Wrap up for #AllHallowsWeek

This year All Hallows Week has been a little rough and trying to polish it off today will also be a little rough. A severe cold hit me right in the middle of the ten days of the event this year and it really knocked me off my game. I'm sorry things have been a little slim and today there almost wasn't a post!

Today I want to list a few books I hope to feature next year or at least read before All Hallows Week rolls around again. I'd like to feature some Non-Fiction books in the future as well as more adult reads that have those spooky elements in them I love.

Happy Halloween and thanks for reading! 

    

#AllHallowsWeek Review - Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning

Series: Fever #2

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Age Group: Adult

Source: Library

Ebook - 337 pgs

Delacorte Press (2007) 

Add it // Buy it

Rating: 4/5

In her fight to stay alive, MacKayla must find the Sinsar Dubh—a million-year-old book of the blackest magic imaginable, which holds the key to power over the worlds of both the Fae and Man. Pursued by assassins, surrounded by mysterious figures she knows she can’t trust, Mac finds herself torn between two deadly and powerful men: V’lane, the immortal Fae Prince, and Jericho Barrons, a man as irresistible as he is dangerous.

For centuries the shadowy realm of the Fae has coexisted with that of humans. Now the walls between the two are coming down, and Mac is the only thing that stands between them.

The jump in quality between books one and two is incredible. We delve a lot deeper into the world of Fae and learn more about Mac’s abilities. The story arc was a lot stronger and overall the book didn’t have the slow start that Darkfever did. Personally, I found the description a little misleading. I do not find the sexual assault, V'lane, attractive at all and his presence in this pseudo-love-triangle is something I could dump from this series all together.

Though I still don’t approve of Mac’s self deprecating tone either, she takes less crap from Barrons and works more independently in this book. Mac’s journey is somehow even darker in this book and she has to face consequences from her choices in book one. Moning does a good job of almost answering my questions and keeping me on the edge of my seat.

On an amusing note. At the beginning of this book I finally realized Jericho Barrons has dark hair. For some reason this has increased my opinion of him by more than is reasonable. He does improve a little in this novel, but I'm hoping there is some reason for his tortured exterior. There usually is. Book three is already downloaded and I'm ready to keep rolling though this series. (After I finish Stranger Things)

My Review of Darkfever 

Cool Weather Recommendations #AllHallowsWeek

As Halloween draws closer I wanted to recommend some books that are good for spooky reading as well as just cold weather reading. Even though I like all the spooky recommendations, I'm ready for general cool weather reading. I'm ready for long books and creepy books with atmospheric writing. Here are the best ones I've read. 

#AllHallowsWeek Review - Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

Series: Fever #1

Genre: Paranormal 

Age Group: Adult

Source: Library ebook

Ebook - 382 pgs

Delacorte Press (2006) 

Add it // Buy it

3/5

MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….

Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault

Looking back at this book I’m not sure how I made it through the first half, but I’m glad I stuck it out.

The first half of Darkfever is slow and Mac makes some dumb decisions. Until the fantasy side of the story introduced, the story just dragged. If you can get through this section the second half of the book is really exciting and things improve a lot in book two. I feel like I say this about every paranormal series I read, but that is a discussion for another day.

Throughout the book Mac from the future breaks the fourth wall to talk to the reader and I was frustrated Future Mac talked so poorly about Current Mac. It sets a tone for the reader that we shouldn't like this version of the character. Several of the characters also comment on how Mac's attire and style is a reflection of how soft and silly she is which was simply overdone. Mac can kick butt in a pink skirt if she wants to! Moning's writing style just isn't my favorite. In between action scenes she repeats herself a lot and described things in a lot of detail.

However, I did enjoy the ending of this. Mac really starts to become an active participant in her own story. At that point I was invested and I loved how she took the reins to start directing her own fate. It just took her a long time! The action really picked up, so the writing was better, and I was intrigued enough to pick up book two. 

Friday Update - #AllHallowsWeek

This week has been a WEEK. Work has been really busy and I contracted some type of cold last weekend. The beginning of the week went ok. I just had a sore throat, but on Wednesday I woke up with a headache (migraine strength) and a fever. You would think a sick day would be a day I could read in bed, but I slept most of the day and couldn't muster the strength for much else. Even after I went back to work yesterday, I fell asleep early after I started my rewatch of Stranger Things. Anyway if you are interested in a Friday update, I posted a video to Youtube.

