novel. It was full of action, sass, and all of the aliens. I am dying for the next installment.

I really enjoyed Straight On Till Morning as well. It ended up being a feminist retelling that focused more on friendship than anything else. I loved Wendy’s personality and her relationship with Tinker Bell. My one regret was that there wasn’t enough Peter Pan. He played a very small part in this book which was kind of a bummer.

What do you think you’ll read next?

  • Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia – audiobook
  • House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City, #1) by Sarah J. Maas – physical book, buddy read
  • The Devil’s Thief (The Last Magician, #2) by Lisa Maxwell – 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 – April 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?

Currently Reading

  • Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore – audiobook
  • Straight On Till Morning (Disney Twisted Tales) by Liz Braswell – physical book

I think I have officially decided to DNF Oona Out of Order. The story isn’t grabbing me like I had hoped it would and I have felt no need to want to listen to it in a few weeks now. Might as well cut my losses for the moment and maybe try again in the future.

I am really enjoying Straight On Till Morning. It’s fun and I love that some of the directions the author has taken in the “twisted” aspect. I think the only issue I am having is that I want more Peter Pan. He’s barely been in one scene the entire book and no offense to Wendy (who is really funny), but Peter is the one that we’re all interested in.

What did you recently finish reading?

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  • Shadow Run (Kaitan Chronicles, #1) by AdriAnne Strickland and Michael Miller

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun and and really engaging from start to finish. I’m not sure how it has flown under the radar but I’m glad I was able to come across it in the bookstore. I definitely plan to read the sequel to find out what will happen to the crew next.

What do you think you’ll read next?

  • Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia – audiobook
  • Starsight (Skyward, #2) by Brandon Sanderson – physical book
  • Dance of Thieves (Dance of Thieves, #1) by Mary E. Pearson – 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 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 I Meant to Read in 2019

Let’s be honest, there is always going to be books that you are really excited to read but just never get around to it. I have always had a really bad habit about buying so many books and then just never reading them but buying more instead. Though I’m pretty positive that’s just one attribute of being a bookworm, haha! And last year was no exception to this. There were quite a few books that I had totally planned to read but somehow never did. I don’t know how that happens, but it does… FOR SHAME.


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The Poppy War (The Poppy War, #1) by R.F. Kuang

When Rin aced the Keju—the Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the Academies—it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn’t believe a war orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin’s guardians, who believed they’d finally be able to marry her off and further their criminal enterprise; and to Rin herself, who realized she was finally free of the servitude and despair that had made up her daily existence. That she got into Sinegard—the most elite military school in Nikan—was even more surprising.

But surprises aren’t always good.

Because being a dark-skinned peasant girl from the south is not an easy thing at Sinegard. Targeted from the outset by rival classmates for her color, poverty, and gender, Rin discovers she possesses a lethal, unearthly power—an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. Exploring the depths of her gift with the help of a seemingly insane teacher and psychoactive substances, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive—and that mastering control over those powers could mean more than just surviving school.

For while the Nikara Empire is at peace, the Federation of Mugen still lurks across a narrow sea. The militarily advanced Federation occupied Nikan for decades after the First Poppy War, and only barely lost the continent in the Second. And while most of the people are complacent to go about their lives, a few are aware that a Third Poppy War is just a spark away . . .

Rin’s shamanic powers may be the only way to save her people. But as she finds out more about the god that has chosen her, the vengeful Phoenix, she fears that winning the war may cost her humanity . . . and that it may already be too late.

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First We Were IV by Alexandra Sirowy

It started for pranks, fun, and forever memories.
A secret society – for the four of us.
The rules: Never lie. Never tell. Love each other.
We made the pledge and danced under the blood moon on the meteorite in the orchard. In the spot we found the dead girl five years earlier. And discovered the ancient drawings way before that.
Nothing could break the four of us apart – I thought.
But then, others wanted in. Our seaside town had secrets. History.
We wanted revenge.
We broke the rules. We lied. We told. We loved each other too much, not enough, and in ways we weren’t supposed to.
Our invention ratcheted out of control.
What started as a secret society, ended as justice. Revenge. Death. Rebellion.

