Waiting on Wednesday (January 31st)

   

This year there are so many books being released and, while I'm trying to be selective about my purchases, I'm excited to pick up so many of them. This week I'm featuring a book by one of my auto-buy authors and one of my favorite authors of all time. Tamora Pierce!

Expected Release: February 6th

Arram Draper is a boy on the path to becoming one of the realm’s most powerful mages. The youngest student in his class at the Imperial University of Carthak, he has a Gift with unlimited potential for greatness–and for attracting danger. At his side are his two best friends: Varice, a clever girl with an often-overlooked talent, and Ozorne, the “leftover prince” with secret ambitions. Together, these three friends forge a bond that will one day shape kingdoms. And as Ozorne gets closer to the throne and Varice gets closer to Arram’s heart, Arram begins to realize that one day soon he will have to decide where his loyalties truly lie.

In the Numair Chronicles, readers will be rewarded with the never-before-told story of how Numair Salmalín came to Tortall. Newcomers will discover an unforgettable fantasy adventure where a kingdom’s future rests on the shoulders of a talented young man with a knack for making vicious enemies.

While I'm really excited for a new Tamora Pierce title, I'm nervous about how this story will play out. In some ways we already know what happens at the end of this series. I hope it is still exciting and interesting. Maybe I'm just partial to Alanna and want to follow her even more. Or give me another Tris book. I'm not 100% sure about this Arram Draper book. Let me know what you think about this upcoming Pierce Series? What books of her's are your favorites?

Top Ten Tuesday - 10 Book I Can't Believe I Haven't Read Yet

This week's Top Ten Tuesday is actually Books I Can’t Believe I Read but I twisted it. This week I wanted to look at some books that I wish had read but they are still on my TBR. Let me know which ones of these I need to read first. I am so excited about them. I just haven't done it!

   

   

 

My Last 

Library Haul (5)

It has been a long long time since I uploaded a library haul. I'm really excited about this group of books and, even though I reserved a few of these, I spent a long time browsing my library when I picked them up. So often I forget to just browse and explore my library so I had a lot of fun during my last visit.

Review - The Will of the Empress by Tamora Pierce

Series: Standalone

Genre: Historical Romance

Age Group: Adult

Audiobook / Hardcover 550pgs

Scholastic (2005)

Add it // Buy it

For years the Empress of Namorn has pressed her young cousin, Lady Sandrilene fa Toren, to visit her vast lands within the Empire's borders. Sandry has avoided the invitation for as long as it was possible. Now, listening to her guilty conscience, Sandry has agreed to pay that overdue visit.

Sandry's uncle promises guards to accompany her. But they're hardly a group of warriors! They're her old friends from Winding Circle: Daja, Tris, and Briar. Sandry hardly knows them now. They've grown up and grown apart. Sandry isn't sure they'll ever find their old connection again - or if she even wants them to.

When they arrive at the palace, it slowly dawns on Sandry why the Empress has really brought her to Namorn. She's set a cunning trap to keep Sandry in the brutal Empire forever, a simpering lady in her cousin's court and the miserable wife of a noble.

The Empress has wily and powerful mages on her side. But so, of course, does Sandry...if she can get them to work together.

Rating: 5/5

After trying to read this book for years, the audiobook finally helped me break through the 100 page hurdle. This full cast production really brought the story to life and helped me enjoy this story a lot. While I have always adored Pierce's books. However, the Emelan books have always been second place to the Tortall books. For me, this book was a step towards evening those two series out.

The character growth from the final book in the last series through this book is quite spectacular. The four mages are now young adults and they are reunited for the first time in several years. Since there are books following these years, the reader knows some of the events that have shaped the main characters. Even so, the characters have aged and need to relearn how to communicate with their friends again. This is such a relatable struggle even without magic to get in the way. I loved the slow growth and the ways the characters reconnected throughout this story. Each one has a personal failing or fear they are afraid the others will judge them for and watching this little family grow back together was beautiful.

The political challenges and court politics were another intriguing part of this story. Not only do our four characters need to face each other they need to take on the court of a foreign country. Pierce takes on gender roles and class conflicts in this particular story. She has always challenged stereotypes and I loved that she included more diversity in this story as well.  It is all really well done, well paced and incredible complex

After struggling to start this book, I'm so glad I stuck with it. I've heard some mixed things about the next two books in this series, but I hope they will be just as mature as this one. Pierce also has another series being released in 2018 so I'm excited to read even more from one of my favorite authors.

