Tag Archives: Amy Plum

Top Ten Tuesday: Books Set Outside the US

July 19, 2016Bookish Memes & Tags, Fantasy, Top Ten TuesdayAkata Witch, Amy Plum, Book Tag, Bookish, Cynthia Hand, Ella Carey, Ellie Marney, Jess Walter, Laini Taylor, My Lady Jane, Nnedi Okorafor, Rainbow Rowell, Renee Ahdieh, Stephanie Perkins, Top Ten Tuesday, YA, Young Adultmoung682

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 Set Outside the United States

After taking several months off, it’s so nice to do a Top Ten Tuesday post! Many of these have a fantasy element, but I only included those that are still modeled after our world.

From my TBR:

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter – Throughout time in Europe and the US (a little cheaty…)
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor – Nigeria
Every Breath by Ellie Marney – Australia
Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey – France
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, & Jodi Meadows – Historical England

Some of My Favorites:

The Wrath & the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh – Historical Persia
Daugther of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor – Czech Republic
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins – France
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell – England
Die for Me by Amy Plum – France

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Which books made your list this week? I’d especially love to find more books set outside of the US AND Europe. Link your own Top Ten Tuesday in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday: A Valentine’s Day Rainbow

February 8, 2016Bookish Memes & Tags, Top Ten TuesdayAmy Plum, Becky Albertalli, Catherine Bybee, Darynda Jones, Holidays, Kristen Callihan, Rainbow Rowell, Renee Ahdieh, Romance, Sarah Fine, Sarah J. Maas, Stephanie Perkins, Top Ten Tuesday, Valentine's Day, YA, Young Adultmoung682

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Today’s Theme: Ten Books in a Valentine’s Day Rainbow

This week’s TTT is a Valentine’s Day freebie, so I decided to go with a color theme 🙂 As a result, this mini collection includes a pretty wide variety of romantic stories, including Adult and Young Adult, Contemporary and Fantasy, Series and Standalone. There’s even a novella thrown in.

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh – (YA, Retelling/Fantasy, Duology Book 1) – This is my favorite book of those I’ve read this year so far. The setting is absolutely stunning, and it’s perfect for being whisked away for a few hours.

Fated by Sarah Fine – (Adult, Mythology/Fantasy/Apocalyptic, Trilogy Book 3) – I love Sarah Fine’s work because it never fails to draw me into the story 100%. This is the third book in her adult series, and it definitely didn’t disappoint.

First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones – (Adult, Paranormal/Chick Lit/Urban Fantasy, Series Book 1) – A fun, quick read that is full of snark, this is a prime example of a beach book.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell – (YA, Contemporary, Standalone) – One of my favorite YA novels, Fangirl is an excellent valentine’s day read!

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas – (YA, Retelling/Fantasy, Series Book 1) – This one is a loose Beauty and the Beast retelling with fae lore thrown in, and now is the perfect time to read it, since Book 2 is coming out in May.

Die for Me by Amy Plum – (YA, Paranormal/Fantasy, Trilogy Book 1) – This is a perfect choice for fans of romantic paranormal YA! To top it off, the series is set in Paris, the author’s home, and is full of romantic Parisian atmosphere.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins – (YA, Contemporary, Companion Trilogy Book 1) – Another YA set in Paris, this one is contemporary fiction and ALSO full of romantic Parisian atmosphere 😉

Wife by Wednesday by Catherine Bybee – (Adult, Contemporary, Series Book 1) – This is probably the most stereotypical romance novel on this list, but it is also a quick, fun read with a satisfying ending.

Entwined by Kristen Callihan – (Adult, Fantasy/Steampunk, Series Prequel Novella) – Despite being a companion novella to a larger series, this is a good representative of Callihan’s work, and the novella is perfectly enjoyable on its own. It is also one of my favorite novellas in general, and I think of the story as a loose retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac.

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli – (YA, Contemporary/LGBT, Standalone) – This one was tied for my favorite 2015 read. I can’t recommend it enough 😀

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What books do you read around Valentine’s Day? Do you read romance or avoid the genre altogether? Link you own TTT in the comments so I can check out your freebie theme!