 

This weekend I'm hoping to catch up on things. Mainly I want to finish at least one book for the Autumnal Readathon. I was so excited for this before this cold kicked me in the butt. Hopefully I'll have a little time and energy left to do that. I also want to watch Stranger Things! I'm excited for Season 2, but since the first season is only eight episodes I might watch that all over again. Don't look for me too much online this weekend because I'll be avoiding spoilers! 

Happy Reading! 

Check back tomorrow and through Halloween for more creepy bookish posts!

Review - Crimson Peak by Nancy Holder #AllHallowsWeek

Series: Standalone

Genre: Gothic Romance

Age Group: Adult

Source: Purchased from Audible 
Audiobook - 10 hours
Titan Books - 2015
Add it //Buy it 

Rating: 4/5

When her heart is stolen by a seductive stranger, a young woman is swept away to a house atop a mountain of blood-red clay: a place filled with secrets that will haunt her forever. 

Between desire and darkness, between mystery and madness, lies the truth behind Crimson Peak. From acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro.

When the movie Crimson Peak was released a few years ago, I was very intrigued. However, I am not a horror fan so I skipped the film. Afterward I purchased this audiobook to get a taste of what I missed. Overall, I would classify this story as a romantic historical thriller. It is quite creepy and atmospheric for the fall.

Throughout the book I kept comparing this story to The Fall of the House of Usher. Someone had to have taken inspiration from the decaying house and dying corrupt bloodline of that story. Even though the story is a little predictable, I was still addicted to the audiobook and I listened to it as much as I could. Although I did not listen to it when I was home alone one evening. It was too creepy for that!

The characters are quite interesting and I was surprised by their complexity. At each turn of events characters were conflicted and had a lot of complex motivations for their choices. I was not expecting this since this was a novelization of a movie. This was true for the description and the plot as well. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the complexity of this story. The writing is very descriptive and Holder paints a strong picture even though I had images from the movie in my mind.

Honestly I'm excited to watch the movie at some point now and I think I will be able to handle it. After many hours of creepy audiobook filling my ears, I hope I can handle two hour of creepy film.

Recommended: Creepy TV Episodes and Podcasts

#AllHallowsWeek Review - Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

Series: Standalone 

Genre: Fantasy/Mythology 

Age Group: Adult
Audiobook - 6.5 hours
Harperaudio- 2017 
Add it // Buy it 

Rating - 5/5

Neil Gaiman has long been inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction. Now he turns his attention back to the source, presenting a bravura rendition of the great northern tales. In Norse Mythology, Gaiman fashions primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds; delves into the exploits of the deities, dwarves, and giants; and culminates in Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods and the rebirth of a new time and people. Gaiman stays true to the myths while vividly reincarnating Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin’s son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Loki, the son of a giant, a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator. From Gaiman’s deft and witty prose emerges the gods with their fiercely competitive natures, their susceptibility to being duped and to dupe others, and their tendency to let passion ignite their actions, making these long-ago myths breathe pungent life again. 

I’ve been an avid mythology fan for most of my life. Take my fascination with ancient myths all the way back to the Ulysses episode of Wishbone.  After being curious about the Norse myths for years, but never knowing where to start, this book seemed like something to ease me into the mass of myth.

All of the myths within are rewritten and reworked by Gaiman in a way that makes them accessible and entertaining to read. Though I cannot speak for accuracy, because this is my first foray into Norse myths, the stories feel timeless. They have the elements of old original myths within. They can explain, warn, and entertain.  

The audiobook was a delight. Gaiman read it himself, like he does most of his audiobooks, and that always add something to the experience for me. Most of the chapters are short which I really enjoyed because it made finishing chapters of the audiobook easy and I could stop at the end of each retelling if I needed to stop listening.

Each story was complete and full of adventure. The gods were fickle and they are all related in some strange way. It was fantastic.

NYC Vlog and Haul #AllHallowsWeek

Last weekend I traveled to New York City with two friends for a two day trip to the city. We had a lot of fun and visited a few bookstores as well as other shops. I did pick up a few thing and had a lot of fun. I hope you enjoy my little trip vlog even though I only have a few clips!

Stores Mentioned:

Strand Bookstore

Kinokuniya Bookstore

Waiting on Wednesday #AllHallowWeek

Though most of my anticipated releases for the year have already been released, I still have a few that I am really excited for. Luckily, I don't have much longer to wait for the books I'm talking about today.

1) Romancing the Werewolf by Gail Carriger - (Release November 4th ) - This novella is finally here! The story of Biffy and Lyall is finally being released. I'm so excited and I have the digital version pre-ordered. I can't wait to add a physical version to my collection (which will come later) but it is coming!