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The Oracle Year by Charles Soule

Knowledge is power. So when an unassuming Manhattan bassist named Will Dando awakens from a dream one morning with 108 predictions about the future in his head, he rapidly finds himself the most powerful man in the world. Protecting his anonymity by calling himself the Oracle, he sets up a heavily guarded Web site with the help of his friend Hamza to selectively announce his revelations. In no time, global corporations are offering him millions for exclusive access, eager to profit from his prophecies.

He’s also making a lot of high-powered enemies, from the President of the United States and a nationally prominent televangelist to a warlord with a nuclear missile and an assassin grandmother. Legions of cyber spies are unleashed to hack the Site—as it’s come to be called—and the best manhunters money can buy are deployed not only to unmask the Oracle but to take him out of the game entirely. With only a handful of people he can trust—including a beautiful journalist—it’s all Will can do to simply survive, elude exposure, and protect those he loves long enough to use his knowledge to save the world.

Delivering fast-paced adventure on a global scale as well as sharp-witted satire on our concepts of power and faith, Marvel writer Charles Soule’s audacious debut novel takes readers on a rollicking ride where it’s impossible to predict what will happen next.

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

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.

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The Smoke Thieves (The Smoke Thieves, #1) by Sally Green

A shrewd princess whose father is plotting against her. A brave soldier turned traitor. A loyal servant on a quest to avenge his family. A streetwise demon smoke hunter in desperate need of money. A charming thief with no clue about his true identity. Their lives would never intersect, until a war between kingdoms bubbles up, and the dangerous truth about demon smoke intertwines all their fates. Welcome to The Smoke Thieves, a tangled web of political intrigue, shifting alliances, and forbidden love, in a world where sometimes no amount of magic can keep you safe.

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Five Dark Fates (Three Dark Crowns, #4) by Kendare Blake

After the battle with Katharine, the rebellion lies in tatters. Jules’s legion curse has been unbound, leaving her out of her mind and unfit to rule. Arsinoe must find a cure, even as the responsibility of stopping the ravaging mist rests heavy on her shoulders, and her shoulders alone. Mirabella has disappeared.

Queen Katharine’s rule over Fennbirn remains intact—for now. But her attack on the rebellion exacted a high price: her beloved Pietyr. Without him, who can she rely upon when Mirabella arrives, seemingly under a banner of truce? As oldest and youngest circle each other, and Katharine begins to yearn for the closeness that Mirabella and Arsinoe share, the dead queens hiss caution—Mirabella is not to be trusted.

In this conclusion to the Three Dark Crowns series, three dark sisters will rise to fight as the secrets of Fennbirn’s history are laid bare. Allegiances will shift. Bonds will be tested, and some broken forever.

The fate of the island lies in the hands of its queens.


Do you ever have plans to read specific books and then never do? Do you stick to your TBR religiously? Have you read any of the books on my list? If so, what did you think of them? What are some books you want to read this year? What are some books that you didn’t get to read last year but wanted to?

 

 

My Summer Must-Read TBR

I’m pretty sure that I do a post like this one at least once a year and NEVER stick to it. I know that the one I posted for this previous winter was just abysmal… But y’all, I’m gonna stick to it this time around! I have been doing really well so far in 2019 of sticking to books that I’ve posted on my TBRs. This summer TBR is going to be the time where I actually read all of the books on this list. It’s time I kick my own ass into gear and get it done. I have a good mix of backlisted books and newer releases planned and I’m really excited to get started. Fingers crossed, everyone!


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The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

I pre-ordered this gorgeous behemoth of a novel, and yet I still haven’t picked it up. However, I feel like this will be a really good book to pick up over the summer. I can see myself reading this one over a lazy weekend when it’s storming outside…

 

 

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The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson

I always enjoy a good historical fiction story and this one sounds like a sweet read, perfect for the summer. I also plan to use it for one of my POPSUGAR reading prompts, so I’ve got a double reason for needing to pick it up this summer. I haven’t really heard much about this one which makes it even more exciting to pick up!

 

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Middlemarch by George Eliot

I already know that I’m finally going to read this book, as I have it up next on my TBR for May. This book has been sitting on my shelf for the last 4 years and I’ve let it get pushed aside in favor of less intimidating books. But no more! This classic is finally getting picked up… Bring. It. On.

 

 

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

I absolutely loved the previous trilogy set in the same world and so as soon as this one was announced, I knew I had to read it. I’ve heard some good things about this book and so I’m ready to experience it for myself. I really hope the hype is real for this one!