2015 Wrap Up

January 2, 2016Book Tags, UpdatesAmy Plum, Becky Albertalli, Book Tag, Dianne Duvall, Holidays, Marie Brennan, Marissa Meyer, Meljean Brook, Naomi Novik, New Year, Rainbow Rowell, Sarah J. Maas, The Perpetual Page Turner, Wrap Upmoung682

I was contemplating ways to write a 2015 Wrap Up post when I stumbled upon the 2015 End of Year Book Survey over at The Perpetual Page Turner. (Thanks to The Petite Book Blogger and The Worn Bookmark, whose posts led me there!) I didn’t quite answer all of the recommended questions, but this still seems like a great way to wrap up the year, so here goes! (All book covers link to the corresponding Goodreads pages.)

Number Of Books You Read: 144
Number of Re-Reads: 4
Genre You Read The Most From: Paranormal/Fantasy

My 2015 Top Five Books:

The Kraken King by Meljean Brook
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
After the End duology by Amy Plum

Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)

I was so excited about The Lunar Chronicles when I first picked up Cinder. As it turned out, though, I didn’t like it nearly as much as I hoped I would.

Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

This book was a pleasant and very welcome surprise. Where I was expecting the stereotypical “immortal warrior” alpha male trope, I found a version that retained the power and prowess without the need to be a controlling jackass.

Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

Because it’s just so fantastic 😀

Best series you started in 2015? Best Sequel of 2015? Best Series Ender of 2015?

I started so many great series this year, but for this one I’m going to go with a completed one that I started and finished in 2015. I adored Amy Plum’s After the End duology, and Until the Beginning was a perfect conclusion. Thank goodness I didn’t start the series until this year, or I might have died from cliffhanger suspense…

Favorite new author you discovered in 2015?

So, so many! Here are a bunch of them: Jeaniene Frost, Laura Kaye, Sarah J. Maas, Rainbow Rowell, Rachel Aaron, Meljean Brook, Georgette Heyer, Dianne Duvall, Marie Brennan, Stephanie Perkins, Naomi Novik, and probably a few more that are eluding me at the moment.

Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

I have to admit, I only read this as a book club pick. I was expecting to hate it, and there were certainly aspects I didn’t enjoy, but it was amusing enough that I ended up laughing my way through. In the end, I enjoyed it for what it was, despite the fact that I probably won’t be revisiting the genre any time soon.

Book You Read In 2015 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Because I just can’t get enough of these.

Favorite cover of a book you read in 2015?

One for beauty and badassery, and one for my inner biologist.

Most memorable character of 2015?

Too many – there’s no way I could just choose one, or even five!

Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2015 to finally read?

Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2015?

There are WAY too many to choose! Check out my Top Ten Tuesday post on the subject to see my top ten.

Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2015?

Shortest: 15 pages
Assassin Study by Maria V. Snyder (A companion short in the Poison Study series)

Longest: 550 pages
Cress by Marissa Meyer

Book That Shocked You The Most

Because of the scene that made my heart stop (no spoilers). I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised, it is a contemporary romance, after all – but I just didn’t see it coming!!

Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Agnieszka and Kasia, hands down…

Favorite Book You Read in 2015 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

I’d already read Plum’s Revenants trilogy.

Best 2015 debut you read?

Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

I had to include a few because these were all so stunning:

Daughter of Smoke & Bone: Prague through the eyes of angels and demons
Uprooted: A magical fantasy land infused with a corrupted wood
Splintered: Beautiful and terrifying Wonderland

Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

I’m STILL smiling about it 😀

Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

I’ve loved participating in the Broke and Bookish Top Ten Tuesday posts. Participating is a ton of fun, and always leads to me growing my TBR list.

Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2015?

My blog is still less than one year old, so getting my first comment and being nominated for my first peer blog award were big moments for me. It might not seem like much, but it was such a great feeling 🙂

Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

My biggest challenge with blogging in 2015 was keeping up with reviews during the school term. The Minute Reviews help by providing a quick format for mini reviews, and hopefully they will continue to do so.

Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

Top Ten Tuesday: Characters Who Are Fellow Book Nerds. Gotta love Top Ten Tuesday 🙂

Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

This is the year I discovered the joys of both Netgalley and BookBub. So many books, so little time…

Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

My only goals going into 2015 were to read as much as possible and to catch up on some of the authors/series that are often highly recommended. Happily, I feel great about my progress! I reached my Goodreads goal of 125 books, and I fell in love with a bunch of new books.

