My 2018 Mid-Year Personal Reading Goals

With the month of June already over the halfway point, I thought it’d be a good time to reevaluate some of my personal reading goals for the second half of the year. It’s always a good idea to take some time for personal reflection, even if it’s just over your reading habits! With that being said, here are some reading goals that I’d like to start/continue with for the rest of 2018.


  1. Read at least one book from a subscription box per month.

Right now, I have an excess of books built up from previous book boxes. I haven’t been very good at picking them up in a timely manner and it’s really time to start. I’ll probably focus on books I’ve received from Book of the Month Club first, as I feel like those are the ones I’ve pushed to the side more than ones from other boxes.

2. Finish/catch up on a series before starting a new one.

Let’s be real, we all start wayyyyy too many series and have the hardest time finishing them in a timely manner. I really need to try and not do that so much! I’ve been doing a pretty good job on catching up/finishing series during the first half of the year and so I want to focus on continuing with that. It makes me feel so accomplished when I finish a series, haha!

3. Focus more on reading books that have been on my shelves/TBR for a long time.

I own close to 300 books and half of those are unread which isn’t something I’m really proud of. I hope to remedy some of that for the rest of the year, by focusing more on my backlisted titles. I know how much I love all of the shiny new preorders that show up at my house on their release date, but I really need to learn to push them aside for just a little while. Stay strong, Larkin!

4. Read at least one diverse book a month.

I’ve actually been doing really good about this during the first half of the year, but I really want to continue doing so far the rest of the year. I actually have a Native American own voices novel up next on my TBR which I’m really excited to get to!

5. Be okay with DNFing books that I’m not enjoying.

I really struggle with DNFing books. I always feel like I’m failing if I don’t actually try and push myself to finish the book that I’m reading. However, I think it’s a good idea to know when something doesn’t work for you and to be okay with that. I was recently listening to the audiobook of Call Me By Your Name, and since it’s such a beloved book, I was struggling to continue listening to it because I thought maybe I would enjoy it if I just stuck with it. But after a few hours into it, I knew that it wasn’t going to work for me based on the writing style. And surprisingly enough, I felt so much better after I DNFed and moved on to a different book that I enjoyed so much more.


What are some of your personal reading goals for the rest of the year? Do you like to reflect on your reading goals throughout the year? Do you have any of the same reading goals as me?

Book Review: Ten Thousand Skies Above You (Firebird, #2)

The obsession with Ten Thousand Skies Above You (Firebird, #2) by Claudia Gray is real, y’all. This trilogy is giving me life right now and I’m so scared to see how it’s going to end.

Ever since she used the Firebird, her parents’ invention, to cross into alternate dimensions, Marguerite has caught the attention of enemies who will do anything to force her into helping them dominate the multiverse—even hurting the people she loves. She resists until her boyfriend, Paul, is attacked and his consciousness scattered across multiple dimensions.

Marguerite has no choice but to search for each splinter of Paul’s soul. The hunt sends her racing through a war-torn San Francisco, the criminal underworld of New York City, and a glittering Paris where another Marguerite hides a shocking secret. Each world brings Marguerite one step closer to rescuing Paul. But with each trial she faces, she begins to question the destiny she thought they shared.

The second book in the Firebird trilogy, Ten Thousand Skies Above You features Claudia Gray’s lush, romantic language and smart, exciting action, and will have readers clamoring for the next book.

The Good

  • Plot that rocks! – This is one of those stories that it’s almost impossible to get bored with. You’re constantly following Marguerite through the different dimensions, and with each one being so incredibly different, there’s never any time for you to lose interest. I didn’t think it was possible for the plot to get any more exciting after the first book, but I was so happy to see that I was wrong. SO INTENSE!
  • Oh, those consequences… – I know that some people had some issues with the first book because Marguerite was never having to deal with any backlash for her actions and decisions (especially that really important/bad one). However, don’t fear because all of those choices are finally coming back to haunt her. And you might think, now that’s not very nice to get excited about, Larkin. But I don’t care! It makes the book so much better knowing that there’s some realistic issues coming about. You can’t just go bumbling through life without ever suffering any consequences! Luckily, Gray knows that and it was definitely a great piece added to the overall story.
  • Can’t stop, won’t stop. – This kind of goes hand in hand with the overall plot, but the pacing is just so on point. It never slows down to even a walk, it’s just a non-stop sprint from start to finish. If you’ve been feeling the need for something a bit more upbeat, then this is the trilogy you’re probably looking for.
  • Tortured Paul – Paul is such an amazing character. I loved that in this book we get a little bit more of his history and finally see some more depth in his character. I thought it was great writing to finally build a real story behind Paul. Huge thumbs up.