My Last Review- Alone with Mr. Darcy 

T5W - Books I Didn't Like BUT I Like to Discuss

There are books that are disappointing. There are books that are just not good. Sometimes, though a book doesn't deserve a five-star rating or a place on my top ten books of the year, I want to talk about it. I want to discuss the plot points and why it wasn't a winner. Sometimes those books are the most fun to talk about and add the most to my discussions with other readers.

Top Ten Tuesday - Books I Really Liked but Can’t Remember Anything/Much About

1) Virals and Seizure by Kathy Reichs and Brendan Reichs - Somehow it has been several (I think around 3-4) years since I read these two books. This year I finally read the third book in the series so I remember a lot about that installment. The first two have just completely left my brain and they seem pretty important for book four so I feel like that might be a problem.

2) Feast of Crows by George RR Martin - I enjoyed this, but the details have totally escapsed me. I should probably jump into the next book before I forget the large plot points I remember.

3) The Hangman's Daughter by Oliver Pötzsch - Even though I am hanging on to the sequels of this book, I don't remember anything about this title. It has been six years since I read this book. SIX YEARS?

4) Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst- I remember the outcome, but I have no idea how we got there.

5) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - Please self. Reread this book in 2018.

    

6) The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas - I love this series but before I finish it off, I NEED to reread the first two books. Everything has left my brain. 

7) Storm by Brigid Kemmerer - The other four books I remember. This one? Not so much. 

8) Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta - I inhale read this book and I don't remember anything. Everything is gone! Even after reading a recap, nothing has sparked. 

9) The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson - Ughhhh why didn't I continue on with this series when I first read it? 

10) The Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake - I hope I can read book two even though most of the details have left me. Though I've heard it is easy to pick up where you left off in book one. 

    

Reading Vlog - Jan 15th - 20th

This week I wanted to push myself to make time for reading since I had been failing to do so for a few weeks. I also wanted to try my hand at doing a weekly reading vlog. This week wasn't very exciting in my life so I may try this again when I have more going on, but I had a lot of fun reading and filming my thoughts to tell you today!

Let me know what you're reading this week and what you think of reading vlogs. Should I try this again in the future? 

Review - Alone with Mr. Darcy by Abigail Reynolds

Series: Standalone

Genre: Historical Romance

Age Group: Adult

White Soup Press (2015)

Ebook - 370 pgs

Add it // Buy it

Elizabeth Bennet can’t imagine anything worse than being stranded by a blizzard in a tiny cottage with proud and unpleasant Mr. Darcy. But being trapped there for days – and nights - with an injured and confused Mr. Darcy who keeps saying the oddest things about her is even worse. At least he possesses the useful ability of lighting a fire to keep them from freezing to death. But when he puts his arms around her, she discovers the hearth isn't the only place he knows how to build a fire. And the little half-frozen kitten he finds in a woodpile isn't proving to be much of a chaperone. 

She doesn’t really believe his promises to marry her if anyone finds out they spent two nights alone together, especially after learning he was betrayed by another woman in the past. When her worst fears are realized and her reputation is in tatters, she isn’t surprised to discover Mr. Darcy has vanished into thin air, leaving her no choice but to find a husband as soon as possible before her whole family is ruined. Any husband will have to do, no matter how much she dislikes him. Even if she can’t stop thinking of Mr. Darcy…

Rating: 4/5

Even though it has been a while since I read this retelling, I still remember enjoying it quite a bit. Normally these escape my brain rather quickly so that is just one of the many points in its favor.

There was a lot to like in this book including the amazing characterization. Like many of Abigail Reynold’s retellings the characters felt authentic and acted like their counterparts in the original novels. Personally, I really enjoy when a Pride and Prejudice retelling is filled with tropes and is a little predictable. I read these to relax and to simply enjoy different situations where Darcy and Lizzy meet. This was one of my favorites that I’ve come across in years as far as the love story is concerned. It is predictable in many of the Lizzy/Darcy interactions, but there are surprises in other aspects of the novel. Some of the other characters are very different than they are in the original novel. This was an interesting twist on the story and created a myriad of issues for Lizzie and Darcy.

There were some things that didn’t work as well. The circumstances of how Lizzie and Darcy end up in the cabin alone were rather rushed. Also there were two things plot points that bothered me. There was a rather callous dismissal of a rape victim and a mental health condition (PTSD) is glossed over for the most part. I understand these were both written in a historical sense, but I thought it could have been handled better.

Overall this is one of my favorite Reynolds retellings even though it had issues. I can’t wait for more Reynolds retellings. She just has a nack for it.