One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2015 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2016?

Not quite a Number 1 Priority, but I definitely want to catch up on this series. I read Throne of Glass this year and loved it, but have yet to read the rest of the released books.

Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2016 (non-debut)?

This will be the fourth book in Marie Brennan’s Memoir by Lady Trent series. (Release Date: 4/5/2015)

2016 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

I’m super excited about Richelle Mead’s new series debut 😀 (Release Date: 4/5/2015)

A 2016 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

I haven’t read it yet, but I have the ARC in hand and will be reading it this week. This is the sequel to my favorite novella to date, Hearts in Darkness. (Release Date: 1/12/2016)

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And that’s it for my wrap up! What are some of your favorites from this year? If you have your own wrap up post, link it in the comments and help me grow my TBR 😉

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree

December 23, 2015Fantasy, Holiday, Top Ten Tuesday, Young AdultAmy Plum, Becky Albertalli, Book Tag, Heather Dixon, Holidays, Laini Taylor, Marie Brennan, Meljean Brook, Rachel Aaron, Sabaa Tahir, Stephanie Perkins, Top Ten Tuesday, Victoria Aveyardmoung682

Or, um, Wednesday, as the case may be…

Today’s Theme: Ten Books I Wouldn’t Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year

This holiday season marks sort of an unofficial anniversary for me and the rediscovery of my passion for reading. It seems like I’ve wanted to read everything in sight (because you never know when a new favorite author will come along), and most of these books have passed through my Kindle courtesy of Amazon Daily Deals and the amazing Seattle library system. Given this, most of my wishlist consists of Hardcover editions of books I found this year and know I will read again and again. There are also a couple TBR books with beautiful covers that I’m dying to read!

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli – So heartfelt and hilarious. I love this book. I want to put it on my shelf right next to Carry On by Rainbow Rowell.

A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan – I can’t get enough of the cover. My inner biologist wants to study every inch of the illustration.

After the End and Until the Beginning by Amy Plum – I’ve seen some mixed reviews of this duology, but I adored it. So far I have yet to read something from Amy Plum that I didn’t love.

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor – I’ve only read the first book in the trilogy so far, but the setting alone is enough for me to want this one on my shelf.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins – I’d love to have the whole trilogy, but I’ll start with Anna. (Text cover only – I really hate the other one…)

Red Queen (Red Queen, #1)

The Kraken King by Meljean Brook – It makes me sad that this is only available in paperback. In my future library, full of wonderful books, this one will be featured front and center on my Steampunk shelf.

Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron – I’ve only read the first in series so far (there are only two out right now), but I loved it.

Still on the TBR list:

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard – I’ve heard so many great things about this one; I can’t wait to read it! Besides, the beautiful cover will still look great on the shelf no matter how good the story is 😉

Illusionarium by Heather Dixon – I read Dixon’s Enchanted and really enjoyed it. This one definitely intrigues me, and the interesting cover only adds to the appeal.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir – This is another that I’ve heard great things about. I think I’m going to be kicking off 2016 with an excellent TBR lineup.

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Which books are on your wish list this year? Link your TTT in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday: A Year in Quotes

November 16, 2015Top Ten TuesdayAmy Plum, Dianne Duvall, Jeaniene Frost, Laura Kaye, Meljean Brook, Quotes, Rainbow Rowell, Stephanie Perkins, Temple West, Top Ten Tuesday, YAmoung682

Today’s Theme: Ten Favorite Quotes From Books I’ve Read This Year

Picking out quotes is one of my favorite parts of writing a review, and I had a really hard time narrowing this list down to 10. Without further ado, here are some of my favorite quotes from books I’ve read this year (in no particular order).

After the End by Amy Plum (After the End, Book 1)
(My Review)

“Even though you could probably kill me in fifteen different ways with a table fork, and even though you barbecue bunnies, I like you, too, Juneau.”