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The Bad

  • Sometimes it’s just too much. – Listen, the romance has a huge part in this trilogy, that’s a given and something that I didn’t really have a problem with in the first book. However, in this book it finally started to annoy me just a tad. Like I get it, you’re in love and all, blah blah blah.. But it’s just laid on a little thick, I think. I would’ve preferred Gray to just pull back a bit on all of the love references.

This series really has turned into one of my all-time favorites. Unless it just has the shittiest ending ever, I can definitely see myself recommending this to literally every person I know.

FYI: Currently in the middle of the third book and it is freaking awesome. YESSSSSS!

Final Verdict: 5/5 stars


Have you read Ten Thousand Skies Above You? What did you think of it? Did you enjoy the entire trilogy? How do you feel about books where the romance can sometimes overpower the plot?

2017 Book Haul: 1st Half (My wallet hates me.)

I realized this weekend that I haven’t posted a book haul since probably December. Well, I think it’s time to remedy that. I spend way too much money on my books and no one appreciates that as much all of you, my book blogging friends! With that being said, I’ve spent so much money already this year and then I just laugh when I think of all of the amazing releases coming out in the next six months. FINE, TAKE ALL OF MY MONEY AND GIVE ME THE BOOKS!

But seriously, give me all of the books.


  • Startup by Doree Shafrir – received via Book of the Month Club, REVIEW
  • Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney
  • Aftermath: Empire’s End (Stars Wars: Aftermath, #3) by Chuck Wendig
  • The Song Rising (The Bone Season, #3) by Samantha Shannon
  • Heartstone by Elle Katharine White – REVIEW
  • Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer, #1) by Laini Taylor – received via FairyLoot, REVIEW
  • King’s Cage (Red Queen, #3) by Victoria Aveyard
  • A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3) by Sarah J. Maas – REVIEW
  • Windwitch (The Witchlands, #2) by Susan Dennard
  • Gilded Cage (Dark Gifts, #1) by Vic James
  • RoseBlood by A.G. Howard – received via Owlcrate
  • A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic, #3) by V.E. Schwab – REVIEW
  • Empress of a Thousand Skies (Empress of a Thousand Skies, #1) by Rhoda Belleza – received via FairyLoot
  • Daughter of the Pirate King (Daughter of the Pirate King, #1) by Tricia Levenseller
  • A Million Junes by Emily Henry – received via Book of the Month Club
  • The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – received via Book of the Month Club
  • Wintersong (Wintersong, #1) by S. Jae-Jones
  • Carve the Mark (Carve the Mark, #1) by Veronica Roth – received via Book Boyfriend Box
  • Caraval (Caraval, #1) by Stephanie Garber – received via FairyLoot, REVIEW
  • Star Wars: Thrawn by Timothy Zahn
  • The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich – received via Book of the Month Club
  • Flame in the Mist (Flame in the Mist, #1) by Renee Ahdieh – received via FairyLoot
  • Shadow Run (Kaitan Chronicles, #1) by AdriAnne Strickland & Michael Miller
  • The Possessions by Sara Flannery-Murphy – received via Book of the Month Club
  • Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
  • Blackhearts (Blackhearts, #1) by Nicole Castroman
  • Hunted by Megan Spooner – received via Book Boyfriend Box
  • City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson
  • Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3) by Marissa Meyer
  • Give to the Sea (Given Duet, #1) by Mindy McGinnis – received via FairyLoot
  • Starfall (Starflight, #2) by Melissa Landers
  • If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
  • The Last Wish (The Witcher Saga, #1) by Andrej Sapowski
  • Sword of Destiny (The Witcher Saga, #2) by Andrej Sapowski
  • Blood of Elves (The Witcher Saga, #3) by Andrej Sapowski
  • The Time of Contempt (The Witcher Saga, #4) by Andrej Sapowski
  • Baptism of Fire (The Witcher Saga, #5) by Andrej Sapowski
  • The Tower of Swallows (The Witcher Saga, #6) by Andrej Sapowski
  • The Lady of the Lake (The Witcher Saga, #7) by Andrej Sapowski
  • Red Sister (Book of the Ancestor, #1) by Mark Lawrence

Damn, I should probably slow it down a bit. Oops!


What books have you bought recently? Have you read any of the ones on my list? What did you think of them?

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

Big thanks to May for finally pulling me out of reading/blgging slump. I finally feel like I’m back to my old self again!