My Last Review - Batman Comics Vol. 1-4

Traveling Bookshelf Tag

This week I wanted to finally get around to doing a tag I was tagged in at the end of 2017. This tag was created by Julie at HomeWithMyBookshelf and she tagged me in her original video.

Books about places you would like to visit

Books about times you would like to visit

Books bought on holiday

Books set half a world away - in a very different place or culture from yours

Travel out of this world - a sci-fi, fantasy or alternate universe that you’d like to visit

Coming back home - a book set in your town, state or country

Top Ten Tuesday - Resolutions & Goals for 2018

Every year I make a video about my goals from last year and the goals I hope to accomplish in the new year. That video is here and I've also done a New Years Book Tag about goals if you want to check those out. A lot of these are covered in those videos, but not all of them! Even so, I love to keep reminding myself of my goals and plans during January. It helps me stay focused for longer and not fail spectacularly in the first few weeks.

1)            Read 100 Books

2)            Read 40,000 pages

3)            Start 15 Series

4)            Finish 15 Series

5)            Reduce TBR Shelf to 150 books or less

6)            Listen to 15 audiobooks

7)            Post twice a week on the blog

A few that aren’t set in stone but I hope happen

8)            Reread The Mortal Instruments Series

9)            Reread the Kate Daniels Series

10)    Read the five oldest books on my TBR

Top Ten Tuesday has moved from our beloved Broke and the Bookish to a new home on That Artsy Reader Girl. I'm really excited for the upcoming topics. If you haven't participated before, here's another excuse to join the fun!

Read Series from 2017 and Plans for 2018

Though I have failed to fill out my reading statistic sheet through the end of the year, I do have some information gathered together. Today I wanted to talk about the series I started and finished last year as well as some books I want to start in 2018.

Review - Batman (DC Rebirth) Vols 1-4 by Tom King

  

 

Series: Batman Vol III

Genre: Superhero Comics

Age Group: Adult

Source: Library 

Ebook -  ~200pgs per volume 

DC Comics (2017)

The Caped Crusader has never been stopped. Not by the Joker. Not by Two-Face. Not even by the entire Justice League. But now, in the wake of DC Universe: Rebirth, Batman must face his most challenging foe ever: a hero who wants to save Gotham...from the Batman! 

Ratings:

Vol. 1 - I am Gotham - 3/5 

Batman - Night of the Monster Men - 3/5

Vol. 2 - I am Suicide - 3/5

Vol. 3 - I am Bane - 4/5

Vol. 4 - War of Jokes and Riddle - 4.5/5

Normally I stay away from Batman comics. They tend to be a little too depressing for me. Batman isn’t my favorite comic hero either. This series was really interesting though and I really liked the arcs we followed through the four volumes I read. The over arching story is a little slow to start but each volume grew in my opinion.

Specifically the third and fourth volumes, I am Bane  and The War of Jokes and Riddles were well developed. Like I mentioned I don’t enjoy the really depressing Batman comics so I liked how these comics walked the line between tortured and soul-sucking. That might sound like a bad thing but I really liked where this story fell on that spectrum. Batman himself is tortured, but the story is exciting and interesting.

The art style wasn’t anything to write home about, but it wasn’t bad. I enjoyed these volumes overall (Especially volume four. That one stood out.) and I’ll continue to follow this series as it goes forward.

My Last Review ---> Cooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Goals: The Wrap Up and the Plan Going Forward

Have you broken any of your New Year's Resolutions yet? I'm sure I have by this point. All those thoughts I had on New Year's Eve about exercising everyday and eating healthy probably went right out the window. My bookish goals however usually are the one I stick to. Here's hoping that remains true in 2018. What are your reading plans for the new year? What are your big reading goals this year.

I'm trying not to set up lists of books I want to read this year. I'm hoping to just read as many of my unread books as possible. Too often I try to make lists of books I promise to read in a month or a year and I never do it. I'm too much of a mood reader. Anyone else have this problem?

Let's start the new year right and just keep reading.

Top Ten Tuesday - Books I Meant to Read in 2017 But Didn't Get to

Happy Top Ten Tuesday! Every year there are books I wish I had read or made resolutions to read and I never picked up. These are just a few of the ones I wish I had read last year. I'm not going to make a resolution about these because that just never seems to work. So I'm just going to say I hope I'll read these this year or at least a few of them!

  

  

  

My Last Top Ten Tuesday ---> Ten New To Me Author of 2017

Bout of Books TBR - Round 21

An amazing start to the year is to participate in the Bout of Books Readathon. This is one of my favorite readathons and it is very very low key. The participants and hosts are so kind and encouraging. If you want to start the year off right, try this out. The only goal is to read more than you normally would. There are no challenges or extra expectations for this one. Just read and have fun.