The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost (Broken Destiny, Book 1)
(My Review)

He was danger wrapped in secrets tied with a bow of bad intentions, and it was totally unfair that no one had made me feel this way before.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
(My Review)

I am going to die kissing Simon Snow. Aleister Crowley, I’m living a charmed life. – Baz

The Kraken King by Meljean Brook (The Iron Seas, Book 4)
(My Review)

“You are my queen. I am your sword and your shield. I am your wolf and your steed. Mountains will tremble at my approach, for they know I will tear them apart if ever they stand between us. But you need not be afraid, Zenobia Fox, because my heart is iron and my will is steel, and before the new moon rises, I will come for you.”

Shadows Strike by Dianne Duvall (Immortal Guardians, Book 6)
(My Review)

“I have the most absurd urge to ask you to promise me you won’t go out after dark anymore.”

“Um…”

“I know. It’s totally unreasonable.”

Lola and the Boy Next Door (Anna and the French Kiss, #2) Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins (Anna and the French Kiss, Book 2)
(My Review)

Just because something isn’t practical doesn’t mean it’s not worth creating. Sometimes beauty and real-life magic are enough.

Hard to Hold On To by Laura Kaye (Hard Ink, Book 2.5)
(My Review)

You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious.

Velvet by Temple West (Velvet Trilogy, Book 1)
(My Review)

“Why would I fall in love with you? You’re just a hot, closet-nerd vampire with a bazillion dollars and a Harley. There’s absolutely nothing attractive about you.”

The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
(My Review)

“Now, that,” said Sophy, “I am very glad to know, because if ever I should desire to please you I shall know just how to set about it. I daresay I shan’t, but one likes to be prepared for any event, however unlikely.”

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
(My Review)

“Look at you. All sweatered up. What are those, leg sweaters?”
“They’re leg warmers.”
“You’re wearing at least four different kinds of sweater.”
“This is a scarf.”
“You look tarred and sweatered.”

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What are some of your favorite quotes from this year’s book list? Also, link your own TTT in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books for a Cozy Halloween

October 26, 2015Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Top Ten TuesdayAmy Plum, Angels & Demons, Fantasy, Ghosts, Halloween, Jeaniene Frost, Jenn Bennett, Magic, Rainbow Rowell, Top Ten Tuesday, Vampires, Wizardmoung682

Today’s Theme: Top Ten Books for a Cozy Halloween

This week’s theme is a Halloween freebie, and since it’s one of my favorite holidays, I had to do a post. Some of my earliest memories are of Halloween day, reading a bunch of library books behind the couch and anxiously waiting for trick-or-treating time. I’m not a huge horror fan, but I love paranormal stories and am always up for cozy Halloween fun. All of this comes together to inspire my freebie theme. Each of these books has an element of paranormal/fantasy, and they are all perfect for a cup of cocoa, a cozy chair, and some candlelight.

Young Adult:

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell – Wizard School! This is such a fun, quirky book, and it’s perfect for autumn. (My Review)

Penelope by Marilyn Kaye – This one is a fairy tale type of story. I love watching the movie version around Halloween.

Die for Me by Amy Plum – This is the first in a trilogy that takes place in Paris and is full of awesome Revenants, undead characters that repeatedly risk their lives to save others. (My Review)

Velvet by Temple West – Vampires! This one is very similar to Twilight, but with some key differences that make it better, in my opinion. Check out my review for more details.

The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost – Angels & Demons! This one takes place traveling between realms of humans and realms of demons. It’s a great, darker YA/NA read for Halloween. (My Review)

Adult:

Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost – Vampires and Vampire Hunters! I love this whole series, but the first book is especially suited to Halloween. (And it’s full of awesome butt-kicking.)

Summoning the Night by Jenn Bennett – Magicians, Demons, and a Kidnapper with a plan for a Halloween ritual. Despite being the second book in a series, this one could be read as a standalone. (My Review)

Bitter Spirits by Jenn Bennett – This one follows a ghost medium in San Francisco during the Roaring Twenties. (My Review)

Uprooted by Naomi Novik – The villain of this book is a corrupted wood that has the power to infect people and animals, driving them insane. (My Review)

Wicked as they Come by Delilah S. Dawson – More Vampires! Well, Bludmen, and bludbunnies, and pretty much every other type of vampiric creature… (My Review)

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If you are on the lookout for some Halloween freebies to add to your TBR, check out my post on the Thirteen Days of Halloween! This event is a great way to learn about some new favorites and get a bunch of free books!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books to Read if you Like These Popular Works

September 29, 2015Top Ten TuesdayAmy Plum, Book Tag, Jeaniene Frost, John Green, Meljean Brook, Miyazaki, Paper Towns, Recommendations, Road Trip, Steampunk, Stephenie Meyer, Top Ten Tuesday, Twilight, Vampires, YA, Young Adultmoung682

Today’s Theme: Top Ten Books to Read if you Like These Popular Books/Authors

I haven’t read enough to make this list based on just one book or author, so I picked a few.