 

 

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The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

Another classic that I plan to finally read this summer. Who doesn’t enjoy epic family stories complete with romance in a historical setting? Raise your hand if that speaks to you as much as it speaks to me! It really helps that everyone seems to love the miniseries based on this book, so I’m sure I’ll be watching that too at some point after I finish this. If you’ve read this one, please verify!

 

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

I’ll be honest, I’m not sure I’m quite ready for this series to end.. But I know that the queen of sci-fi will do this finale justice and I can’t wait to see what kind of epic stuff she has in store for us.

 

 

 

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Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

I absolutely adored her debut novel, An Enchantment of Ravens, so I have been anxiously awaiting her follow up novel. And it’s almost here! I don’t think I’ll be able to wait to pick this one up. It’ll arrive and immediately go into my grabby little hands!

 

 

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The Oracle Year by Charles Soule

I originally got this book from Book of the Month Club back when it first came out. I waited until after my dad read it first to get his opinion on it, as Soule was a comic book writer and I was unsure how he would translate to a full novel. However, dad enjoyed it and so now it’s time for me to give it a shot.

 

 

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Finale (Caraval, #3) by Stephanie Garber

Now y’all know that one of my more anticipated releases isn’t going to get pushed aside for anything! As is the case with Sorcery of Thorns, this final book in such an engrossing trilogy is going to be read as soon as it shows up on my doorstep!

 

 

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The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

My blogging bestie, Britt @ Geronimo Reads, as been raving about this book ever since she first read it. When I saw it on BookOutlet, I knew I had to get it and see what all the fuss is about for myself. I have high hopes for this one because I’ve been needing a creepy story in my life.

 

 


Are there any specific books that you plan to read over the summer? Have you read any of the books on my TBR? If so, what did you think of them?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My 5 Star TBR Predictions: Round 2

So a long time ago, I originally posted my first edition of 5 star predictions for books on my TBR. It was a lot of fun and for the most part, I really enjoyed the books that I’ve read on the list since then. And since I haven’t posted a follow up to that post from 2017, I think it’s time to dive back into that and examine some of the books on my current TBR. For the sake or my sanity and yours, I’m only going to choose books that I already own or have preordered since there’s so many books out there that I’m sure I’ll end up loving when I get to them.

Previous Post:


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

Jade is the lifeblood of the island of Kekon. It has been mined, traded, stolen, and killed for — and for centuries, honorable Green Bone warriors like the Kaul family have used it to enhance their magical abilities and defend the island from foreign invasion.

Now, the war is over and a new generation of Kauls vies for control of Kekon’s bustling capital city. They care about nothing but protecting their own, cornering the jade market, and defending the districts under their protection. Ancient tradition has little place in this rapidly changing nation.

When a powerful new drug emerges that lets anyone — even foreigners — wield jade, the simmering tension between the Kauls and the rival Ayt family erupts into open violence. The outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones — from their grandest patriarch to the lowliest motorcycle runner on the streets — and of Kekon itself.

Jade City is the first novel in an epic trilogy about family, honor, and those who live and die by the ancient laws of blood and jade.

Ummm, how can you read that synopsis and not be immediately intrigued by it?! This book sounds like it hits all of my buttons – interesting magic system, dark fantasy, loyal families, etc. I’m pretty sure that this book will kill me and then bring me back to life many times before I finish it.

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The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

A world divided.
A queendom without an heir.
An ancient enemy awakens.

The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction—but assassins are getting closer to her door.

Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic.

Across the dark sea, Tané has trained all her life to be a dragonrider, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.

Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.

I’ll be honest, Samantha Shannon is pretty much an auto-buy author for me. I love her worldbuilding and characters so much. Plus, this book just sounds so amazing and it includes DRAGONS. Sign me up!! Now if we can just get the next book in The Bone Season series released…

30312855 The Last Magician (The Last Magician, #1) by Lisa Maxwell

Stop the Magician. Steal the book. Save the future.

In modern-day New York, magic is all but extinct. The remaining few who have an affinity for magic—the Mageus—live in the shadows, hiding who they are. Any Mageus who enters Manhattan becomes trapped by the Brink, a dark energy barrier that confines them to the island. Crossing it means losing their power—and often their lives.

