Top Ten Tuesday | Backlist Books I Want to Read

Morning, bloggers!

Please tell me I’m not the only person affected by the Daylight Savings time. I feel as if I’ve slept for 10 hours, but I didn’t.

Top Ten Tuesday, originally created by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is a weekly meme. Today’s theme is backlist titles. I don’t think I need a prompt to remind me that my TBR pile can easily kill me if it wanted to. 😂 But here are my top 6 picks of books and series I want to read. I hope you enjoy!

 

Rebel of the Sands Series

Romance, defiance, rebellion, and magic. SIGN ME UP! My friend Dana recommended the entire series, and for a good year, it’s sat on my TBR list. But I can’t resist another jinn-themed storyline though. I also can’t turn down beautiful covers. I’m vain, people.

 

Tower of Dawn

I’m so worried about the book. Chaol was, and may somewhat be, one of my favourite characters, but the way he treats Aelin in Queen of Shadows is hard to move past. I hated how his storyline turned out, but I need for him to have a redemption arc.

 

The Dragon’s Wing

Tate introduced me to reverse harem, so I can’t forget to mention her in this list. I absolutely loved her debut series and have thought about binge-reading the rest of it.

 

Bright We Burn

For months, I’ve avoided the book. You see, I somewhat glossed over the entire thing when it arrived, so I know what happens. However, I need to finish the series. I never thought I’d root for Radu though.

 

Shadowsong

Wintersong was my highly anticipated read of last year. And while I loved it, I feel I rode the blogger wave of loving this book and not critiquing it properly. Because of the mixed reviews for this one, I’m just worried I won’t love Shadowsong as much as the first.

 

Grishaverse

How can I possibly skip this glorious series? It has the Darkling in it! Okay, I screwed up by reading Six of Crows before Shadow and Bone. But I’ll get to this series before King of Scars. Or I hope. Please remind me if I don’t 😂

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Top Ten Tuesday | Perfect Spooky Books to Read for Halloween

Happy, Tuesday!

‘Tis the night before Halloween. And every ghost was stirring, even the dead mouse. We officially have one more day until the glorious night. And I am stoked!

Top Ten Tuesday, originally created by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is a weekly meme. Today’s theme is Halloween freebie! So I’ve picked books that are perfect to read for Halloween.

Strange Grace

Years have passed since a village made a deal with the devil. In order to keep that pact when every Slaughter Moon comes, it must offer the body of a young man. But three friends uncover more than what they expect.

What do you expect when a village decides to make a bargain with the devil? Nothing good. Colour me intrigued. I needed this book yesterday.

 

Lantern’s Ember

Jack is a Lantern, a supernatural who must guard the portal to the Otherworld. But his duty to keep the creatures there turns difficult when he finds Ember, who feels the pull of that world.

Right now, I have a lot of cover love. And I adore the play-on-words in the title. I’ve read some mixed reviews, but the premise is unique.

 

City of Ghosts

Cassidy Blake must learn how to learn her ability to see ghosts before her powers get her in trouble.

I’m more than halfway done this middle grade read, and I love it! I’m a sucker for a children’s spooky book. I knew I had to read it for this Halloween. Cassidy may be one child who I relate to the most. I don’t expect anything less from Victoria.

 

The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Evelyn will be murdered, and one man must find a way to identify the murderer and prevent her death. So every day, he wakes up in a different guest’s body.

I see a lot of buzz surrounding the book. And many of my blogger friends have raved about it. I cannot wait to dig into this mystery. It reminds me of the game Clue.

 

Broken Things

Everyone believes Mia and Brynn killed Summer Marks. But they weren’t the murderers. On the anniversary, they must find out what happened in the woods.

I’ve talked about this book before. But I’m dying to get my hands on it. It’s such a great book for a dark, scary night.

 

Nightingale

June Hardie wants nothing more than to experience life, but society and her parents demand otherwise. When she protests, they put her in Burrow Place Asylum, but that’s the least of her concerns.

I haven’t heard a lot about this book, but doesn’t that cover creep you out? But being committed into an insane asylum is my ultimate fear. But I love how the author injects feminism into her writing.

 

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Top Ten Tuesday | Longest Books I’ve Ever Read

Happy Tuesday!

I’ve finally come out of my food coma. I never thought a 10-pound turkey could take me out so quickly.