If you liked:

Try these:

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson – A little more on the romance side, this book is still full of road trips, self-discovery, and life lessons. (My review)

After the End by Amy Plum – This one has a little bit of a supernatural element thrown in, but it’s also full of road trips, self-discovery, and life lessons. (My review)

If you liked:

Try these:

Velvet by Temple West – This one is similar to Twilight in a lot of ways, with several tweaks that made me love it way more than Stephenie Meyer’s series. Check out my review for details on the hows and whys.

Die for Me by Amy Plum – No vampires here, but this trilogy is full Revenants instead. It’s a romance with plenty of action and arch nemeses, not to mention an amazing heroine! (My review)

The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost – Again, no vampires. This one has some angels and a whole lot of demons. It’s a little darker than Twilight, and technically falls under the new adult umbrella. (My review)

Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost – Lot and LOTS of vampires 🙂 This is Jeaniene Frost’s popular adult series and I can’t recommend it enough for paranormal romance lovers.

If you liked:

(The Iron Seas series by Meljean Brook)

Try These:

(I think these series are all pretty equally popular. If you liked any of them, you should give the others a try! Note: all four of these are adult series.)

Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster – (London Steampunk series) – This one mixes an AMAZING steampunk world with an interesting, fairly scientific take on vampires and werewolves.

Firelight by Kristen Callihan – (Darkest London series) – Also steampunky, the Darkest London series brings fantasy into the mix, with elementals, fae, ghosts in the machine, and more.

Soulless by Gail Carriger – (Parasol Protectorate series) – Soulless has the sarcasm and prose of Gail Carriger, making for a lighter, funnier read.

And last but not least, if you like the movies of Hayao Miyazaki (especially Howl’s Moving Castle or Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind), try this:

Uprooted by Naomi Novik – This story is full of fantasy, magic, faraway kingdoms, the power of nature, and the corruption of hate.

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Do you have any recommendations for me based on these books? Let me know if you have your own Top Ten list in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books on my Syllabus If I Taught “Kickass Heroines 101”

August 26, 2015Top Ten TuesdayAmy Plum, Book Tag, Georgette Heyer, Historical Romance, Jeaniene Frost, Meljean Brook, Night Huntress, Sarah J. Maas, Steampunk, Throne of Glass, Top Ten Tuesday, YAmoung682

Today’s Theme: Ten Books That Would Be On Your Syllabus If You Taught X 101

I’m a day late on this one, but better late than never! It took me forever to figure out which theoretical class I was going to teach because my interests within the romance genre are pretty broad. I finally settled on one common thread that links together so many of the books I love: the Kickass Heroine. She’s compelling, capable, and intelligent – not to mention a force to be reckoned with – and she can be found in any genre! To that effect, I tried to come up with a well-rounded “syllabus” that includes a variety of genres and different incarnations of “kickass.”

Celaena – Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas – (YA Fantasy) Starting the list with a bang, Celaena is both deadly and cunning. For fans of YA fantasy with a hefty does of assassins and political intrigue, this is a must read! (Here’s a link to my review of book one.)

Hadley Bacall – Grim Shadows by Jenn Bennett – (Historical – Roaring Twenties) One of the foremost experts on macabre artifacts, Hadley is sharp as a tack and has spent most of her life in museums. When an ancient Egyptian curse brings her out into a world more suited to Indiana Jones, raucous adventures ensue 🙂 (Here’s a link to my review.)

Cat Crawford – Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost – (Paranormal) Cat is the ultimate vampire hunter. I love this series because it spans a decade or so of her life, and you really get to watch her grow, both emotionally and as a force of nature. If you’re a fan of darker vampire stories, you should definitely give this one a try.

