Top Ten Tuesday: Books I’ve Recently Added to My TBR

January 18, 2016Top Ten TuesdayAdrian Alphona, Annabeth Albert, Cori McCarthy, Daniel James Brown, G. Willow Wilson, Jane Austen, Juliette Cross, Leigh Bardugo, Marie Rutkoski, Morgan Rhodes, Sarah J. Maas, Seth Grahame-Smith, Top Ten Tuesdaymoung682

TTT 1.0

For those who don’t know, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week, they post a new theme and everyone is invited to join in! (Note: all book cover images in this post link to that book’s Goodreads page.)

Today’s Theme: Ten Books I’ve Recently Added to My TBR

I’ve been on a reading binge the last couple weeks (even more than usual), and my TBR has been growing as a result. Why is it that reading always goes hand in hand with finding more that you WANT to read?? Here are 10 of my most recent TBR additions in no particular order.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo – I’ve seen this on so many Booktube shelves lately, I had to grab a copy when the Kindle price dropped!

Ms. Marvel: Generation Why by G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona – I just finished volume 1 (No Normal) and now I’m waiting on my library copy of volume 2 😀

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown – This book has been recommended by strangers, friends, and family members alike, so it’s made it’s way onto my ~~entirely~~ mostly fiction TBR.

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas – Really, the whole Throne of Glass series is on my TBR, but I just finished Crown of Midnight, bumping this one up the list.

You Were Here by Cori McCarthy – This is a recently received ARC, and I’m really intrigued by the premise.

Served Hot by Annabeth Albert – This is my newest TBR addition. I read my first Annabeth Albert book today and LOVED it, so of course I had to add a bunch of her other books to my reading list! This is the first book in her Portland-based series.

Waking the Dragon by Juliette Cross – Another very new addition, I saw this one while browsing Amazon this morning (always dangerous), and was impressed by all of the great reviews on Goodreads.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith and Jane Austen – I’ve had a copy of this one for a while but it’s been bumped back up the TBR list because of the impending movie adaptation release.

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes – This is another series I’ve been hearing great things about lately.

The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski – I’ve seen the third book in this trilogy on a few Most Anticipated 2016 Release lists, so I’m excited to check it out.

***

Which books are new to your TBR? Link your own Top Ten Tuesday in the comments!

Minute Review: One Good Dragon Deserves Another by Rachel Aaron

January 18, 2016Fantasy, Minute Review, Young AdultFantasy, Harry Potter, Heartstrikers, Magic, Nice Dragons Finish Last, Rachel Aaron, Rachel Bach, Urban, Vivid World, YA, Young Adultmoung682

One Good Dragon Deserves Another by Rachel Aaron (Heartstrikers, Book 2)
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

“This isn’t a game, you know.”

“Of course it’s a game,” the seer said, walking back over to the couch where Marci was standing over Amelia. “Everything’s a game, Julius. It has to be. Life is whimsical, random, and cruel, but a game is something you can win.”

This is a great second in series! It was longer, but read very quickly, and everything was explored in more depth: the characters and relationships, world building, and the magic system. The end result was a great story that had me falling in love with the series even more, and I am dying for Book 3, which isn’t due to come out until the middle of this year.

Recommendation: If you’re a fan of Harry Potter, you should give this series a try starting with Book 1 (Nice Dragons Finish Last). It’s dragons instead of magicians, but the vivid story and amazing character dynamics remind me so much of when I read HP for the first time.

Review: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

January 15, 2016Fantasy, Young AdultAssassins, Bloomsbury, Celaena Sardothien, Destiny, Fae, Fantasy, Magic, Sarah J. Maas, Throne of Glass, Vivid World, YA, Young Adultmoung682

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas (Throne of Glass, Book 2)
My Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
(Spoiler Free!)

“Enough! We have enough enemies as it is! There are worse things out there to face!”

Celaena slowly turned to him, her face splattered with blood and eyes blazing bright. “No, there aren’t,” she said. “Because I’m here now.”

I am so overwhelmed by this book! I don’t know if it’s because this is part of a series and not a trilogy, or if it’s just due to Maas’s wonderful storytelling, but Crown of Midnight doesn’t have even a single trace of Middle Book Syndrome. Even though the story achieves everything that a middle book must fight to achieve (world building, character building, and plot advancement without an actual finale), this doesn’t read like filler–it reads like an essential and exciting part of the journey.

Here are some of the aspects that I loved: getting to witness Celaena as an assassin, SO much more action than in Book 1 (TOG), the explosion of culture building, learning about Celaena’s backstory, getting to know Chaol (though I STILL have no idea how to pronounce his name), and more unveiling of the king’s evil plots. And when The Horrible Thing happened, it completely sucker punched me, even though I knew it was coming. I actually had to put the book down for a day before picking it up again and racing through the rest of the story.