2) The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night by Jen Campbell - (Release November 2nd) - Though I don't read a lot of short story collections, I want to get my hands on this. I love Jen and her channel on Youtube. I've heard great things about this collection and it is beautiful!

3) City of Bones (10th Anniversary Edition) by Cassandra Clare - (November 7th) - I've recently reread this first book and I am so excited to get my copy of this Collector's Edition. Not a new release but I am still excited.

  

Creepy TV Episodes, Podcasts and Recommended Reading - #AllHallowsWeek

Are you ready for all things generally creepy? Are you ready to be spooked in many different formats? If so, this is the post for you! Today I'm recommending some creepy TV episodes and podcasts. Then I am sending you out to other blogs to check out some cool posts about costumes and some books I haven't read.

Spooky Listens -

One of my favorite podcasts is Stuff You Missed in History Class. In October they often feature topics outside their normal realm of historical topics. Though all of their episodes are well researched and full of facts, these October episodes are spookier and have more unexplainable elements.

Ghosts of History: A Haunted House Tour - Homes with tragic history!

Beast of Gevaudan - Possible French werewolf attacks!

The Hagley Woods Murder - Who put Bella in the Witch Elm?

The Disappearance of the Sodder Children - Actually the scariest case of arson you will ever read/listen to.

#AllHallowsWeek Review - Waistcoats and Weaponry by Gail Carriger

Series: Finishing School Series #3

Genre: Historical Fiction Steampunk Paranormal

Age Group: Young Adult

Paperback - 298pgs

ATOM - 2014

Rating: 4.5/5

Sophronia continues finishing school in style - with a range of deadly defences secreted in the folds of her ball gown, of course. Her fashionable choice of weapons comes in handy when Sophronia, her best friend Dimity, sweet sootie Soap and the charming Lord Felix Mersey hijack a suspiciously empty train to return their chum Sidheag to her werewolf pack in Scotland.

But when Sophronia discovers they are being trailed by a dirigible of Picklemen and flywaymen, she unearths a plot that threatens to throw all of London into chaos. With her friends in mortal danger, Sophronia must sacrifice what she holds most dear - her freedom. 

My main complaint about book two was it felt like a holding pattern and we didn't make a lot of progress in the big picture plot. This book definitely changed that. There are a lot of exciting twists and turns throughout this novel and, as I've mentioned before, I find Carriger's writing style and world builiding delightful.

Carriger continues to focus on the girls working together to outsmart their enemies both near and far. As they get older they are worried about boys and marriage, but the focus on on their ambitions. I really like that part of this story.

The love triangle fails a bit in my opinion. Throughout the books I felt like only one of Sophronia's suitors is a serious contender. The other fell flat to me. I don't know if this was a problem with the writing and plotting or if I personally failed to see the appeal in the other character from the start. 

I highly recommend this series as a fun and fast paced read.

#AllHallowsWeek - The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey

Series: The Monstrumologist #2
Genre: Horrror
Age Group: Young Adult
Paperback - 444 pgs
Simon and Schuster 2010
Add it // Buy it 

Rating: 3/5 

While attempting to disprove that Homo vampiris, the vampire, could exist, Dr. Warthrop is asked by his former fiancé to rescue her husband from the Wendigo, a creature that starves even as it gorges itself on human flesh, and which has snatched him in the Canadian wilderness. Although Warthrop also considers the Wendigo to be fictitious, he relents and rescues her husband from death and starvation, and then sees the man transform into a Wendigo.


Can the doctor and Will Henry hunt down the ultimate predator, who, like the legendary vampire, is neither living nor dead, whose hunger for human flesh is never satisfied?

What a mixed bag! This book, unlike the first in the series, has me quite on the fence. There were parts that I really liked. For instance, the action and adventure in this installment rivals the first. We actually visit the Canadian wilderness and throughout the trek the story is quite intense. There were moments of genuine fear and anxiety while I was reading this harrowing journey. The same level of gore and violence were used, but there were fewer occurrences. I did like how the doctor was humanized in this book. There were several instances where he broke his Holmes-like persona and showed more character depth. 

However, one of the main draws for me in book one was the monster hunting. We see significantly less hunting and immensely more philosophizing in this second book. While I did enjoy this character introspective it disappointed me after spending the first half of the book in the dangerous wilderness. To me two halves of the book were warring for dominance and in the end they both lost. The wordy writing style and strange wandering tangents didn't keep my attention. 

