Morning, readers!
I almost planned not to do this post since many of the choices for December aren’t on my TBR list. However, I knew others would be interested in seeing what made the final cut.
So even though my plans have changed, the post will be short and sweet. Don’t worry about it being long. It’ll be a quick and easy read!
Now let’s get to it, shall we?
Morning, bloggers!
I want to go outside of my typical niche and talk about horror flicks. I am a book blogger, but movies are another hobby I have. Halloween is one of my well-loved holidays. And there’s no chance to skip a post about scary films to get you in the spirit.
So here are my horror faves! I hope you love the post.
Morning, bloggers!
Get ready, everyone. We readers and bloggers will feel the burn. I will tell you now that this post will kill your credit card, your budget, and your TBR pile. So I am not responsible for any and all damages the list inflicts onto you. I’ve been dreading this month because of the number of releases.
These publishers weren’t joking when they said September was a killer. I warn you that the post is long, so buckle in!
Morning, bloggers!
As we all say hello to August, I’m trying to wrap my mind around the fact that we’re in the eighth month of the year. I can’t believe we’re in the middle of summer.
Before I started this post, I didn’t know if it’d be larger than what it is now. Typically, my upcoming TBR list is always long, whether or not my bank account has a say in the matter. But with August though, I hesitated with many forthcoming titles. But I am loving the variety.
I hope you love the post! What is your most anticipated book?
Morning, bloggers!
June felt slow in one week yet felt it wouldn’t slow down in the other. Now July is here, and I don’t know what to say. For my fellow Canadian bloggers, I want to wish you a Happy Canada Day! And as I write this post, I hear all the fireworks, so they definitely set the mood.
The time has come again where I bloat your already full TBR list even more. Am I sorry? No. But my list/pile would like to give you its condolences. 😂 I haven’t listed all the books but have shown you the ones I’m looking forward to the most.
I hope you find your next favourite release!
Last month was pretty slow, but I put a small dent in my TBR list. What did you read? Let me know in the comments!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This instalment is Aeron’s redemption. Gena throws in some forbidden love by bringing in Olivia (an angel determined to win over Aeron), betrayal, and sacrifices. Aeron certainly wasn’t my favourite character, but I’ve grown to love the big ball of anger. Clearly I can’t get enough of the series. 😅
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⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mallory’s debut novel, Black Dawn, gets off to a good start. Mallory throws in a lost heir to a magical realm, plot twists, and betrayal. Don’t expect a slow chapter. She doesn’t stop the action. I hope to see more of this debut author!
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Our Dark Duet is one of my most anticipated reads of 2017. And I’ve been dying to see how August and Kate live with what they’ve done in This Savage Song. Victoria creates a beautiful character-driven sequel. And I’m sad to see the Monsters of Verity series end so soon.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
When I picked up this book, I anticipated it to be a complicated read since Gideon, the keeper of Lies, cannot speak the truth, so I’d have to interpret what he was saying. Wrong. His demon interests me even more because I had to work for it. The romance between him and Scarlet sparks more intrigue, and I wasn’t expecting that plot twist!
Don’t miss my review!
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Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab
Published by: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: June, 13, 2014
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Page Count: 528
Rating: 4/5
Source: Purchase
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Kate Harker is a girl who isn’t afraid of the dark. She’s a girl who hunts monsters. And she’s good at it. August Flynn is a monster who can never be human, no matter how much he once yearned for it. He’s a monster with a part to play. And he will play it, no matter the cost.
Nearly six months after Kate and August were first thrown together, the war between the monsters and the humans is terrifying reality. In Verity, August has become the leader he never wished to be, and in Prosperity, Kate has become the ruthless hunter she knew she could be. When a new monster emerges from the shadows—one who feeds on chaos and brings out its victim’s inner demons—it lures Kate home, where she finds more than she bargained for. She’ll face a monster she thought she killed, a boy she thought she knew, and a demon all her own.
“It wasn’t easy. The world was complicated. Life was hard. And so often, living hurt.
So make it worth the pain.”
Sometimes, you find a series that simply speaks to you. Sometimes it throttles you, demands your time, and throws you away once it’s done. And Monsters of Verity is naturally the latter. So don’t expect yourself to walk away clean from Victoria’s latest series. And don’t hope for a happy ending. Our Dark Duet is, by far, the darkest sequel I’ve read.
Six months have passed since August and Kate parted. And Verity hasn’t gotten any better with its monster problem. August now leads a team of his own, hunts monsters, saves the North refugees, and tries to protect what is left of his city. In Prosperity, Kate tracks down and kills monsters. But when she discovers a new beasty, she finds her way home, but it’s not the way she left it.
I don’t know what I am supposed to do with myself after I’ve finished this series. I don’t. I’ll move on to the next the book, obviously. But I feel hollow, empty, and slightly broken. Our Dark Duet is one of my most anticipated books of 2017. And I feel as if I walked straight into Verity and haven’t left since.
“There were two kinds of monsters, the kind that hunted the streets and the kind that lived in your head. She could fight the first, but the second was more dangerous. It was always, always, always a step ahead.”
I easily fall into this dark and vicious world. So believe me when I say that Victoria’s writing traps you from the beginning. Victoria doesn’t use action-packed scenes to move along the story. Instead she focuses on her characters, who are utterly flawed yet human. And I stress the last point. Kate finally shows her humanity. Her vulnerability grabs a hold of you and makes you see what being human truly means. I loved reading about her time in Prosperity. It gives me a better perspective on this complicated character who wants nothing more than to be a monster. But she’s more than her desires though.