Top Ten Tuesday, originally created by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is a weekly meme. Today’s theme is the longest books we’ve read. Preferably, I don’t mind long books, especially from my favourite authors. But I’m starting to like shorter novels now. But here are my favourite picks:

Queen of Shadows

648 pages

Even though Heir of Fire is my favourite TOG sequel, I cannot get enough of Queen of Shadows. Rowaelin, Aedion, Lysandra, the fate of Arobynn, and the return of magic make my inner book nerd scream.

 

Eldest

704 pages

I feel sad that I never finished the series. But the main character annoyed me to no end. It took me weeks just to finish the book, and I couldn’t stomach the writing. And from the reviews that said the last two sequels never improved, I don’t feel so awful anymore.

 

Lady Midnight

720 pages

After the disappointing ending of the Mortal Instruments, I had little expectations coming into the next (and never-ending) Shadowhunters series. I loved meeting Emma, Julian, and the Blackthorns though. I have to do admit that I enjoyed reading Lady Midnight. I just wish Cassie didn’t rely on dense writing.

 

Breaking Dawn

756 pages

I can’t believe I finished this series. Back then, I had zero taste in books. I just read what was popular. And I’m so glad I’m much more hesitant with books now. I don’t think I could handle rereading the Twilight Saga.

 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

759 pages

Deathly Hallows certainly isn’t the longest book in the series. But I never finished all the books though. This series was always hard for me to get into. And I wish I encouraged myself to read along with my generation.

 

Winter

827 pages

I was completely intimidated when this beast showed up. I wasn’t expecting Winter to be so damn thick. But even 800+ pages isn’t enough for me. I wanted more. But I loved the finale.

 

Voyager

870 pages

Dragonfly in Amber was somewhat of a letdown. I wanted to love it as much I did with Outlander. But the whole structure of the book threw me off. And I hated the time jump. But when Jamie and Clare reunite, I was a bloody mess!

The Fall Book Tag

Morning, bloggers!

So, today is Thanksgiving for us Canadians. And I’m eagerly awaiting to stuff my face and not regret a single bite. I want my turkey and dressing.

I found this fun tag at Through Prose Tinted Pages. And I knew I couldn’t resist and Fall-themed one. Nope. I have no willpower left. I loved Vanessa’s answers. And I’d highly recommend checking out this blog. Vanessa won’t disappoint!

And check out the tag’s creator, Bionic Book Worm.

 

I don’t give this debut novel enough credit it deserves. Not many quiet main characters can carry along a fantasy book. However, Jules does so perfectly. The currency-is-time concept is what intrigued me. But the writing and the character arcs kept me enthralled. I cannot wait to read Evermore!

 

I’m not over this ending. I do not accept it. I want nothing more than to weep. Baby August and Kate deserved a better ending than this one. I still haven’t forgiven Victoria.

 

I love Stephanie. Her debut series never ceases to impress me with elaborate plot twists and character arcs. It’s never a dull read with this book! I’ll forever ship Dantella.

 

It’s October. You know I can’t resist mentioning this beauty! I’m so scared that I don’t know what to think at this point. I WANT MY BABIES TO LIVE. Or I die with them. 😭

 

Oh, this question is hard for me. I typically stay with fantasy, and you don’t get the warm and fuzzy’s in that genre. But Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society has stuck with me for years. Yes, the topic is heartbreaking, but this book is one in a few that teaches us how to endure even the worst atrocities. And having most of the characters be book lovers helps as well.

 

I’m about forty pages in, and I know I’ll like this book. I’ve been wanting a great diverse read, and I’ve heard nothing but great reviews for this title. I also have an affinity for beautiful covers, Japanese storyline, and kitsune. 🦊

 

Tag Time!

Like always, I don’t want you to feel like you have to do this post. What’s the fun in that? So if you don’t want to do the tag, I’m fine with your decision. But if you do, I’d love to see your answers. So link back to this post, okay? Have fun!

Aimee | Elaine | Mogsy, Tara, and Wendy | Brittany | Kayla | Daniela | Taylor | Amber | Kathy | Lily | Mara

Top Ten Tuesday | Books by My Favourite Authors That I Still Haven’t Read

 

Happy, Tuesday!

How are we at the end of September?! Anyways, I swear this topic is laughing at me as I write about it. I’ve lost count of all the books and series I need to finish. It’s not funny. Not anymore.