I'm sad this book took me so long to read, but I will continue on with the series since the preview of book three promised a return of some familiar faces. 

Throwback ---> The Madman's Daughter Review 

#AllHallowsWeek - Spooktacular Bookish Fun

Happy Hauntings Readers! The time has come for All Hallows Week again! If you haven't seen my past Hallows Weeks, here are how things go down. Over the past few Octobers I've features creepy and spooky reads in the week leading up to Halloween. In October I try to add it a few extra books featuring paranormal creatures and fall vibes then recommend my favorites as well.

This year is a bit different. The idea is the same, but I've been posting everyday in October. I'm doing my best to get back into the habit of blogging since I've been fairly erratic this year. If you want to check out all my October posts, go to my Booktober tag on the blog!

Anyway I have videos and posts ready for your viewing pleasure this week and all the way up to Halloween. To kick us off today I've collected a few of my favorite post from past years here in this post.

My Ten Halloweenish/Spooky TV Episodes

Review - A Madness so Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

Autumnal Readathon TBR

After watching a few TBRs for this readathon I knew I wanted to participate! I have quite a few books on the go right now though so my goal for the week is to start a few of these. I doubt I'll actually finish them though. We shall see! See the challenges here! 

Summer and Fall Favorites

It has been a LONG while since I posted my favorites. Since it has been over six months since my last favorites, I'm going to name a few of my favorites from the summer and beginning of fall. Since it has been so long, I had a hard time choosing just one favorite!

Book Favorite: These last few months I have read some amazing books. It is really hard to choose between them. I don't know how I'll narrow it down to just a few. I don't have reviews for any of these yet because I am INCREDIBLY far behind these year on reviews. They were all fantastic though and I loved them for different reasons.

   

Audiobook Favorite: Since March I've listened to two audiobooks that really blew me out of the water. During the Tome Topple Readathon I listened to American Gods and really enjoyed the full cast version of the story. Then 

 

Blogger/Youtuber Favorite: I've been trying to expand my youtube subscription list lately. Even though I love the people I'm already subscribed to, I want to expand the books and thought I am exposed to. One of my most recent favorite people is Lia Cooper. Lia is smart and critical. She expresses her thoughts really well and she gets me excited about the books she talks about!

#FridayReads October 20, 2017

Happy Friday! This week I've been trying to fit in some creepier reads and these two have fit the bill. Darkfever is a urban fantasy focused on the fae and so far all of the fae have been horribly inhuman and twisted. It definitely falls on the darker side of urban fantasy and I'm enjoying it even though it is a little slow. Crimson Peak on the other hand is really ramping up the action as I read the end of the book. I only have two hours left in this audiobook and I'm very anxious to reach the end of the gothic thriller. Though this is a little predictable, it is very atmospheric and creepy. A young bride follows her new husband to his historic estate in England, but the home is falling apart and there is something watching her. It is delightfully creepy.

 

What are you reading this weekend?

Review - American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Series: Standalone

Genre: Urban Fantasy 

Age Group - Adult

William Morrow (first published July 2001)

Audiobook - (635pgs)

Add it // Buy it

Rating: 5/5

Locked behind bars for three years, Shadow did his time, quietly waiting for the magic day when he could return to Eagle Point, Indiana. A man no longer scared of what tomorrow might bring, all he wanted was to be with Laura, the wife he deeply loved, and start a new life. But just days before his release, Laura and Shadow's best friend are killed in an accident. With his life in pieces and nothing to keep him tethered, Shadow accepts a job from a beguiling stranger he meets on the way home, an enigmatic man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A trickster and rogue, Wednesday seems to know more about Shadow than Shadow does himself.

Life as Wednesday's bodyguard, driver, and errand boy is far more interesting and dangerous than Shadow ever imagined. It is a job that takes him on a dark and strange road trip and introduces him to a host of eccentric characters whose fates are mysteriously intertwined with his own.

Along the way, Shadow will learn that the past never dies; that everyone, including his beloved Laura, harbors secrets; and that dreams, totems, legends, and myths are more real than we know. Ultimately, he will discover that beneath the placid surface of everyday life, a storm is brewing - an epic war for the very soul of America - and that he is standing squarely in its path.

The full cast edition of this audiobook completely captured me. This book follows a lot of small threads that all come together to make an epic story, much like America is made of many people who make up the whole. It is really hard to pinpoint what this book is about. On one hand we are following Shadow as he works for Wednesday and on the other we are following a larger story about American lore and what America IS. The pace is quite slow especially at the beginning and the end. The audiobook really helped keep me invested and focused on this book. It would've been a lot harder to get through a physical copy of this story.