Nothing real exciting happened to me this past month, other than just work. Kids, never grow up and get a real job. If Peter Pan comes calling, then you better take your ass over to Neverland and have a good time for me! 😉


Books Read

  • Startup by Doree Shafrir – 4/5 stars, REVIEW
  • Alias Hook by Lisa Jensen – 4/5 stars, REVIEW
  • Armada by Ernest Cline – 3/5 stars, REVIEW
  • Heartstone by Elle Katharine White – 4/5 stars, REVIEW
  • A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3) by Sarah J. Maas – 5/5 stars, REVIEW
  • Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer, #1) by Laini Taylor – 4/5 stars, REVIEW

I think I had a really good reading month in May. I enjoyed all of the books that I read for the most part and hope that that trend continues through June as well!

Total Books Read: 6

Overall in 2017: 25

Reading Challenge Updates

POPSUGAR

  • A Book Involving a Mythical Creature – Heartstone

Previous Month:

  • A Book of Letters – We Are Still Tornadoes
  • A Book by a Person of Color – A Torch Against the Night (An Ember in the Ashes, #2)
  • A Bestseller from a Genre You Don’t Normally Read – Big Little Lies
  • A Book Published in 2017 – Caraval (Caraval, #1)
  • The First Book in a Series You Haven’t Read Before – Truthwitch (The Witchlands, #1)
  • A book by or about a person who has a disability – The Architect of Song
  • A book that’s been on your TBR list for way too longRed Queen (Red Queen, #1)
  • A Book by an Author Who Uses a Pseudonym – A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic, #3)

Beat The Backlist

  • Armada
  • Alias Hook

Goodreads Reading Challenge

  • Total: 25/100
  • Previous Total: 19/100

Blog Posts

Teaser Tuesday

WWW Wednesday

Hype or Like Friday

Discussions/Misc.

Happy reading, y’all!


How was your reading month in May? Did you read any good books? Find any new favorites? Was there a book that really let you down? Have you read any of the same books that I did? What did you think of them?

Hype or Like Friday – BOTM Review: Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer, #1)

Just another Hype or Like Friday! This meme and Goodreads group were created by myself, Jill @ Rant and Rave Books, and Britt @ Geronimo Reads. To join our group and find out more information about what it’s all about, please go to our Goodreads page HERE.

The May BOTM is Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer, #1) by Laini Taylor.

RULES:

  • Answer the weekly discussion topic.
  • Optional: Discuss your chosen hyped book of the week.
  • Optional: Talk about your progress on the BOTM.

TOPIC OF THE WEEK: May 26th – Strange the Dreamer book review


Review

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 Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer, #1) by Laini Taylor

Let me start this review off by saying that I still have about 100 pages left in this book. I know that I probably shouldn’t review this until I’m completely done with it, however, I know exactly how I’m going to rate this book, no matter how these next 100 pages go. Unless the ending is just god-awful, then we might have to revisit my feelings on my Goodreads review. I hope that doesn’t happen though, yikes!

The first thing you need to know about this book is that it’s classic Laini Taylor. The story is engrossing, whimsical, and extremely atmospheric. Taylor has an amazing storytelling ability. Her world-building captures your attention from the very first chapter and doesn’t let go. Her writing is beautiful, able to vividly bring her world to life. I’m sure this isn’t news to anyone who’s read her work before. So don’t worry, she hasn’t changed a bit.

Okay, I’m a bit obsessed with Lazlo. I just loveeeeee him! He’s so adorable and I cannot get enough of his humor. I wasn’t expecting him to ever really develop such a fun personality when we are first introduced to him, but once he begins the journey to Weep and begins to socialize, his transformation is so amazing. If this book had only followed his POV, I would’ve been perfectly okay with that. While I love Lazlo, I’m not the biggest fan of Sarai. I find her to be kind of boring and uninteresting. Her chapters seemed to go on for way longer than I would’ve liked. I wish she wasn’t so timid and unwilling to stick up for herself. It would also be nice if she had more of a personality, but unfortunately, she’s just too bland for my taste. The rest of the cast consists of side characters who are all pretty interesting. I never had any trouble trying to remember who was who, but found them to be easily discernible from one another.

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My issue with this book has to do with the pacing. The issue with Taylor’s writing, is that she doesn’t revolve around much action in her novels. Her fluid writing and vivid world-building is what her stories focus on, which in turn can really affect the pacing. So when it comes to an almost 600 page book, there comes a point where you really start to feel a lack of action or an uptick in excitement. I could definitely tell that this was a first book in a series, in that it really focused more on the different characters, their stories, and the history of the Weep. I think that might have affected how long it’s taken me to finish this novel. I prefer at least a little action to break up the monotony, especially in longer books, but this one is more of a steady uphill climb.