Check out what I'm hoping to read this week here:

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Series: Six of Crows #2 (Final)

Genre: Fantasy

Age Group: Young Adult

Source: Purchased

Hardcover: 546 pgs

Henry Holt & Co (2016) 

Add it // Buy it

When you can't beat the odds, change the game.

Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.

Rating: 5/5

Here we go. Welcome to 2018!

It has been a long time since I sat down to write one of these. I need to reach all the way back to the end of the summer to find the start of a very long list of books I failed to write down my thoughts for. Crooked Kingdom is something I really regret not writing up when I first finished it. I remember being in complete awe of the book and being so absorbed in the book it was hard to start my next read.

The character continued to be my favorite part of this duology. The arcs and journeys each character went on in this story were beautifully crafted and shaped. Even though we had a lot of different voices, each one stood out for me. Not only were the voices distinct, Bardugo did a great job using character POV to hide information from the reader. At times I wished there were fewer jumps between characters. So much was going on I wanted resolution to one problem before we were thrown into even more trouble. This strategy created a lot of tension and stress though which made me keep reading. I needed to know what was going to happen to this crew. They needed to make it out ok. I have so many feelings about this book it is hard to put into words. I was deeply attached to this cast. The pacing Is very fast and made it difficult to put this down for any length of time.

As so many people have mentioned, the diversity in this story is fantastic. We have multiple people of color on the page, there are characters with physical and learning disabilities and a character fighting a drug addiction. Multiple characters have survived trauma and struggle with that. Though I cannot say if the representation is accurate, the amount of diversity on the page is great.

After seeing how Bardugo snuck in a few favorite characters, I imagine we will see some of these again in the future. I cannot wait to see what happens in the Grisha world.

My Last Review :  Crimson Peak by Nancy Holder

My Best Reads of 2017

It is incredible we've finished another year and I've read another 100 books. This year I read about 100 novels and around 45 graphic novels/issues/mangas. I've really enjoyed the books I picked up this year and it was hard to pick out just a few to mention. In the end though there are always a few that stand out from the rest. Let me know what your favorite books from 2017 were!

Top Ten Tuesday - New to Me Authors from 2017

Welcome to the New Year! Happy 2018! Here I am back again and trying to get back in the habit of posting on here. Today I have a Top Ten Tuesday from The Broke and the Bookish. I read a lot of new authors in 2017 and so many of them were amazing. I can't wait to see who I'll discover in 2018 but I hope I can read more from these favorites as well.

1) Patricia Briggs - This year I started several series in the paranormal romance genre. Of all the ones I started this year, Briggs easily took the top spots with her two werewolf focused series. I loved the Mercy Thompson Series and I am also excited to read the next installment in the Alpha & Omega Series.

2) Ron Chernow - This year I finally sat down and finished the biography the musical Hamilton was based on. It was fantastic. I can't wait to read more of the biographies Chernow has written this year as I'm hoping to reading more biographies generally this year.

3) Kelly Barnhill- One of my favorite books of 2017 was The Girl Who Drank the Moon and, though I don't reach for middle grade books very often, I would really like to read more of her books.

4) Mackenzie Lee - Lee's debut novel This Monstrous Thing has been in my cart so many times and I finally read something from her this year. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue made me want to read her other works even more plus I can't wait to read her book based on her twitter feature Bygone Badass Broads.

5) Erika Johansen - Last year I read the first two volumes of the Queen of the Tearling Serie and I loved them. Johansen's approach to fantasy is really interesting and I like all the twists and turns she took me on last year.

6) Yaa Gyasi - Homegoing was incredible. I can't wait to read more from Gyasi, but so far there isn't anything new from her on Goodreads. Here's hoping there may be soon!

7) KJ Charles - I read so many KJ Charles novels, novellas and series last year. I can't wait to devour the rest of her collection in 2018.

8) CS Pacat - Another awesome find this year. Pacat's Captive Prince trilogy took me completely off guard and I hope I can explore more from her soon.

9) Emily Skrutskie - I can't wait to finish off this duology and hopefully I'll get my hands on the second book soon.

10) Carrie Fisher - I've heard amazing things about Fisher's autobiographies over the years. I finally tried one this year and I'm hoping to read more next year. Reading her works have made me sad, knowing she has passed away, but the audiobooks are quite good.

My Last Top Ten Tuesday --->  10 Books I Hope Santa Considers