This book is jammed packed with mythology and history. I really enjoyed how Gaiman broke up Shadow's story with smaller chapters about how different gods arrived in America. It was a nice way to build up the narrative of the gods without someone explaining it exactly how it happened. These chapters were some of the most emotional parts of the book and the one that hit me the hardest was the story of Wututu and her brother Agasu. I listened to this section twice and cried though the whole thing.

Throughout the book I felt like I was reading this book at the right time. Even though the book was originally published in 2001, many of the struggles and storms in this book are still raging within America. There were a few moments I found predictable during, but overall I really enjoyed this book and I was blown away by the audiobook. I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did at all.

Hopefully, I'll be watching the TV series at some point in the near future. I'd really like to see how certain sections are interpreted. 

My Last Review --> Magic Dreams and Magic Steals Review 

T5W - Shapeshifters/Werewolves

This week I was really excited to participate in Top Five Wednesday. Paranormal creatures are some of my favorite parts of books. Two of my favorite genres are urban fantasy and paranormal so I had a hard time narrowing this down to just five books. I did use a loose definition of shapeshifter for this Top Five Wednesday, but they are all shifters of some kind.

Magic Dreams and Magic Steals Combo Review

Series: Kate Daniels Series 4.5 & 6.5 

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Age Group: Adult

Ebooks 

Published: 2012/2016

MD Addit // Buy it

MS: Add it / Buy it 

MD Rating: 4/5

MS Rating: 4.5/5

Alpha Pack leader Jim Shrapshire has always been the strong, silent type. But something has come over him--a magic force currently residing in one of the Pack's headquarters. Were-tigress Dali Harimau has always wished she could get Jim's attention--but now he needs her help. 

Stricken with a magic-sickness, Jim needs Dali's flair for magic. And to save him, she must challenge a powerful, dark being to a battle of wits. 

These are two very fun novellas that I picked up because I need Andrews' writing in my life and I need a taste of the Kate Daniels world while I wait for Magic Triumphs. Dali is quite the opposite of Kate in many ways and it was really interesting to see the world from a different perspective. 

Dali's magic is another awesome element to these stories and her self-depreciating humor really amused me. Not only is she funny, she doesn't take any crap either. She knows her magic, even if it doesn't always work for her, and she doesn't let anyone tell her otherwise. Even so, she has her human moments, like when her mom embarrasses her or she worries Jim doesn't like her, which made me love her even more. 

Can we have more Jim and Dali screen time? These two are fantastic and a little less toxic than Kate and Curran. (and by a little I mean they aren't toxic at all) I loved their slow burn romance and I want to see more of their adventures together.

My Last Review ---> Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

Review - Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

Series: Mercy Thompson #4
Age Group: Adults
Genre: Paranormal
Published: February 2009 (Ace Books)
Hardcover - 309 pgs
Add it // Buyt it

By day, Mercy is a car mechanic in the sprawling Tri-Cities of Eastern Washington. By night, she explores her perternatural side. As a shapeshifter with some unique talents, Mercy has often found herself having to maintain a tenuous harmony between the human and the not so human. This time she may get more than she bargained for.


Marsilia, the local Vampire Queen, has learned that Mercy crossed her by slaying a member of her clan - and she's out for blood. But since Mercy is protected from direct reprisal by the werewolf pack (and her close relationship with its sexy Alpha), it won't be Mercy's blood Marsilia is after.

At the end of Iron Kissed I was convinced and disappointed Briggs was going to gloss over any further repercussion from the events of that book. Instead, Mercy continues to struggle with what happened which was realistic and I liked that Briggs took the time to address it. Mercy continues to develop as a character and the entire cast of characters finally feels fleshed out and full of personality.

Bone Crossed is mostly a bridge book. Mercy needed time to recover, like I mentioned before, and Briggs needed to fill in some holes she had left open during the first few books. The book did its job though the plot of this installment was a little bland for me. Most of the details have already escaped my brain. The romance in this series is starting to take a larger role as well, but it is nicely balanced and everyone had issues to work through.

There is a distinct lack of women in this series though. Mercy doesn't have many close female relationships and she is combative with most of the women in her circle. I'd like this to change, there are some promising signs, in the future. Even though most werewolves are men, it would be nice to see Mercy have some female relationships.