Overall I found this to be a strong opening book for Taylor’s new series. While I would’ve have preferred a bit more action throughout, I still found the story to be fairly engaging. Creativity and originality shine in this story and I’m really looking forward to seeing where it goes from here. I’m hoping that there might be a bit more focus on action and adventure in the rest of the books! If you’ve enjoyed Laini Taylor’s previous books, this one won’t disappoint you. The story might seem a little strange, but that’s what makes it good… See what I did there? 😉

Final Verdict: 4/5 stars

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Have you read Strange the Dreamer? What did you think of it? Did you prefer Lazlo to Sarai? Did the pacing bother you? Leave a link to your Hype or Like Friday post in the comments below!

Smashing Series Round 2: June Summer Smash TBR!

So I’ve been looking over my stacks of TBR in preparation to start packing to move, when I realized that once again, I have a butt load of series to read. Now when I say series to read, I mean any series that I need to finish or catch up on. Such is the curse of being a bookworm! With that being said, I thought June would a good month to try and do a little summer cleaning on the old TBR. I originally came up with Smashing Series back in September and it was a success. I got caught up on and finished so many series! You can go read my announcement and wrap-up posts, HERE and HERE.

Now anyone can join if you’re interested! This is a very casual and fun way to help clear out some series from your TBR. It’s like a reading challenge but more of a personal one! If you’re like me, then you know how crazy those TBRs can get and it’s always nice to check some of those books off that list!


My June TBR

Aftermath: Life Debt (Star Wars: Aftermath, #2) Aftermath: Empire’s End (Star Wars: Aftermath, #3) by Chuck Wendig

I will finally get to finish this trilogy after reading the first book. I’ve heard that the final book is fairly good so I can’t wait to see how it all ends!

Glass Sword (Red Queen, #2) & King’s Cage (Red Queen, #3) by Victoria Aveyard

I thought the first book was fun, if lacking on originality. However, the ending was really my favorite part as I love a good plot twist. Now I haven’t heard great things about the next two books in the series but hopefully they aren’t too bad.

The Bone Season (The Bone Season, #1)The Mime Order (The Bone Season, #2)The Song Rising (The Bone Season, #3) by Samantha Shannon

I read the first book back when it was first released but I plan to reread it before diving into the rest of this series. I’ll be honest and admit that I don’t remember anything that happened. Oops!I can’t wait to dive back into this series!

Ten Thousand Skies Above You (Firebird Trilogy, #2) A Million Worlds with You (Firebird Trilogy, #3) by Claudia Gray

I really enjoyed the first book in this trilogy when we read it for the Hype or Like Friday December BOTM. I honestly cannot believe I waited this long to finally finish this series! I wish I had a good excuse for putting it off, but I don’t. Also, can we all just gush over these insanely gorgeous covers? LOVE LOVE LOVE.

To say that my TBR for June is setting the bar extremely high, would be a bit of an understatement. But my reading has been really slow since I came back from my break and so I’m hoping this will finally kick it back into gear, especially since I’ll be revisiting series that I’ve already started. The first time I did was a resounding success and I flew through my TBR list, so I hope I can recreate that this time around!


What do you think of Smashing Series? Do you have tons of series that you’ve started but haven’t finished? What series do you need to finish? Have you read any of the ones on my TBR? Would you like to participate in this round of Smashing Series?

Book Review: Armada

Sometimes you can enjoy a book sooo much and then you get to the ending only to be let down, which unfortunately was the case for me when I read Armada by Ernest Cline.

Zack Lightman has spent his life dreaming. Dreaming that the real world could be a little more like the countless science-fiction books, movies, and videogames he’s spent his life consuming. Dreaming that one day, some fantastic, world-altering event will shatter the monotony of his humdrum existence and whisk him off on some grand space-faring adventure.

But hey, there’s nothing wrong with a little escapism, right? After all, Zack tells himself, he knows the difference between fantasy and reality. He knows that here in the real world, aimless teenage gamers with anger issues don’t get chosen to save the universe.

And then he sees the flying saucer.

Even stranger, the alien ship he’s staring at is straight out of the videogame he plays every night, a hugely popular online flight simulator called Armada—in which gamers just happen to be protecting the earth from alien invaders.

No, Zack hasn’t lost his mind. As impossible as it seems, what he’s seeing is all too real. And his skills—as well as those of millions of gamers across the world—are going to be needed to save the earth from what’s about to befall it.

It’s Zack’s chance, at last, to play the hero. But even through the terror and exhilaration, he can’t help thinking back to all those science-fiction stories he grew up with, and wondering: Doesn’t something about this scenario seem a little…familiar?

