This past week I’ve consumed a lot of things which is unusual for me. I’m normally a one media at a time type girl. I also tend to get overwhelmed by my choices on Netflix or my bookshelf or on Spotify. So I end up revisiting an old favorite. This week it was all new stuff! I really enjoyed these new things so I thought I would share them with you too!
Book Pick: A Curse So Dark and Lonely
This week I bought and read this book. It captured my attention a way that books haven't for a while and I really enjoyed it. It is fantasy with a heroine who really learns and adapts with her surrounding. She doesn't take crap from the hero either. Though I think Kemmerer falls into the "I'm not like other girls trope" at times, I really
Music: Six: The Musical
Someone I follow on twitter, Rachel Strolle, recommended this to her followers and I immediately had to check it out. This is a musical about the Six ex-wives of Henry VIII. I have been fascinated by these women for most of my life and how Henry's decisions changed English history. The music is fantastic and the cast was quite diverse. I love this album.
Movie/TV Pick: The Dragon Prince
On a snow day in the middle of the week I turned on this animated adventure story hoping for a light and fluffy story. This wasn't exactly that. The tone reminded me a lot of Avatar the Last Airbender and, even though it wasn't what I expected, I really enjoyed it. The characters are all coming from different places, but I enjoyed the themes of wanting something different for the future. Overall, this was grand and I want to watch more. Luckily there is a season two!
When I saw this tag, I was really excited. I use multiple planners and notebooks to stay organized and had a ton of fun doing this tag. The questions were clever and original. I forgot how much I enjoy tag videos.
After
a wild youth, Nicholas Haddonfield, Viscount Reston, has promised his ailing
father he'll finally take a bride, though doing so will force Nick to make
impossible choices and face old, painful wounds.
Leah
Lindsey is glad to find refuge from her own desperate situation in a marriage
of convenience with the gallant viscount. But soon convenience is not enough,
and Leah can't understand why Nick remains so distant. What is he hiding, and
will he ever allow her into his heart?
After
reading Darius I was both intrigued by his sister’s mysterious situation and
the hints left to us in the first book about her romance. So I was interested
enough to pick this book up immediately.
Unfortunately
while I think Burrowes does a good job with chemistry and setting again, her
some of her plots are frustrating to me. This book is one of those that has too
many strange secrets to make it seem real. Leah has a legitimate secret.
Nicholas meanwhile has some hang ups about marriage that just don’t add up when
inspected closely.
The
story dragged in the middle while these two failed to talk to one another. To
me, this amount of miscommunication and non-communication was almost
infuriating. Our main couples doesn’t talk to one another, Nicholas and his
brother have a decades long misunderstanding and Nicholas is also misinformed
about parts of his childhood. This was just too much for me. Use another plot
device!
Overall,
while I liked our characters, the plot was not impressive. After a promising
start, this series took a serious dip in my opinion.
Unlike last month I acquired a few books and spent some time in book shop. I am excited for each of these books and was so enthusiastic I actually already read one of them already!
Books Mentioned:
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Caliban's War by James S.A. Corey
A Curse So Dark in Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
It is always lovely to shine the spot light on books that don't get as much attention. This week the topic is all about those books! These are books I loved, but have less than 2000 ratings on Goodreads. As always visit That Artsy Reader Girl for more Top Ten Tuesday topics and a list of who is participating. 1) The Secret Casebooks of Simon Feximal by KJ Charles (1799 Ratings on GR) - This set of short snapshots about a gay couple in a paranormal Victorian England will rip your heart out. If you can handle violence, this is an excellent hidden gem. 2) Romancing the Werewolf by Gail Carriger (1984 Ratings on GR) - If you read Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate Series and wondered what happened to a certain Beta and a certain newly turned werewolf, this is for you! I loved reading this one. 3) Tortall: A Spy's Guide by Tamora Pierce (1690 Ratings on GR) - Honestly, I found this a joy to examine. I love Tamora Pierce's Tortall world and this is an interesting look into moments we as readers have missed. George's spy book is revealed to the reader. 4) Making Sense of the Troubles: The Story of the Conflict in Northern Ireland by David McKittrick, David McVea (820 Ratings on GR) - 5) An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors by Curtis Craddock (814 Ratings on GR)- 6) Read Bottom Up by Neel Shah, Skye Chatham (1917 Ratings on GR) 7) Rebel Magisters by Shanna Swenson (606 Ratings on GR)- THIS IS BOOK TWO. Even so, this entire series is underrated but also amazing. I adore it and cannot wait for more! 8) Reindeer Boy by Cassandra Jean (491 Ratings on GR) - This is very Christmas appropriate and I'm very surprised more people haven't found it since Cassandra Jean does a lot of the art for Cassie Clare and her books. 9) Captain Marvel, Vol. 1: Rise of Alpha Flight by Michele Fazekas (1142 Ratings on GR) - I really enjoyed this Captain Marvel graphic novel and had fun reading it. I can't wait to read more of this and see what happens next with this crew. 10) Fruits Basket Collector's Edition, Vol. 1 by Natsuki Takaya (1207 Ratings on GR) - This is a rerelease of my favorite manga of all time. I have such good memories of this series and didn't have my own copies until these collector's editions were released.