Top Ten Tuesday, originally created by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is a weekly meme. This week’s topic promotes your favourite authors’ books you still need to read. And since my TBR pile has a life of its own, I’ll just show a few, or this list will eat me alive. Enjoy!

 

Wonder Woman

Don’t kill me, please. Yes, I’ve read Nightwalker and Soustealer, but I forgot about Warbringer. Again, don’t kill me. I feel bad enough. 😰 I’ve been dying to crack open this gorgeous book, but I tend to choose the most recent releases to read, then ignore the older titles.

 

The Caged Queen

If I don’t get enough dragons in this sequel, I’m revolting. I truly am. I’ll be that salty. Even though I’ve read only one of Kristen’s book, she’s an insta-buy author for me now. I couldn’t get enough of the Last Namsara. The worldbuilding sold me, but the storytelling kept me.

 

Wires and Nerve

I love this series so much, but I fell behind on it though. Originally, I thought it was over. But Marissa surprised us all by expanding it into graphic novels. Hopefully, Wires and Nerve is just as magical and dorky as TLC.

 

Throne of Glass Series

I swear, I’m purposely delaying to read the rest of this series because the finale book scares me more than I can possibly imagine. I want all my babies to survive. But you know how Sarah likes to kill off great characters. However, I need more Rowaelin, Aedion, Lysandra, Dorian, and Manon.

So let’s all take a breath before Kingdom of Ash comes out, or we’ll be blubbering messes by the end.

 

The Young Elites

When I first picked up Warcross, I never read Marie’s previous series. Sure I’ve heard a lot about her, but I wasn’t drawn to any of them. But now, I am. I love her writing style and the way she spins her stories. And I can’t resist a great dystopian sci-fi book. How did you like reading this series?

 

The Villains Series

Do you know how odd I am as a book buyer? I pre-order Vengeful before I even bought, or read, Vicious. Does that thinking make any sense No. Clearly not. But I love anti-heroes, magic, betrayal, revenge, and good old deception.

Top Ten Tuesday | Books on My Fall 2018 TBR

Hey, everyone!

So guess who got an extension on her internship? Clearly me. And I forgot to tell everyone. Typical, I don’t say anything until weeks later. I’m thrilled, and I can’t believe I’ve been working at a small press for the last six months. I can’t. Someone slap me, please.

As you all know, Top Ten Tuesday, originally created by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is a weekly meme. For this week’s topic, we get to show off our potential TBR list for Fall 2018. And I don’t know if I should be dreading this post or if I should be happy. My physical pile is getting out of control, but let’s throw in some new titles and just ignore the problem, shall we?

So I hope you enjoy! Here are my top picks:

 

Sadie

I’ve heard a lot of buzz with this new YA mystery. And I knew I had to read it when I found about the podcasts you can listen to while reading the book. I love unique ways of telling a story, and I think this book deserves a place on my TBR list.

 

Two Dark Reigns

I probably haven’t given the series proper credit. Kendare has created an eerie yet spellbinding world, and I love it. Unfortunately, some tropes kept me from reading the sequels sooner. But I need to stop letting my moods get in the way of some great storytelling. And frankly, I need to know which queen kills Mirabella.

 

Broken Things

I wasn’t sure if I should put this title on my list. However, I like to explore different genres. And I’ve seen some promising reviews for this YA suspense. I don’t always read this kind of book, which is why I’m so drawn to it. And I think it’s a perfect read for the Fall and Halloween.

 

Archenemies

Please be good. Please be good. You don’t know how much I want this book to be good. 😂 I adore Marissa’s writing. I truly do. But the cliffhanger at the end of Renegades has kept me on my toes ever since I read it. I love dark little heart Nova, and I can’t wait to see the internal battle she’ll more than likely have in this sequel. Bring it, Marissa!

 

Shadow of the Fox

I first fell in love with the cover. You can’t go wrong with cover love. But at the time, I was a little hesitant about putting it on my list. I’ve never heard about the author before. But I adore Japanese culture, and I keep seeing rave reviews. So I’m taking a chance on this book.

 

Stalking Jack the Ripper

Yes, this book has been on another one of my TTT posts. But I’m not passing up on this series. Nope. Not going to happen. I love historical fiction, and the author incorporates some of the most prolific characters and real-life people into her writing.

Monthly Wrap-Up | August 2018

Hi, book lovers!