While I enjoyed Cline’s debut novel, Ready Player One, I also felt that it tended to drag in areas. But lucky for us, Armada never suffers from the same problem. This story was fast-paced from beginning to end. I never found myself struggling with boredom or indifference, but always on the edge of my seat with excitement. I was so excited to turn each page to see what was going to happen next. I’m very happy to see that Cline has improved so much with pacing and I hope that he continues to, to ensure that this isn’t just a fluke. *prays intently to the book gods for it to be true*

I thought that Zack was a really fun character. He was snarky and nerdy, but came with some emotional issues from his father dying at such a young age. The opening chapter was the perfect setup for the reader to see just what kind of person he is and I loved how great of an introduction it was. I also enjoyed the various side characters that show up, however, the female love interest, Alexis Larkin (YES, YOU READ THAT RIGHT!) was a bit much for me. I loved reading their interactions, but I felt that she was almost too much of a perfect badass that I didn’t particularly click with. She was too much of a trope and lacked anything original. Yes, she’s only a minor character but I would have preferred to see her make some mistakes or have some personal issues at least, but alas, nothing. She’s just too bloody cool and perfect. Yawnnnnnnn…

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Plot-wise, this book is nothing original but then again, it doesn’t pretend to be. Throughout the entire story, Cline is referencing the very books and movies that it was inspired by. However, I never let that bother me. I found this book to be more of a contemporary homage to some science fiction classics, such as Ender’s Game, Star Wars, and The Last Starfighter. I felt that Cline’s pop culture references this time around helped pay tribute rather than just feel like an attempt to show off his extensive knowledge, as was the case in RPO. They were also much more accessible this time around and were references that I think everyone will be able to recognize. As a nerd, I can always appreciate a good pop culture reference! 😉

 However, for as much fun as I had with this book, there were a few issues that I just couldn’t get over. I’ll start with the minor things… The first one was a bit of an insta-love moment between Zack and Lexi. It was more of a puppy love thing and was actually a pretty funny first meeting, so it wasn’t too terrible. Just worthy of a some eye-rolling, haha! The second thing that wasn’t a really big issue but still kind of annoyed me, were the so-called “twists”. Yeah, just no. None of them were twists to me, as I felt they were all a bit too obvious. But none of these compare to the ultimate fail when it comes to books for me, and that is CRAPPY ENDINGS!!!! Yes, you read that right. Armada was a fun, action-packed ride right up until the end. That ending was too quick, too easy, and too predictable. It lacked the tension and excitement that I expect in a good finale. It was like ordering a dry aged ribeye steak and receiving a hamburger patty. Yep, that kind of disappointment.

Overall, Armada was an entertaining and quick read but fell short in some areas. It had all of the entertainment value of a 5 star review but lacked the finesse and details (not to mention the perfect ending) to deserve it. If you’re looking for a quick travel or beach read then this book is an excellent choice, but if you’re looking for the perfect book then you might want to pick something else off of you shelf.

 Final Verdict: 3/5 Stars


Have you read Armada? What did you think of it? What did you think of it compared to Ready Player one?

Hype or Like Friday – May 19th, 2016

Just another Hype or Like Friday! This meme and Goodreads group were created by myself, Jill @ Rant and Rave Books, and Britt @ Geronimo Reads. To join our group and find out more information about what it’s all about, please go to our Goodreads page HERE.

The May BOTM is Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer, #1) by Laini Taylor.

RULES:

  • Answer the weekly discussion topic.
  • Optional: Discuss your chosen hyped book of the week.
  • Optional: Talk about your progress on the BOTM.

TOPIC OF THE WEEK: May 19th – Three Important Ingredients… What are the three main things that you look for in a book?


Three Important Ingredients

This week’s topic is more of a discussion post and one that I’m pretty excitement about. I find it so interesting how everyone views books differently and what things we look for when we read or pick out a novel. I, myself, am an entertainment reader, which basically means that I just like to read and if a book entertains me then that’s the most important thing. This tends to lead to high ratings and such, as I’m a tad easy to impress and I typically don’t notice as much issues in the writing/story as others do. But to each his own, right?!

1. An Engrossing Plotline

For me, this is the most important piece. If the story cannot completely draw my attention in, then it’s not going to be rated very highly for me. I need to feel totally invested in the story or it’s just not worth it to me. This is why I don’t read hardly any contemporary novels, as their plots just don’t really interest me. Now, this is obviously a totally subjective opinion, because I know so many people love them. But for me, I want a good story that puts my imagination to good use.