Venetia Lanyon – Venetia by Georgette Heyer – (Historical – Regency) Heyer has written so many wonderful heroines, but of those I’ve read so far, Venetia is my favorite. She’s witty, honest, a bit sheltered from the world, and not afraid to go for what she wants in life. (Here’s a link to my review.)

Kate Mercier – Revenants Trilogy by Amy Plum – (YA Paranormal) I’ve mentioned this series on my blog several times now, and it’s because I just can’t get enough of it. Kate is loyal, intelligent, hard-working, compassionate, and the list goes on and on. (Here’s a link to my review of book one.)

Annika Fridasdotter – Riveted by Meljean Brook – (Steampunk) Annika stands out on this list, because there are plenty of things she doesn’t excel at (most of which involve social interactions), but she is so loving and open. It’s refreshing to read about a character who isn’t weighed down by social constructs and takes risks most of us would be terrified of. (Here’s a link to my review.)

Devi Morris – Paradox Trilogy by Rachel Bach – (Science Fiction) Devi is another warrior heroine. Her goal in life is to join the most elite rank of guards at the disposal of her king, and she will fight tooth and nail to get there.

Poppy Lane – Winterblaze by Kristen Callihan – (Steampunk/Fantasy) Poppy Lane is an ice elemental. She also happens to be the leader of London’s supernatural police force and intelligence agency. This series on the whole is a great blend of steampunk and fantasy – I highly recommend it!

Delilah Drummond – A Spear of Summer Grass – (Historical – Roaring Twenties) Delilah’s magnificence is in her force of will. She has both good and bad qualities, but she does everything with aplomb, and she’s willing to sacrifice it all to do what she feels is right. If you’re in the mood for a compelling read with a vivid setting in Africa, give this one a go!

Juneau – After the End Duology by Amy Plum – (YA Dystopia) I had to put Juneau on this list. Having grown up in the Alaskan wilderness, she’s truly a jack of all trades. If there’s anyone I would want to be stranded with in a life or death situation, Juneau would be her! (Here’s a link to my review of book one.)

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What course would you teach? Let me know about your top ten in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I’ve Read The Most Books From

August 10, 2015Top Ten TuesdayAmy Plum, Bec McMaster, Book Tag, Dianne Duvall, Kristen Callihan, Laura Kaye, Meljean Brook, Night Huntress, Novella, Steampunk, Top Ten Tuesday, Trixie Belden, YAmoung682

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 Authors I’ve Read the Most Books From

Thank goodness for Goodreads; it was a lifesaver with making this week’s TTT! As part of my top ten, I included the cover image of my favorite piece by each author. Note: all book cover images link to that book’s Goodreads page.

Five Books:

Meljean Brook – The Iron Seas series

Bec McMaster – The London Steampunk series

Six Books:

Amy Plum – The Revenants series and the After the End duology

Stephenie Meyer – The Twilight series and The Host

Seven Books:

Laura Kaye – The Hard Ink series and Hearts in Darkness (one of my absolute FAVORITE novellas!)

JK Rowling – The Harry Potter series, of course!

Dianne Duvall – The Immortal Guardians series and A Sorceress of His Own

Eight Books:

Kristen Callihan – The Darkest London series

Ten + Books:

Jeaniene Frost (14 books) – All of the Night Huntress books (including stand-alones and the Night Prince series) and The Beautiful Ashes

Julie Campbell & Kathryn Kenny (16 books) – The first 16 Trixie Belden books 🙂

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Did you have a hard time thinking of your own list? Let me know about your top ten in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday: Characters Who Are Fellow Book Nerds

July 27, 2015Top Ten TuesdayAmy Plum, Archimedes, Book Tag, Elizabeth Bennett, Harry Potter, Iron Seas, Jane Austen, Lord of the Rings, Romance, Steampunk, Top Ten Tuesday, YA, Young Adult, Zenobia Foxmoung682

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 Characters Who Are Fellow Book Nerds

At first I was worried about being able to come up with a list of ten, but upon looking back through my books I realized that there are a ton of great bookish characters! Here are some of my favorites. Note: all book cover images link to that book’s Goodreads page.