My Last Review ----> The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher 

End of Year Book Tag

The lovely Ariel Basset created a really fun tag for the transition to the end of 2017. I had a lot of fun answering these questions and I had a chance to wear my favorite romper one more time since the weather has been warm here in the Northeast. I hope you will check out Ariel's cool original video after you listen to my answers.

My Used Book Shopping List

This post is shamelessly stolen from TrishaJennReads. Her blog is gorgeous and full of fun context so I recommend you also check out her original post as well. 

I adore shopping in a used book store or browsing a used book sale. There are always books you are hoping to find, but it rarely works out that way. Most of the time when I browse the sales, I find something I've never heard of rather than something I am looking for. However, there are a few titles I keep my eyes peeled for when I browse a book sale. 

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Outlander Hardcovers

Tamora Pierce Books of Any Variety

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

Austenland by Shannon Hale

September Real Time Book Haul

September was a weird month for me. I've had some weird health issues going on and it has made me lethargic. Even though this haul idea didn't work the way I wanted it to, I think I will try it again in the future. What did you pick up in September?

Review - Code by Brendan Reichs and Kathy Reichs

Series: Virals #3

Genre: Science-Fiction

Age Group: Young Adult

Published: Young Arrow (2013)

Paperback - 408 pg

Add it // Buy it

Rating: 4/5

The Virals are put to the ultimate test when they find a geocache containing an ornate puzzle box. Shelton decodes the cipher inside, only to find more tantalizing clues left by "The Gamemaster." A second, greater geocache is within reach—if the Virals are up to the challenge.

But the hunt takes a dark turn when Tory locates the other box—a fake bomb, along with a sinister proposal from The Gamemaster. Now, the real game has begun: another bomb is out there—a real one—and the clock is ticking. 

After a very long break between books, I've finally picked up the third book in this series. I forgot how much I love this group of intelligent and quick thinking kids. At times this is a mix of Scooby-Doo and the Temperance Brennan novels which is a lot of fun to read. This particular book features a serial killer, which as a crime show fan I approve of, and the kids need to beat him at his own game.

Just like the other novels in this series, the story starts off a little slowly, but events start to pile up as the book continues. By the second half it was hard for me to put this book down because I need to know what will happen next! 

Tory's strong personality and her independence are both qualities I admire in her, but I wish Reichs balanced the characters a little more. At times Tory's take-charge attitude was a little overwhelming and the other three characters get overshadowed.  I really enjoyed how Reichs has written this group. All of the characters read as teens and have teen problems even though they are incredible smart and inventive. They worry about high school bullies and curfew while they try to defeat a killer. 

Though the pack does some pretty unbelievable things with their enhanced abilities, I had the hardest time believing their break ins at the lab. After the events in book two, Tory mentions a lot of increased security measures. I don't believe the kids could skip through these so easily. This part of the story really bothered me especially since it happened multiple times throughout the book. 

September Wrap Up

In September I read quite a few books. During the month I felt like I was really struggling to read even though I read a lot of good books. Hopefully I won't struggle quite as much in October. Check out my wrap up to see exactly what I read last month!

Top Ten Books With Fall/Autumn Covers

Once again we have come around to Top Ten Tuesday. This week I've chosen my favorite orange, red, yellow and brown covers. Some of these are my favorite books of all time. I wonder if there is any further correlation between my favorite season's colors and my favorite books.

    

    

Review - The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

Genre: Autobiography 

Age Group: Adults

Published - November (2016)

Audiobook - 5 hours 10 minutes

Add it // Buy it

Rating: 4/5

When Carrie Fisher recently discovered the journals she kept during the filming of the first Star Wars movie, she was astonished to see what they had preserved—plaintive love poems, unbridled musings with youthful naiveté, and a vulnerability that she barely recognized. Today, her fame as an author, actress, and pop-culture icon is indisputable, but in 1977, Carrie Fisher was just a (sort-of) regular teenager. 

With these excerpts from her handwritten notebooks, The Princess Diarist is Fisher’s intimate and revealing recollection of what happened on one of the most famous film sets of all time—and what developed behind the scenes. And today, as she reprises her most iconic role for the latest Star Wars trilogy, Fisher also ponders the joys and insanity of celebrity, and the absurdity of a life spawned by Hollywood royalty, only to be surpassed by her own outer-space royalty. 

Listening to this audiobook was incredibly emotional for me which I did not expect going in. The memoir itself is very interesting and full of anecdotes about Fisher's time on set before, during, and after she was cast in the Star Wars flims. She also covers her affair with Harrison Ford and her experience/struggle being Leia since the film's production. Because the audiobook is read by the author, her inflection made the writing a lot easier to understand. I can imagine some of the stories would not come across as well in text as they did when Carrie Fisher told them. 