Examples include:

2. Characters with Personality

I love characters that are full of personality. I want them to feel so alive to me that I thoroughly care about what happens to them, whether it’s a happy or bad ending. If a character can make me continue with a story just for them, then that can sometimes make up for a lackluster novel. Sometimes it isn’t even the main character who I connect with, but maybe a different character in the story (*throws some ultimate side glances at The Grisha Trilogy*). But no matter how it happens, if I can find at least one character to connect with, that’s a good sign.

Examples include:

3. A Strong Ending

Nothing pisses me off more than being totally obsessed with a novel or series, only to reach the ending/final book and want to burn it in the fiery flames of Hell. But if a book or series can grow, evolve and then end with fireworks, I’m in love. There’s no more satisfying feeling than being able to close a book with a smile on your face. I love that feeling! I think a strong ending can really make or break a book/series for me.

Examples include:


What 3 ingredients do you look for in a book? Are any of mine important to you? Have you enjoyed any books that might not have followed your typical ingredients? Leave a link to your Hype or Like Friday in the comments below!

Hype or Like Friday – May 12th, 2017

Just another Hype or Like Friday! This meme and Goodreads group were created by myself, Jill @ Rant and Rave Books, and Britt @ Geronimo Reads. To join our group and find out more information about what it’s all about, please go to our Goodreads page HERE.

The May BOTM is Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer, #1) by Laini Taylor.

RULES:

  • Answer the weekly discussion topic.
  • Optional: Discuss your chosen hyped book of the week.
  • Optional: Talk about your progress on the BOTM.

I will actually be doing this week’s topic and last week’s since I was out of town and didn’t have time to post. Enjoy, y’all!

TOPIC OF THE WEEK: May 5th – Dreaming I Was There Now… Which fantasy worlds are your favorite and do you catch yourself wishing you were there?
May 12th – Oh, So Pretty!… What book covers are just dazzling you lately?


May 5th – Dreaming I Was There Now…

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Velaris – A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas

I obviously dream about living in the townhouse in Velaris every single day, especially being surrounded by 3 sexy as hell guys. I wouldn’t be sharing them with the other girls though. Nope, ain’t happening!

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Jedi Temple on Coruscant – Star Wars 

Yes, I am a MASSIVE Star Wars fan. I love it so damn much. And like, how cool would it be to get to be a Jedi? THE FREAKING COOLEST! But not during the attack on the temple, I’d rather not have to die thanks to Order 66.

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Red London – Shades of Magic Trilogy by V.E. Schwab

Yes, yes, yes! I would like to say that it would be so freaking cool to watch the Essen Tach in person. Or maybe in compete? Yes, I think I like the sound of that even more.


 

May 12th – Oh, So Pretty!

There are so many gorgeous book covers out in the world that I wanted to give equal attention to some favorite oldies and upcoming beauties! I hope you don’t mind me getting a little too carried away with this one but I’m kind of obsessed with book covers. Which leads me to ask you the question – Are you disappointed more by amazing books with terrible covers or terrible books with amazing covers? I think it’s more of the former for me, especially when it’s a book that I’ve been looking forward to and then they reveal the cover and it’s awful.

Previous Releases

Upcoming Releases

Can I just say that I really think that publishing companies have upped their cover game this year?! It’s amazing how much better cover designs have gotten over the past couple of years. Soooooo pretty!


What fantasy worlds do you wish you lived in? What book covers do you obsess over? Are there any 2017 releases that you love? Do you think book covers are getting better recently? Leave a link to your Hype or Like Friday post in the comments below!

Beat The Backlist – 2017 Reading Challenge

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Hi y’all! Don’t you just love reading challenges? I know I do! I usually use them as a fun way to add some motivation to my reading, whether to read something outside of my comfort zone, just read more period, or as in that case of Beat The Backlist – to motivate myself to read more books from my own shelves!

2017 Beat the Backlist Reading Challenge is a reading challenge being hosted by Austine & Tia @ The Novel Knight. This reading challenge is focusing on reading all of those books on your TBR that have just been sitting on your shelves for months, even years! We all tend to get caught up in reading only hyped new releases and forget about all of those other random books that we’ve accumulated. I’m guilty as charged! So isn’t this idea the best way to motivate you to pick those beauties up?!

Not only is it a fun reading challenge but there will also be little mini challenges, Twitter chats, and giveaways throughout the year if you follow @beatthebacklist. They are also hosting another fun little challenge within this one to sign up as your Hogwarts House and earn points to win the House Cup!

Head over to the information and sign-up sheet to participate!