The one element I could have done without was the romance-related anxiety of the characters, specifically when it was not part of the main plot. To be extra clear, I’m NOT talking about the main romantic developments of the story, just the side stuff! While this story somehow avoids having a blatant triangle, there are several moments of internally expressed jealousy and/or heartache on the side. There is so much amazing plot happening here (both romantic and otherwise) that I found those moments distracting. They pulled me out of the badass fantasy and made me sad for all of these characters that I love.

As it is, though, I don’t expect this to go away any time soon, so I’m trying to cope by sticking with the mantra from my review of TOG: I am team Celaena all the way! Regardless of any romantic ties Mass makes and breaks along the way, this is Celaena’s story, and I’m just going to keep rooting for her to come out on top!

As I’ve said, this is an excellent sequel, and many others have said they liked it even better than TOG. I love this series on the whole, and I can’t wait to pick up Heir of Fire to see where Celaena will go from here 😀

Minute Review: Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

January 14, 2016Contemporary Romance, LGBT, Minute Review, Young AdultContemporary, David Levithan, GLBT, High School, Knopf Books, M/M, Stand-alone, YA, Young Adultmoung682

By Meets Boy by David Levithan
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

We all need a place. I have mine–this topsy-turvy collection of friends, tunes, afterschool activities, and dreams. I want him to have a place, too. When he says, “I like it here,” I don’t want there to be a sad undertone. I want to be able to say. So stay.

This is a sweet, sad, quirky, and whimsical tale about a boy named Paul and his many friends. Being set in a world that reminds me of a carnival-mirror version of our own, it explores a lot of serious issues while wrapping them in humor and whimsy. I know some reviewers didn’t appreciate the seemingly unrealistic community of characters, but I thought they framed the story beautifully, allowing me to imagine a world, not too different from our own, in which acceptance can come a little easier.

Recommendation: Read this if you are craving a wacky, whimsical world in which the high school’s top drag queen can also be the star quarterback.

Top Ten Tuesday: 2015 Releases I Didn’t Get To

January 11, 2016Top Ten Tuesday2015, Book Tag, E.K. Johnston, Jenn Bennett, Jennifer Donnelly, New Year, Rachel Aaron, Rachel Caine, Richelle Mead, Sabaa Tahir, Sarah J. Maas, Top Ten Tuesday, Victoria Aveyard, William Rittermoung682

Today’s Theme: Ten 2015 Releases I Meant to Get to But Didn’t

There were so many great releases last year, and while I did get to some, there are a ton that haven’t made it off my TBR pile yet. Here are the ten I’m most excited about getting to THIS year…

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
Soundless by Richelle Mead
One Good Dragon Deserves Another by Rachel Aaron
Beastly Bones by William Ritter
These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston
The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett
Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

***

Which books were you meaning to get to last year? Link your own Top Ten Tuesday in the comments!

Minute Review: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

January 10, 2016Contemporary Romance, Minute Review1990s, Carry On, Contemporary, Introverts, Plume, Rainbow Rowell, Stand-alone, Y2Kmoung682

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
My Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

The next night, Lincoln parked his Corolla right next to The Courier’s front door.

“I’m here,” he thought. “Find me. Follow me. Make this inevitable.”

This quirky, socially awkward, and seemingly doomed romance packs a punch of reflection and nostalgia. I loved the quirky characters, the vivid 1990s imagery, and the creativity of the story. While it hasn’t usurped Carry On as my favorite of Rowell’s novels, it definitely made my overall favorites list.

Recommendation: Read this if you’re a fan of Rainbow Rowell, are craving some serious Y2K nostalgia, or love socially awkward nerdy folks.

Review: Love in the Light by Laura Kaye

January 8, 2016Adult, Contemporary RomanceAdult, ARC, Contemporary, Demons, Hearts in Darkness, Laura Kaye, PTSD, Sexy, Tattoomoung682

Love in the Light by Laura Kaye (Hearts in Darkness, Book 2)
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Release Date: 1/12/16

Note: This review is for the much anticipated sequel to my favorite novella. To learn more about book 1, check out my review of Hearts in Darkness.

“I love you so much it feels like a part of me is gone when we’re not together. I love you because you’re beautiful and kind and smart and funny. Because you accepted me when I didn’t even accept myself.”

I have to admit, I had mixed feelings when I learned that there would be a sequel to Hearts in Darkness. I think that stems from the fact that I loved it so much as it was – not every great story needs another installment, and some things are perfect just as they are. That being said, I’ve loved everything I’ve read from Kaye, so I knew I had to get my hands on this as soon as possible. If anyone could do justice to an extension of Makenna and Caden’s story, it would be her.

While I didn’t love this one as much as its predecessor, I wasn’t disappointed in the least.

Love in the Light is really Caden’s story as he confronts the demons of his past and learns to hold on to the future he could have with Makenna. This makes for a more somber story than Hearts in Darkness, but it’s also more realistic, with real human struggles and emotions. One thing I love about Kaye’s work is that she’s not afraid to confront dark issues like depression, PTSD, and thoughts of suicide. When she writes about heroes who’ve known tragedy, they face many of the aftereffects that real humans experience in those circumstances.