Who’s ready for the weekend?! I’ve been waiting months for this one to come. My nerd fam is all heading to Fan Expo! My little nerd in me wants to scream while I write this post. It’s my second expo, but I’m just as excited as I was with my first.

Okay, let’s get back to book stuff, shall we? August was such a fantastic month! Sure, stress kicked my butt, but books were my saviour. I’ve been putting off the TOG series for years, but I’m so happy to be a part of this fandom. I just wish there were more books after Kingdom of Ash, which, I know, will break me in two.

I can’t believe I’ve read this much. I typically breeze through four books, max. However, this month, I couldn’t get enough of the TOG series. I almost squeezed in Lifel1k3, but I’m still reading that sci-fi. I’m thrilled finally to tackle my never-ending TBR pile!

Now, I just need to catch up on my reviews. 🤦‍♀️

Royally Bad by Nora Flite

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve avoided romance books for years. But this year, I want to take more risks with certain genres. And I’m so happy I got the chance to read this thrilling romance! Nora combines high adrenaline, steamy scenes, gangsters, and a fiery love story.

Aftermath by Kelley Armstrong

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve heard over the Twitterverse that YA shouldn’t be “dark,” but I disagree. YA will always show the gritty and seedy underbelly of our society. And Aftermath is one essential YA book every reader needs to read. Kelley tackles school shootings with a new perspective.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I finally took the plunge! And I am a total TOG fan. I don’t know why I doubted I would. I absolutely adored reading this book. Celaena is the badass female lead. Throne of Glass is a solid lead to a fantastic series I’m sure to love for years.

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m not surprised Sarah’s sequel surpassed her debut novel. But it does. Sarah cranks up the fantasy, the romance, and the heartache. You finally get to understand why Celaena is who she is. The character development is stellar. And I had such a great time reading this book. I knew about the plot twist, but that doesn’t take away from storytelling though.

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I ADORE it so much. The worldbuilding, character growth, strength, heartbreaking pasts, and beautiful writing make this third installment of the Throne of Glass series one of my favourite books of the year.

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I don’t know if I have words for the fourth book. Well, ROWELIN may be the only one I can think of. I’ve shipped them before I read the series.

This fourth installment explodes with new characters and conflicts. I can’t wait to get to the rest of the series!

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This haul looks so small yet cute. Am I right? Last month, not a lot of books drew my eye. But I knew I had to grab these books from my favourite authors. And I finally bought one of Kristoff’s books. I can’t wait to read these books!

• Lifel1k3 by Jay Kristoff
• Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas
• City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab

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How did August treat you? Did you finally put a dent in your TBR list, read a book you’ve been dying to read, or buy your most anticipated book of the month? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to chat.

Top Ten Tuesday | Books You’d Mash Together

Hey, book fam!

It’s time for another TTT! Who’s excited? I know I am (a little too much, actually 😂). Why would anyone not think of this topic sooner?! I have so many choices, and I don’t have enough room in this post! Now, I know why this topic isn’t popular. 🤦‍♀️

(I may not be around for the next few days. I got food poisoning over the weekend, and I still feel like death.)

 

Throne of Glass and Six of Crows

I wonder who would be cockier: Kaz or Aelin. And I’m still not sure who’d be better at scheming. I’ve been debating with myself all night. I was extremely close in pairing up SOC with ACOMAF, but Kaz and Aelin won out. I can just picture Nina and Lysandra having fun, and Inej and Rowan rolling their eyes at their lovers’ next plan.

 

A Court of Mist and Fury and The Wicked King

This mashup can possibly create the ultimate fae story. Don’t you agree? I can see Rhys trying to outsmart Jude, and with a smirk on their faces, Cardan and Feyre watching them. But I’d love to see Amren killing anyone who looks at her funny. 😂

 

And I Darken and Nevernight

Just imagine Lada and Mia meeting up and just slaughtering EVERYTHING. And now, you know I’m slightly odd. I think these two characters perfectly balance each other out but would more than likely encourage more bloodshed.

 

 

Cinder and Wildcard

The reason why I’ve picked this mashup is the sismance between Cinder and Emika. Both of these young women have a passion for science and for tinkering around. And I’d love to see how these two would get in trouble with their shenanigan.

Top Ten Tuesday | Popular Books That Lived Up to the Hype

 

Hello, dearies!