This took me forever to finally decide on my TBR for this challenge. I am sooooo guilty of accumulating books and not having time to read them all. Three cheers for book hoarders! If you want to know how bad it is right now, then just know that I have 90 unread books that I’ve bought this year. YES, 90 FREAKING BOOKS! So I thought I’d start off easy with just a list of 12, a set for each month. I can also admit to owning these books for far too long. Yep, I’m a terrible person… I’ll also probably add to this list throughout the year, since I really will be going on a book buying ban. Gotta save that money!

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The Dark Days Club (Lady Helen, #1) by Alison Goodman

London, April 1812. On the eve of eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall’s presentation to the queen, one of her family’s housemaids disappears-and Helen is drawn into the shadows of Regency London. There, she meets Lord Carlston, one of the few who can stop the perpetrators: a cabal of demons infiltrating every level of society. Dare she ask for his help, when his reputation is almost as black as his lingering eyes? And will her intelligence and headstrong curiosity wind up leading them into a death trap?

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Starflight (Starflight, #1) by Melissa Landers

Life in the outer realm is a lawless, dirty, hard existence, and Solara Brooks is hungry for it. Just out of the orphanage, she needs a fresh start in a place where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. She’s so desperate to reach the realm that she’s willing to indenture herself to Doran Spaulding, the rich and popular quarterback who made her life miserable all through high school, in exchange for passage aboard the spaceliner Zenith.

When a twist of fate lands them instead on the Banshee, a vessel of dubious repute, Doran learns he’s been framed on Earth for conspiracy. As he pursues a set of mysterious coordinates rumored to hold the key to clearing his name, he and Solara must get past their enmity to work together and evade those out for their arrest. Life on the Banshee may be tumultuous, but as Solara and Doran are forced to question everything they once believed about their world—and each other—the ship becomes home, and the eccentric crew family. But what Solara and Doran discover on the mysterious Planet X has the power to not only alter their lives, but the existence of everyone in the universe…

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Middlemarch by George Eliot

By the time the novel appeared to tremendous popular and critical acclaim in 1871-2, George Eliot was recognized as England’s finest living novelist. It was her ambition to create a world and portray a whole community–tradespeople, middle classes, country gentry–in the rising provincial town of Middlemarch, circa 1830. Vast and crowded, rich in narrative irony and suspense, Middlemarch is richer still in character, in its sense of how individual destinies are shaped by and shape the community, and in the great art that enlarges the reader’s sympathy and imagination. It is truly, as Virginia Woolf famously remarked, ‘one of the few English novels written for grown-up people’.

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Red Queen (Red Queen, #1) by Victoria Aveyard

This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart.

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The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

Dill has had to wrestle with vipers his whole life at home, as the only son of a Pentecostal minister who urges him to handle poisonous rattlesnakes, and at school, where he faces down bullies who target him for his father’s extreme faith and very public fall from grace.

The only antidote to all this venom is his friendship with fellow outcasts Travis and Lydia. But as they are starting their senior year, Dill feels the coils of his future tightening around him. Dill’s only escapes are his music and his secret feelings for Lydia neither of which he is brave enough to share. Graduation feels more like an ending to Dill than a beginning. But even before then, he must cope with another ending one that will rock his life to the core.

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Truthwitch (The Witchlands, #1) by Susan Dennard

In a continent on the edge of war, two witches hold its fate in their hands.

Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.

Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she’s a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden – lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult’s true powers are hidden even from herself.

In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls’ heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

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Rebel of the Sands (Rebel of the Sands, #1) by Alwyn Hamilton

She’s more gunpowder than girl—and the fate of the desert lies in her hands.

Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mystical beasts still roam the wild and barren wastes, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinni still practice their magic. But there’s nothing mystical or magical about Dustwalk, the dead-end town that Amani can’t wait to escape from.

Destined to wind up “wed or dead,” Amani’s counting on her sharpshooting skills to get her out of Dustwalk. When she meets Jin, a mysterious and devastatingly handsome foreigner, in a shooting contest, she figures he’s the perfect escape route. But in all her years spent dreaming of leaving home, she never imagined she’d gallop away on a mythical horse, fleeing the murderous Sultan’s army, with a fugitive who’s wanted for treason. And she’d never have predicted she’d fall in love with him… or that he’d help her unlock the powerful truth of who she really is.

The Queen of the Tearling Trilogy by Erika Johansen

An untested young princess must claim her throne, learn to become a queen, and combat a malevolent sorceress in an epic battle between light and darkness in this spectacular debut—the first novel in a trilogy.

Young Kelsea Raleigh was raised in hiding after the death of her mother, Queen Elyssa, far from the intrigues of the royal Keep and in the care of two devoted servants who pledged their lives to protect her. Growing up in a cottage deep in the woods, Kelsea knows little of her kingdom’s haunted past . . . or that its fate will soon rest in her hands.