Even though the book was incredibly funny, Fisher touches on many dark points in her life as well. Her struggles with drugs, alcohol, anxiety, and growing up in Hollywood are all a part of this story and she reflects on most of it with humor. However, these sections were difficult to listen to knowing Fisher (and her mother who she mentions often in this book) has since passed away. As I mentioned at the beginning this was incredibly emotional and I cried a few times as I listened to it.

Carrie Fisher's daughter. Billie Lourd, reads the journal entries from which this book sprang into life which was rather haunting. I'll admit it put me in strange head space and I was completely submerged in this book when I was listening to it. It was a strange experience listening to Fisher relate her personal life in her own voice six months after her death. Even so I would highly recommend the audiobook and I will be reading more of Fisher's books in the future. 

Updates, Birthday Haul, & Currently Reading

I know I haven't updated you on any of the books I read or purchased last month. Don't worry that is coming soon. However, I'm really excited about the books I'm reading right now and all the books I picked up for my birthday so I skipped ahead a little bit.

This month I'm trying to do the #30daybookbinge again which is hosted by Misty at The Book Rat as well so there are some updates about my plans for that. Let me know what you are currently reading!

Top Five Things That Will Make Me Instantly Want To Read A Book

Out of all the book recommendations I see and hear on a daily basis, how do I pick which ones to purchase.

1) If Sam (Sam's Nonsense), Sam (Thoughts on Tomes), Lia (Lia Cooper) or Misty (The Book Rat) recommend a book- These four ladies combined make up the majority of my book that I pick up based on recommendations. They are superb at what they do and it is rare that I dislike something they recommend. Their reviews are fantastic and I love their other content too. Check them out.

2) Covers - There are a lot of different things that attract me to a cover. There are a few examples here, but this could be its own post or video so I'll let you take a look at these.

     

How do you say no? 

3) The words Fairytale, Jane Austen or Myth in conjunction with retelling or reimagining: Honestly I can never have enough retellings on hand. They are usually easy to fly through so I can fly through them if I'm in a good reading mood and they break me out of a reading slump if I am having trouble finding something I want to read. I tend to keep an eye on the Kindle Deals and Book Bub for steals to keep my ereader well stocked.

4) If Tamora Pierce or Garth Nix Wrote it - I could include other authors and make this a list, but these two publish books less often than most main stream authors. Because of this, I tend to be on alert for their books and instantly want them.

5) An Original Concept- While #3 on this list tells you I like tropes, if something sounds interesting and new I definitely want to give it a shot. Books with diverse casts and a fresh take on some of my favorite tropes grab my attention as well. In this world of redundant/recycled plot lines anything that seems new is worth a second look.

What grabs your attention about a book? What makes you want pick up one book over another?

September Real Time Book Haul (2017)

This month I tried something a little different with my haul video. Even though it didn't work out quite like I planned, I think it was fun and I may try it again in the future. What books did you pick up this month?

Review - Prince's Gambit by C.S Pacat

Series: Captive Prince #2

Genre: Fantasy M/M Romance

Age Group: Adult 

Paperback: 404 pgs

Published: Berkley (2015)

Add it // Buy it

Rating: 4/5

With their countries on the brink of war, Damen and his new master Prince Laurent must exchange the intrigues of the palace for the sweeping might of the battlefield as they travel to the border to avert a lethal plot.

Forced to hide his identity, Damen finds himself increasingly drawn to the dangerous, charismatic Laurent. But as the fledgling trust between the two men deepens, the truth of secrets from both their pasts is poised to deal them the crowning death blow . . .

I don't know where to start.

After being captivated but also a little taken aback by Captive Prince, I was very interested to see where this book would go. However, the amount of violence in book one shocked me and I wasn't sure this series would be for me. This book resolved my hesitation.

Pacat shifts the battle in book two. Instead of a battle of court politics, there are more actual battles and political strategy in this book. Daemon and Laurent are incredibly smart individually and when they work together it is awesome to watch. While I know the sexual tension was the focus of this book, I was confused by some of the action sequences. The different allies, countries and other groups I was getting mixed up. I think we needed just a little more context or explanation for these.

The tension between Daemon and Laurent in this book is an impossible slow burn that had me ready to tear my hair out. It is as delicious as it is frustrating to read. I really enjoyed how slowly this story turned Laurent's character over and it wouldn't have been believable any other way. Obviously there are still issues with Laurent and he can still be a horrible person and did horrible things, but watching him redeem parts of his character is interesting and I'm interested to see where that part of the story goes. 