In this story, Caden is forced to confront those aftereffects and find a way to move on with his life. Thankfully, he has friends, mentors, and Makenna to help him fight his demons.

All in all, Hearts in Darkness remains my favorite novella, and I’m glad to know what happens with Makenna and Caden down the road. I got the best of both worlds with this – a pleasing sequel that adds to the story without detracting from the appeal of Hearts in Darkness as a standalone.

***

(This ARC was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.)

Minute Review: The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

January 7, 2016Fantasy, Minute Review47North, Charlie N. Holmberg, Dogs, Fantasy, London, Magic, Nerdy, Origami, Romance, The Paper Magician, Trilogy, YA, Young Adultmoung682

The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg (The Paper Magician Trilogy, Book 1)
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Remember that you are much different now than you were an hour ago, Ceony. Before you merely read about magic; now you have it. Denying it won’t make you return to ordinary.”

This is a lighthearted and whimsical story with wonderful characters, humans and enchantments alike. It did read a little bit like a debut novel, but that’s alright, and I’m looking forward to continuing Ceony and Emery’s story in The Glass Magician.

Recommendation: I highly recommend this if you love quirky magician stories, dogs, origami, and/or intellectually adorable characters.

Side note about genre: I’ve seen this categorized as both Adult and Young Adult Fiction. It fits pretty well into both categories, and I think readers of any age can enjoy this story.

Top Ten Tuesday: Resolutions for 2016

January 4, 2016Top Ten TuesdayBook Tag, Goodreads, Holidays, Library, New Year, Parasol Protectorate, Poison Study, PopSugar, Reading Challenge, Resolution, Throne of Glass, Top Ten Tuesdaymoung682

For those who don’t know, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week, they post a new theme and everyone is invited to join in!

Today’s Theme: Ten Resolutions I have for 2016

I’ve already written a 2016 Goals & Challenges post, but here a few more bookish things to round out my Top Ten.

Challenges:

Complete my Goodreads Challenge of 100 books.
Work through the PopSugar reading challenge to see how many items I can check off (without beating myself up trying to finish it)!

Specific TBR goals:

Catch up on the Throne of Glass series because it’s about time!
Finish the Poison Study trilogy because Magic Study has been on my TBR for ages, and I know I’m going to love it.
Finish the Parasol Protectorate series because I can’t let my frustrations with one character get in the way of my enjoyment of the rest.

Other bookish resolutions:

Keep track of my re-reads – I’m meticulous about tracking new books on Goodreads, but I don’t have a good way to track my re-reads. I’d really like to do a better job of that this year, but I’m not sure of the best way to do it. I’d LOVE some suggestions!
Turn boring chore time into relaxing book time through my library’s digital audio book collection – There are tons of books on my TBR list that I want to read despite the fact that they never make it to the top of the list. I think audio books are the perfect solution because they’re a great backdrop for cooking or folding laundry.
Read some new male authors – The majority of authors I read are women, and I’d love to read more male authors to balance the scales a little bit. If you have some favorites to suggest, let me know in the comments!
Don’t buy unread books if they are available through the library – Since I’m reading so much, I need to cut back on some costs. One good way is to refrain from buying anything unless I already know I’m going to get a ton of re-read value out of it.
Don’t fret about reading slumps or needing to take a break from a book – I’m usually pretty good about this, and I’d like to keep it up this year, too. Reading slumps happen, and sometimes you just need to set a book down for a while. The last thing I want is for reading to become a burden!

***

That’s pretty much it for my bookish resolutions this year. What are you resolving for the new year? Link your TTT in the comments!

2016 Goals & Challenges

January 3, 2016UpdatesBook Tag, Goodreads, New Year, Parasol Protectorate, Poison Study, PopSugar, Reading Challenge, Resolution, Throne of Glassmoung682

Now that I’ve looked back at 2015, it’s time to plan ahead for this year!

I don’t want to go too crazy with goals and challenges because I’d hate for reading to become a chore, but some have caught my eye. A couple are organized book challenges, and some are just personal goals I’d like to achieve.

Challenges:

Goodreads Challenge: 100 Books – If my 2016 is anything like my 2015, this number is going to go up. I’m starting out lower, though, to give myself a little more wiggle room. I track all of my new reads on Goodreads anyway, so this one’s a no-brainer for me.
PopSugar Challenge: I’ve seen a couple of other bloggers/vloggers who are doing this one, and it seems like a great, low key way to expand your reading horizons. My plan with this one is to keep track of which boxes I’m checking, and to use it as inspiration when I need helping choosing my next book. For more info, checkout my progress page.

Personal Goals: Finish (or catch up on) the following series:

Throne of Glass – I’ve only read book one so far, and it’s time to catch up!
Poison Study – Finish the original trilogy. I’ve had Magic Study on the top of my TBR list for months.
Parasol Protectorate – I own the entire series, but I stopped after book two because I was so grumpy at Lord Maccon. Time to pick up book three and get some resolution!

***

That’s pretty much it for my 2016 reading goals. What are some of your hopes and plans for the new year?