Even though Our Dark Duet is a slow burn, it radiates existentialism. It demands you to figure out who you are, what you’re worth, what you soul means to you, and what you’re willing to do to preserve your humanity. I wasn’t expecting this effect from a YA fantasy. Sure, some fantasies will make you debate the difficult questions, but this one forces you to put down the book and think. Maybe that’s just my interpretation though. Victoria forces August down this road. He’s not the same Sunai who wishes to be human and who clings onto his hope for humanity. He fighting a battle on the streets and in his head. And with Sloan at the helm in North City, August may have to throw away his wish to be human so he will become the Sunai he is. Both Kate’s and August’s progression tug at my heart.
This dark and gritty world freaks me out, but I love reading every second of it. Victoria brings a new spin to monsters, which are the after effects of vicious crimes. Unfortunately, Our Dark Duet is the finale in this series. And I wish I could get more from it. The ending is killing me. I want to hold on more, but I have to let go.
At the heart of Our Dark Duet are two deeply flawed characters who live in a city dripping in crime, hatred, anger, and pain. What makes this sequel stand out are Kate and August and their journey through a dangerous landscape that may scare even the hardest people. Victoria’s work has something to say, so listen up. You may learn something from a monster who wants to be human and a human who hopes to be a monster.
The Boatman by Kat Hawthorne
Published by: BookFish Books LLC
Publication Date: May 26, 2015
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Extent: 178 pages
Rating: 5/5
Source: Gift from Author
Isabel Wixon is weird. Not only does she see dead things, but her list of friends consists of a talkative ventriloquist’s dummy and the gentlemanly spider that lives in her hair. Real friends? Too hard. Inventing friends is much easier.
Inventing the Boatman—a terrible monster that lures kids into a strange sleeping sickness and never lets them go—probably wasn’t one of her better ideas though.
Izzy, also known as Isabel Wixon, has a knack for finding the weirdest friends. A talking––yes, I actually wrote the word “talking”––ventriloquist’s dummy, a gentleman in a form of a spider, and a ghost girl who insists on taking off her head when she feels the need are said friends. Weird? Yes. Am I intrigued? More than yes. So if any of these characters freak you out, or if you have Ron Weasley’s fear of spiders, heed my warning: go find a novel filled with sunshine and daisies and turn back now.
Izzy doesn’t fit in with normal people. I don’t see how she could since she sees ghosts, and Monty, her spider friend, lives in her hair. So when she hears of the Boatman, he piques her interests. But thinking of this dastardly fellow may lead her to an early grave. You see, the Boatman has spread fear and pain throughout the town. A sleeping illness takes children at the cusp of life. But how can you fight a monster that haunts your dreams?
With a smidgen of Tim Burton’s touch of horror, The Boatman will tug at your heartstrings, especially if you live in the dark side like my friend Kat. She crafts her stories in such way that will grab your curiosity the moment you pick up her work. Disastrous and dismal stories are her forte. She thrives in them. And The Boatman is a shining piece I adore. The characters move the story along masterfully. The story itself kept me up for several nights. I couldn’t get enough of Izzy, Monty, and all the others. Dora Mitchell, the illustrator, perfectly captures these characters and brings the story to another level.
So if you have an affinity for Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, pick up this book. It’s a cleverly written story that will show children they can be whoever they want, so as long they stand up for their convictions and never back down from anything. But I warn you now: don’t grab the oar.
Well, you see, this month I’ve gone through a bit of a buying splurge. I don’t know why. No, I do, but I’m trying to cushion the blow. I still have books waiting on my shelf, but alas, once I see a great deal, I kind of destroy my bank account. Or my savings, to be exact.
I can’t wait to get my hands on these pretties! BUT WHY DID I BLOODY AGREE TO HAVE THE LAST TWO BOOKS BE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS?! What was I thinking? I am a masochist. Through and through. Ahem. Now cue the regularly scheduled squee moment. 😂
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. MaasI’ve been hearing pretty good reviews of this series, particularly the sequel, so I had to buy the first book. I haven’t gotten into fairy tale retellings, though. I’m a little late on this band wagon, but I can’t pass up on a book that retells Beauty and the Beast and also has faeries in it. I hope it’s great!
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A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. MaasWhy would I start a series and just not buy the sequel? That excuse is what I’m going with. I’m not that much of a masochistic. Screw that. I still am. But I need more faeries in my life, and I’ll be damned if I’ll wait for an already released sequel.
Some of my blogger friends (oh, hi darlings!) have told me that this instalment makes up for a few issues in the first book.
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This Savage Song by Victoria SchwabDon’t hate me, but This Savage Song will be the first Schwab book I’ve ever read. But her Shades of Magic series has been sitting on my TBR list for a year. I love that there are ZERO love stories in this book. ZERO. ZILCH. But tons of monsters. What more can a woman ask for? MONSTERS. Give me monsters.
…And I’m more twisted than my Mom thinks I am. Wonderful. PHEER ME.
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Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida CórdovaAh mah gerd. It’s here. Besides Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows, Labyrinth Lost is one of the most gorgeous books I’ve seen this year. And FINALLY I get to see more diversity and LGBTG storylines in books (I have to give Sabaa Tahir more credit here, though).
I also adore how Zoriada has incorporated brujas/brujos and Latin American themes into her book.
A fellow blogger’s post pushed me to buy it. Yeah, I’m talking about you, Danya @ Fine Print!
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Siobhan's Novelties 