Long ago, Kelsea’s forefathers sailed away from a decaying world to establish a new land free of modern technology. Three hundred years later, this feudal society has divided into three fearful nations who pay duties to a fourth: the powerful Mortmesne, ruled by the cunning Red Queen. Now, on Kelsea’s nineteenth birthday, the tattered remnants of the Queen’s Guard—loyal soldiers who protect the throne—have appeared to escort the princess on a perilous journey to the capital to ascend to her rightful place as the new Queen of the Tearling.

Though born of royal blood and in possession of the Tear sapphire, a jewel of immense power and magic, Kelsea has never felt more uncertain of her ability to rule. But the shocking evil she discovers in the heart of her realm will precipitate an act of immense daring, throwing the entire kingdom into turmoil—and unleashing the Red Queen’s vengeance. A cabal of enemies with an array of deadly weapons, from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic, plots to destroy her. But Kelsea is growing in strength and stealth, her steely resolve earning her loyal allies, including the Queen’s Guard, led by the enigmatic Lazarus, and the intriguing outlaw known simply as “the Fetch.”

Kelsea’s quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun. Riddled with mysteries, betrayals, and treacherous battles, Kelsea’s journey is a trial by fire that will either forge a legend . . . or destroy her.

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Firstlife (Firstlife, #1) by Gena Showalter

Tenley “Ten” Lockwood is an average seventeen-year-old girl…who has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. The reason? Not her obsession with numbers, but her refusal to let her parents choose where she’ll live—after she dies.

There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.

In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the two realms who will do anything to win the right to her soul. Who can she trust? And what if the realm she’s drawn to isn’t home to the boy she’s falling for? She just has to stay alive long enough to make a decision…

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Zodiac (Zodiac, #1) by Romina Russell

(I actually have 2 of the books in this series, so I’ll probably just end up buying them all and binging at some point.)

Rhoma Grace is a 16-year-old student from House Cancer with an unusual way of reading the stars. While her classmates use measurements to make accurate astrological predictions, Rho can’t solve for ‘x’ to save her life—so instead, she looks up at the night sky and makes up stories.

When a violent blast strikes the moons of Cancer, sending its ocean planet off-kilter and killing thousands of citizens—including its beloved Guardian—Rho is more surprised than anyone when she is named the House’s new leader. But, a true Cancerian who loves her home fiercely and will protect her people no matter what, Rho accepts.

Then, when more Houses fall victim to freak weather catastrophes, Rho starts seeing a pattern in the stars. She suspects Ophiuchus—the exiled 13th Guardian of Zodiac legend—has returned to exact his revenge across the Galaxy. Now Rho—along with Hysan Dax, a young envoy from House Libra, and Mathias, her guide and a member of her Royal Guard—must travel through the Zodiac to warn the other Guardians.

But who will believe anything this young novice says? Whom can Rho trust in a universe defined by differences? And how can she convince twelve worlds to unite as one Zodiac?

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The Forbidden Wish (The Forbidden Wish, #1) by Jessica Khoury

When Aladdin discovers Zahra’s jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn’t seen in hundreds of years—a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra’s very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes.

But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra a chance to be free of her lamp forever, she seizes the opportunity—only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin. When saving herself means betraying him, Zahra must decide once and for all: is winning her freedom worth losing her heart?

As time unravels and her enemies close in, Zahra finds herself suspended between danger and desire in this dazzling retelling of Aladdin from acclaimed author Jessica Khoury.

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Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdom, #1) by Morgan Rhodes

I also have multiple books in this series so I’ll probably buy them all and do a binge. That’s how I roll!

In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest now simmers below the surface.

As the rulers of each kingdom grapple for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed… and four key players, royals and rebels alike, find their fates forever intertwined. Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus are caught in a dizzying world of treacherous betrayals, shocking murders, secret alliances, and even unforeseen love.

The only outcome that’s certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?


It’s the eve of war…. Choose your side.

Princess: Raised in pampered luxury, Cleo must now embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of magic long thought extinct.

Rebel: Jonas, enraged at injustice, lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished. To his shock, he finds himself the leader of a people’s revolution centuries in the making.

Sorceress: Lucia, adopted at birth into the royal family, discovers the truth about her past—and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Heir: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, firstborn son Magnus begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword….

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The Rave Boys (The Raven Cycle, #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

I’ll probably just read the entire series on this one too.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her. His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Gansey is different. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been told by her psychic family that she will kill her true love. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

Honorable Mentions


Are you participating in Beat the Backlist? What books are on your TBR? Have you read any books from my list? What did you think of them?