Archimedes and Zenobia Fox (Iron Seas series) – (Adult, Steampunk) Archimedes and Zenobia are brother and sister and they each have their own book in Meljean Brooks’ Iron Seas series. Zenobia is a pretty obvious book nerd, being the prolific author of a wildly popular serial, The Adventures of Archimedes Fox. Archimedes is more of a research book nerd, delving into any source he can find for hints of potential adventures and archaeological discoveries. Here is my review for Zenobia’s story, The Kraken King.

Hermione Granger (Harry Potter series) – (Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fantasy) You can’t get much more book nerdy than Hermione… 🙂

Abby Dunn (The McCauley Brothers series) – (Adult, Contemporary) Abby Dunn is the heroine of the second book in Marie Harte’s McCauley Brothers series, though she crops up frequently throughout all the books. She is a romance author herself. I’m such a sucker for main characters that are also authors… Here is my review for Abby’s story.

Kate Mercier (Revenants series) – (Young Adult, Paranormal) Kate is the main protagonist in Amy Plum’s Revenants series and she is a self-professed introverted book nerd. She spends most of her free time reading or visiting Parisian art galleries. Not to mention the fact that she totally kicks butt as a heroine! Here’s a link to my review for the first book in the trilogy, Die for Me.

Hadley Bacall & Lowe Magnusson (The Roaring Twenties series) – (Adult, Period, Paranormal) Hadley and Lowe are the protagonists in the second book of Jenn Bennett’s Roaring Twenties series. Lowe is an archaeologist, Hadley is a museum curator, and they are both obsessed with research and ancient artifacts. Books even play an integral role in the plot of Grim Shadows. Here is a link to my review.

Sarah Bingham (Immortal Guardians series) – (Adult, Paranormal) Sarah is the heroine of the first book in Duvall’s Immortal Guardians series, Darkness Dawns. She’s a professor and has a collection of paranormal romance novels on her living room bookshelf. This fact is one that Roland, the hero, notes in hopes that she won’t run away screaming when she finds out he’s more than human.

Honoria Todd (London Steampunk series) – (Adult, Steampunk) Honoria is the heroine of the first book of Bec McMaster’s London Steampunk series. She is a brilliant researcher, focused on finding a cure for the blood-craving virus that eventually leads to vampirism. In pursuit of this, Honoria is constantly reading and studying. This is the book that drew me into the world of Steampunk, and I can’t recommend it enough to romance lovers!

Elizabeth Bennett & Catherine Morland (Jane Austen, of course!) – (Classics, Regency) First we have Elizabeth Bennett, known to be a book nerd to anyone familiar with the story of Pride and Prejudice. Second we have Catherine Morland, the heroine of Northanger Abbey, a much less read Austen novel. Catherine is a young woman obsessed with Gothic novels who stays with friends that happen to live in an old Gothic monastery. Adventures born of an overactive imagination inevitably ensue 🙂

Juneau (After the End duology) – (Young Adult, Paranormal) Juneau is one of the protagonists in Amy Plum’s After the End duology, one of my favorite series read this year! Juneau grew up in a very secluded community that had a limited library, including a bunch of classic books and a complete set of a 1980s edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica. Obsessed with learning about the outside world, Juneau has pretty much memorized every single book and volume. Here is a link to my review for After the End.

Frodo Baggins (Lord of the Rings trilogy) – (Fantasy) It’s been many years since I’ve read this one, but I remember Frodo being pretty enthralled by all of Bilbo’s books and the adventures they chronicled. It’s pretty appropriate given his own grand adventure.

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Let me know about your own top ten in the comments!

Number Of Books You Read: 144 Number of Re-Reads: 4 Genre You Read The Most From: Paranormal/Fantasy

My 2015 Top Five Books:

Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

Best series you started in 2015? Best Sequel of 2015? Best Series Ender of 2015?

Favorite new author you discovered in 2015?

Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

Book You Read In 2015 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Favorite cover of a book you read in 2015?

Most memorable character of 2015?

Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2015 to finally read?

Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2015?

Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2015?

Book That Shocked You The Most

Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Favorite Book You Read in 2015 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Best 2015 debut you read?

Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2015?

Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2015 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2016?

Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2016 (non-debut)?

2016 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

A 2016 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

Number Of Books You Read: 144
Number of Re-Reads: 4
Genre You Read The Most From: Paranormal/Fantasy