Esta is a talented thief, and she’s been raised to steal magical artifacts from the sinister Order that created the Brink. With her innate ability to manipulate time, Esta can pilfer from the past, collecting these artifacts before the Order even realizes she’s there. And all of Esta’s training has been for one final job: traveling back to 1902 to steal an ancient book containing the secrets of the Order—and the Brink—before the Magician can destroy it and doom the Mageus to a hopeless future.

But Old New York is a dangerous world ruled by ruthless gangs and secret societies, a world where the very air crackles with magic. Nothing is as it seems, including the Magician himself. And for Esta to save her future, she may have to betray everyone in the past.

I’m a sucker fantasy and when you mix that with alternate history, that just sounds like the perfect blend for a fun story. I love the sound of a dark fantasy turn of the century New York that is full of secret societies. I want some epic fighting and intrigue going on here!

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The Oracle Year by Charles Soule

Knowledge is power. So when an unassuming Manhattan bassist named Will Dando awakens from a dream one morning with 108 predictions about the future in his head, he rapidly finds himself the most powerful man in the world. Protecting his anonymity by calling himself the Oracle, he sets up a heavily guarded Web site with the help of his friend Hamza to selectively announce his revelations. In no time, global corporations are offering him millions for exclusive access, eager to profit from his prophecies.

He’s also making a lot of high-powered enemies, from the President of the United States and a nationally prominent televangelist to a warlord with a nuclear missile and an assassin grandmother. Legions of cyber spies are unleashed to hack the Site—as it’s come to be called—and the best manhunters money can buy are deployed not only to unmask the Oracle but to take him out of the game entirely. With only a handful of people he can trust—including a beautiful journalist—it’s all Will can do just to survive, elude exposure, and protect those he loves long enough to use his knowledge to save the world.

Delivering fast-paced adventure on a global scale as well as sharp-witted satire on our concepts of power and faith, Marvel writer Charles Soule’s audacious debut novel takes readers on a rollicking ride where it’s impossible to predict what will happen next.

This book sounds so fast-paced and interesting. I love the concept of a present day Nostradamus who is turned on by governments and powerful people. I can actually imagine how crazy it would be to know I had this power that could change every single life on this planet.

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

A new novel in the New York Times–bestselling Remnant Chronicles universe, in which a reformed thief and the young leader of an outlaw dynasty lock wits in a battle that may cost them their lives—and their hearts.

When the patriarch of the Ballenger empire dies, his son, Jase, becomes its new leader. Even nearby kingdoms bow to the strength of this outlaw family, who have always governed by their own rules. But a new era looms on the horizon, set in motion by a young queen, which makes her the target of the dynasty’s resentment and anger.

At the same time, Kazi, a legendary former street thief, is sent by the queen to investigate transgressions against the new settlements. When Kazi arrives in the forbidding land of the Ballengers, she learns that there is more to Jase than she thought. As unexpected events spiral out of their control, bringing them intimately together, they continue to play a cat and mouse game of false moves and motives in order to fulfill their own secret missions.

I absolutely loved The Remnant Chronicles series and so when I heard that Pearson’s newest book was going to be set in the same universe, I got extremely excited. I loved that the writing got better with each book and that gives me a lot of hope for this one. Also, I love when a story is told by characters on opposite sides. Plus I’m getting major enemies-to-lovers vibes from this synopsis and I am so here for that.


What are some books on your TBR that you’re positive that you will love? Have you ever been wrong? Have you read any of the books on my list? If so, what did you think about it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2018 Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag

I think I say this every year, but it’s true… HOW THE HECK IS JUNE ALMOST OVER?! I mean, I could’ve sworn that January was yesterday and it was cold outside. Now, I start to melt like a popsicle as soon as I step outside. (Damn you, Texas weather!)

As always, I wasn’t tagged to do this tag. I just did it last year and decide to keep the tradition going!


Best Book You’ve Read This Year?

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

I wish I could just describe to you how much I loved this book. I binged it in less than 24 hours during a personal readathon back in January, and it has been on my mind ever since. This book has everything that I love in a story and the fact that it is based off Middle Eastern mythology just makes it even better. If you haven’t tried this book, please please do!

Best Sequel You’ve Read in 2018?