Finally Fall Book Tag

The Fall weather finally arrived here this weekend in the Northeast as I type this and I'm hoping it is here to stay. We've had too many days in September above 80 and I'm ready for the sweater weather. To celebrate I've been watching quite a few fall tags so expect to see some in the coming weeks from me!

Review - The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie

Series: The Abyss Surrounds Us #1

Genre: Science-Fiction

Age Group: New Adult

Paperback - 273pages

Publisher - Flux (2016)

Add it // Buy it 

*Kindle $1.99 right now!*

Rating: 4/5

For Cassandra Leung, bossing around sea monsters is just the family business. She’s been a Reckoner trainer-in-training ever since she could walk, raising the genetically-engineered beasts to defend ships as they cross the pirate-infested NeoPacific. But when the pirate queen Santa Elena swoops in on Cas’s first solo mission and snatches her from the bloodstained decks, Cas’s dream of being a full-time trainer seems dead in the water. 

There’s no time to mourn. Waiting for her on the pirate ship is an unhatched Reckoner pup. Santa Elena wants to take back the seas with a monster of her own, and she needs a proper trainer to do it. She orders Cas to raise the pup, make sure he imprints on her ship, and, when the time comes, teach him to fight for the pirates. If Cas fails, her blood will be the next to paint the sea.

When I put this in my bag to take along to the beach earlier this summer, I didn't even think about it being atmospheric. As I read it next to the water and heard crashing waves in the background, I couldn't put this book down. I absolutely devoured this story like a Reckoner pup would devour a barrel of fish. Things start out with a bang and Cas's world is rocked right from the start.  Because this book is rather short, jumping right into the action worked really well.

Even when the fighting stops, this book was impossible to put down. The author does a great job of making Cas's position more and more precarious and making the reader feel that tension throughout the book. For a debut I think storytelling is incredibly effective. The world is extremely interesting and, though there are a few info-dumps, the world is well thought out and feels complete.

The characters are fantastic. I really enjoyed both of the main leads. Cas and Swift are developed independently of one another and as their worlds collide they explore and talk about how complicated their feelings and their situation is. I cannot speak to the representation in this novel, but I really enjoyed this romance and the two characters. I have a weakness for the friends to lovers trope and this book really hit me in the feels.

Though I have heard mixed things about the next book in this duology, I cannot wait to check it out for myself and see where Cas is headed. 

 

Source

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Book Boyfriend/Girlfriends

This week on Top Ten Tuesday we need to pick out our top ten book boyfriends and girlfriends. I adore all of these characters and have crushed on all of them at some point very seriously. Who is your biggest book crush?

1) George Cooper (Song of the Universe Series by Tamora Pierce) - George was my earliest inclination of a book boyfriend. I still remain a dedicated Geroge fan all these years later.

2) Captain Frederick Wentworth (Persuasion by Jane Austen) -

3) Daemon Black (Lux Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout) - I swoon over all of Armentrout's main male character, but I swoon over Daemon most of all.

4) Blue Sargent (The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater) - While I couldn't choose just one of the boys from the Raven Gang, I can choose Blue. I kind of have a book crush on all of the characters in this friend group though.

5) Touchstone (The Abhorsen Series by Garth Nix) - Ever since my first read through of this series, I have been in love with this man. He and Sabriel make a killer team!

6) Cassandra and/or Swift (The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie) - Both of these ladies are totally crush worthy. For some read Swift looks like Kate Mckinnon in my head so that definitely helps.

7) Percy Jackson (The Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan) - I grew up with Percy so I've always had a bit of a crush on this kid. He is just too sweet.

8) Cam Hamilton (Wait for You by J. Lynn) - Again, I love Armentrout's love interests. Cam is so sweet and I adore him

9) Nikolai Lantsov (Shadow and Bone Series by Leigh Bardugo) - KING OF SCARS!! We are getting more Nickolai. I cannot wait!

10) Soap (The Finishing School Series by Gail Carriger) - I just finished this series this past week and it was so emotional. I will always be #TeamSoap

I could name about a dozen more like Kate Daniels, Will Herondale (of course), and Jamie Fraser just to name a few honorable mentions. Well, they aren't really honorable mentions. I just wanted to mention a few characters that aren't going to be mentioned as often.

   

My Last Top 10 Tuesday---> Top Ten Books on My Fall TBR