Top Ten Tuesday | Hidden Gems

Happy Tuesday, dearies!

Finally! I can breathe. The constant heatwaves just make me want Fall to come sooner. I shouldn’t complain since I’ve just seen the weekend’s temps. 😐 Who’s ready for cozy blankets and sweaters, hot chocolate, scary books, and bonfires? I know I am.

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 discuss hidden gem books. I had a hard time with this post. I wasn’t sure which books to put on my list and which ones to take out. So hopefully, you enjoy it more than I have. 😂 Here are my choices for books I don’t talk much about:

 

Grace and Fury

I’ve seen quite a bit of marketing for the book. But I haven’t talked much about it though. I wasn’t sure if I’d read the book, until I won it in an IndigoTeen contest. But the premise of it is one of the most unique concepts I’ve seen lately, so it deserves a bit more attention than it has received.

 

City of Ghosts

Yes, since it’s a Schwab book, it’ll receive great marketing. However, I’ve seen several readers hesitate to pick it up since it’s geared toward middle-grade readers. But often times, I’ve found great storylines in MG books. And with that thought, I believe more people should take a risk with Schwab’s latest story.

 

Black Witch

Black Witch had a solid marketing plan. But some readers were turned off because select reviewers ripped apart this book. Now, I haven’t read it yet, so I can’t back up some adult bloggers’ claims, but I know many people refused to read it, which I find unfortunate. So no one gave the book a chance. But I hope to do so soon so I can see if those claims are true or false. You can find more information about the controversy here.

 

The Wicked Deep

I wasn’t sure if I’d love the book. The author combines the Salem Witch Trials and Hocus Pocus. And if there’s one thing you should know about me is that I adore that movie. My expectations were high, but I loved the book, even the ending, which is slightly predictable. Unfortunately, since the publication, I haven’t seen many bloggers mention it.

 

An Enchantment of Ravens

Quite a few readers have compared the book to ACOTAR, and I think that does a disservice to it. When I finally picked it up, I had no expectations, but I haven’t talked about it since. However, I was so pleased with the writing, storytelling, and characters. Unfortunately, it hasn’t moved past that comparison, which is a shame.

 

Wild Beauty

I bought this book earlier this year, and while I haven’t read it yet (I need to stop buying books and not reading them), I haven’t seen a lot of love for it. But magical realism is sometimes hard to sell though. Not everyone likes it, and other readers may not even acknowledge this kind of genre. But I’m intrigued to see if it lives up to my expectations.

 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I haven’t cried so hard reading another book. I found this beauty several, several years ago, and I’ve read it so many times you can see my fingerprints on the book. I’m a historical book lover, and I’ll always fall hard for a story based in WWII. The storyline is heartbreaking, and the stellar cast of characters will stay with you longer than you read the book.

And it deserves all the praise it has received because of the Netflix show. I highly recommend both show and book!

Monthly Wrap-Up | February 2018

Hi, dearies!

February is gone? Really? I feel as if it flew past me, and I had no time to get anything done. I certainly haven’t put any dent into that TBR pile, which likes nothing than to laugh at me. Okay, I may need a break if I think my books are taunting me (send help).

This part may not be book related, but I absolutely loved the Black Panther. Can I get more Shuri, please?! I’m so happy to see a female character championing STEM. I really do, and I’m counting down the days until I see Infinity Wars.

 

Look at that. I read more than four books in a month. Woo!!! 😅 I wish I had more time to get to more though. They’re too tempting to see on my shelf. And if you know the secret of how to read quicker, teach me your ways, please.

 

 

Everless by Sara Holland

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I love, love, LOVE this book. I cannot get enough of it. I don’t always rave about a debut novel, but you need to read it. Please. I need someone to fangirl with. Sara blends together deception, secrets, and political intrigue in this novel. I’m seriously impressed with her writing and storytelling.

 

Romanov by Samaire Provost

⭐⭐⭐

I thought I left vampires behind, but I was reminiscing over the books I loved, so I signed up for this tour. While it has some rough sections, Romanov is a family-centred fantasy with Russian lore mixed in.

 

Devil’s Gold by Amanda McKinney

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This novella is short yet sweet and so steamy. I want to read more mystery and thriller novels, and I’m glad I picked up this one. Amanda draws you in with independent and strong-willed female characters and a fast-paced writing. I can’t wait to see the next story.

 

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I find that writing the review of this book is hard. But The Cruel Prince, by far, one of my favourite reads of 2018. There is a lot of hype surrounding this book, so I wasn’t sure what I’d get out of it. However, Holly knows how to write fae stories. Jude is a ruthless human who can easily rival faeries. Cardan, the broken prince, is a worthy opponent for her.

My review is coming soon!

 

This Fallen Prey by Kelley Armstrong

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Am I Kelley fan? Yup. Did she make a stellar thriller? Hell yes. Her Rockton Thriller is burning up the mystery scene, and I cannot wait to read the next book.

If you’re looking for an atmospheric book with a touch of romance and fantastic writing, pick up this series.

 

You can find my review posts linked in the titles above.


 

I think I’ve lost count on how many books I need to read, but I keep adding to my literal TBR pile, without actually tackling it. Am I ever going to see it go down to single digits? HA. Now I understand why there are so many memes to help bloggers lower their list.

I lucked out this month by winning a free copy of The Hazel Wood. Thank you, Indigo Teen! I can’t wait to read it.

 


 

How exciting was February for you? Did you grab your most anticipated book of the month? Let me know in the comments.