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Legendary (Caraval, #2) by Stephanie Garber

For me, an amazing sequel elevates the original story to a completely different level, and I think Legendary did just that. The plot immediately pulled me in and brought a whole new element to the overall story. I also enjoyed Tella so much more as a main character than I did Scarlett. I just know Finale is going to blow us all away when it’s released!

New Release You Haven’t Read Yet But Want To?

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Defy the Worlds (Constellation, #2) by Claudia Gray

I absolutely loved the first book, Defy the Stars, and cannot believe I have put off picking up the sequel for so long. Luckily, that’ll be rectified very soon as I plan to read it next. I cannot wait!!! I’ve missed Abel so darn much.

Most Anticipated Release For The Second Half Of The Year?

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

I am soooo excited about this newest series set prior to the events in Pearson’s The Remnant Chronicles. I ended up falling in love with that trilogy after a rough start with the first book. I’ve got really high hopes for this book, y’all!

Also, honorable mention goes to Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, #7) by Sarah J. Maas… because, obviously.

Biggest Disappointment?

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Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman

I really don’t get the hype surrounding this book. I listened to the audiobook for a couple of hours before finally DNFing it. There’s barely any dialogue and the character is written in such an unbelievable way that I couldn’t enjoy the story. I think pretentious is the best word to describe this book. I think I’ll just stick to watching the film instead.

Biggest Surprise?

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The Queen of the Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling, #1) by Erika Johansen

This series has some very mixed reviews so I wasn’t sure how it would turn out. I figured it be boring or something.. I WAS WRONG. This entire trilogy completely took me by surprise and solidified itself as one of my all-time favorite series. If you were turned off this series because of the reviews, I recommend still giving it a try. I recommended it to my dad and he really enjoyed it! I’ve also heard rumors that Emma Watson is working to turn this into a movie and I am so hype for it.

Favorite New To You Or Debut Author?

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Claire Legrand

I read Furyborn (Empirium, #1) back in May and absolutely loved it. I haven’t read any of her other books but it makes me really want to pick them up. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with for the sequel!

Newest Fictional Crush?

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Gathering Darkness (Falling Kingdoms, #3) by Morgan Rhodes

Let’s talk about my new boo, Magnus. I’ll be honest and admit that he kind of creeped me out by his unnatural obsession with his stepsister in the first couple of books. However, he really grew on me in Gathering Darkness. He finally seems to be doing his own thing and that sexual tension he has going with Cleo is giving me life right now. Hate to love, FTW!

Newest Favorite Character?

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

I think we can all agree that Prince Cardan is such a gem of a character. I love how awful he is and yet, you can’t help but like him for some twisted reason. Extremely complicated characters like him will always be my faves. I cannot wait to see how he responds in The Wicked King! Is it January yet?

Book That Made You Cry?

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The Fate of the Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling, #3) by Erika Johansen

Damn, that ending.. It was a killer. But at the same time, after I finished bawling my eyes out, I realized that it was also more bittersweet and a little hopeful. Johansen did such a great job with this finale.

Book That Made You Happy?

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Jackaby (Jackaby, #1) by William Ritter

I went into this book with zero expectations and maybe that helped how much I ended up enjoying it. It was just fun, quick read that made me laugh. I liked how it was a twist on Sherlock Holmes but also was able to really be its own thing, especially by incorporating the supernatural. I really want to get to the sequels at some point later this year.

Favorite Book-To-Film Adaptation?

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Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

I reallyyy enjoyed this movie. It was just a fun ride from start to finish. I liked some of the changes they made to help transmit the book to the big screen, though they did leave out some parts that I think would’ve been nice additions to the overall story.

Favorite Post You Have Done This Year?

Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought This Year?

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Onyx & Ivory by Mindee Arnett

Let’s all be honest, that is one wicked gorgeous and unique cover. I’m a little bit obsessed with it. It makes me want to pick up the book even faster!

What Books Do You Need To Read By The End of the Year?

  • Reign of the Fallen (Reign of the Fallen, #1) by Sarah Glenn Marsh
  • Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass, #6) by Sarah J. Maas
  • Renegades (Renegades, #1) by Marissa Meyer

Honestly, there’s way too many books that I need to read before the year is over but that’s nothing new. I do plan to get to each of these soon though, as a couple have their sequels being released this fall.


What book has been your favorite of 2018 so far? Least favorite? What book(s) do you want to read before the end of the year? Have you read any of the books on my list? If so, what did you think of them?