Here comes another Top Ten Tuesday. Who’s ready?! I cannot believe it’s the end of July. I don’t. I feel as if I’m getting a grasp on my blog, then I forget to post anything. This month is going by so fast that I cannot keep up with everything.

So for this week’s topic, we get to pick which books live up to the hype. And while I’d love to talk about books I’ve already listed (and since I can’t read 100 books like some of you freaky readers), I want to highlight hyped-up books I want to read. Savvy? Good. Because I don’t know what else to post. 😂

 

Lifel1k3

This cover is killing me right now. I cannot get over the design and colour (and I’m not a huge fan of yellow). I need to start reading Kristoff books. I can’t keep putting them off. I first heard of Lifel1k3 from the blogosphere, and I knew I had to read it.

 

A Conjuring of Light

I’ve just finished A Gathering of Shadows, and I know I’ll need to read the finale soon because right now, I’m worried about my babies. This series is one of my favourites, and I’m so happy that Victoria is expanding the universe!

 

The Hate U Give

I’ve been wanting to read this. But a part of me worries it may just break me in several jagged pieces, and I’m not sure if I can put myself back together. I watched the movie trailer though, and I need to talk myself up to this book asap. I can’t miss it.

 

Stalking Jack the Ripper

How can I pass up a fantastic ya historical series? I’m still trying to figure that out. But fear not! I may just binge buy the three books eventually. I’ve heard nothing but praise of the series, and I’m eager to see how the author incorporates history into her writing.

 

Children of Blood and Bone

The hype surrounding the book has swayed me not to read it immediately off the shelves. I’ve been going back and forth with buying it, but I need to stop psyching myself out.

 

Ready Player One

A dystopian landscape, virtual reality, 80s and 90s culture all thrown together to make a sci-fi book readers need to read. What more can a reader ask for? The mixed reviews have kept me away from this, but once I heard about the movie and the sequel, well, it moved up on my TBR list.

What do you think of my choices? Did you love reading them? Did they not live up to the hype? Let’s chat!

Top Ten Tuesday | Novellas and Short Stories

 

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

How’s your week been going? I’ve been struggling to come up with a good list since I don’t read a lot of these stories or novellas. I typically stick with larger books. But for this week’s topic of Top Ten Tuesday, I want to talk about some of the novellas and short stories I have read and want to read. So let’s get to the post, shall we?

 

 Ayama and the Thorn Wood and When Water Sang Fire from The Language of Thorns

It’s hard to pick which stories I love the most from this book. But the two that have stuck with me are these. Both are the first and the last, and yet they complement each other beautifully. However, the siren story may be my favourite out of all them.

 

A Court of Frost and Starlight

Yes, I’ve complained plenty about this novella. However, I love going back to Velaris and seeing what my favourite characters are up to. And the tension between Nesta and Cassian make up for some of my disappointment.

 

Queen Song from Cruel Crown

This short story revolves around the first wife of King Tiberius, Queen Coriane. She has intrigued me since Red Queen. And when I read her story, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. You know she’s dead. You know she lost her battle, and yet her story is nonetheless compelling.

 

Hidden

When I heard about this novella, I nearly screamed. I’ve followed the Women of the Otherworld series since I was 13. So when I heard Kelley wrote a story about Clay and Elena taking the twins on a holiday vacation, I knew I had to read it.

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Stars Above

I’ve finally finished Winter, and I just need the next dose of this series. When I found out Marissa wrote a collection of Lunar Chronicle stories, I knew there was no way I could pass up this book. No way. I can’t wait to get back into Marissa’s world.

 

Queens of Fennbirn

I’ve been meaning to catch up on this series. However, I haven’t read the second book, and I spoiled myself on the third, and clearly, I haven’t read this one as well. So I truly need to tackle my TBR pile, stat. I have a love-hate relationship with this series. I’m not sure if I hate it, but I do know I love some aspects of it. Kendare creates a magical yet dangerous world that you can’t help but fall for. This book combines The Young Queens and The Oracle Queen.

 

Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy

I know, I know, I’m behind on my Shadowhunter books. Okay, one book doesn’t necessarily count as behind. But you get what I mean. I should have read this book before transitioning to the Dark Artifices series. I’ve been wanting to see how Simon transforms from a teenager who can’t remember the love of his life and his best friend to a Shadowhunter.