Do I have that book? Let me check! This is a fun little challenge or tag that has been floating around booktube. I wanted to watch all of the ones I saw in my feed so I decided to film this before I became familiar with the list of challenges. This was a lot of fun and would love to do something similar again soon.
Mercy Thompson's life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman - the charismatic Alpha of the local werewolf pack - has made her a stepmother to his daughter Jesse, a relationship that brings moments of blissful normalcy to Mercy's life. But on the edges of humanity, a minor mishap on an ordinary day can turn into so much more...
After an accident in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Mercy and Jesse can't reach Adam - or anyone else in the pack for that matter. They've all been abducted.
Through their mating bond, all Mercy knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. But she fears Adam's disappearance may be related to the political battle the werewolves have been fighting to gain acceptance from the public - and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outmatched and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from any ally she can get, no matter how unlikely.
What I really
liked about this book was our return to the Tri-Cities and seeing more of
Mercy’s journey to find her place. Compared to the beginning of this series,
Mercy has started a big transformation. She is still a trouble maker and she
sticks her nose into dangerous situations, but she has allies and enemies
galore.Mercy has carved her own place
out in Adam’s pack and his heart so now she has added a lot more
responsibility.
I love how Mercy
has found a family and watching her interact with all the friends and enemies
within the pack is very entertaining. I also loved the introduction of Asil
from the Alpha and Omega series. Asil is one of my favorite characters in this
world and I love more page time with him. Mercy tackles her responsibilities
head on in this novel when she needs to help rescue the pack after they are
abducted. She calls in favors and asks for help throughout this book which
shows how much she's grown and changed throughout the series.
While I enjoy the
different plots in each installment I wish we were making more progress in the
overarching plot. I'm not even sure what our overarching plot it at this point.
In each book I feel like Briggs is trying work something out in the background
as many questions about Mercy and her world are unanswered. I'd love if she
would clarify that since we ARE seven books into this series.
Overall I wish
this series stuck with me more. I tend to forget exactly what happened in each
book. Maybe I should start a reread?
While Valentines's Day isn't my favorite holiday, I will take any opportunity to talk about Jane Austen. She is one of my favorite authors of all time and her books are some of my most frequent rereads. These are a few of my favorite Austen couples ranked and my collection of Austen books and Austen retellings.
I was so excited to participate in Top Five Wednesday again this week. The topic of independent ladies was too fun to resist. I love main characters that are less focused on romance especially when those characters are strong independent women! While I don't have all my favorite women (because that list would go on forever) on this list, I did try to feature books that I don't talk about as often.
The last man Judith Worth wants to see again is Christian Trent, the Marquess of Ashford—the man who spent summers at her family home, who kissed her one magical night…and then heartlessly ruined her father. But when a tricky business matter arises, he’s the only one she can ask for help. With any luck, he’ll engage a servant to take care of the matter, and she won’t even have to talk with him.
But Ashford has never forgotten Judith. He knows she will never forgive him for what he’s done, but when offered the chance to assist her, he arrives in person. His memory of Judith may have haunted him, but it pales in comparison to the reality of the vivacious, beautiful woman he rediscovers. Throughout his life, he has always done what is correct. But now, he finds himself doing something utterly wrong…falling in love with the one woman he can never have.
Courtney Milan was
recommended to me so many time and I finally picked up one of her books when I
was in the mood for romance.
What I
particularly appreciated about this book was Milan's ability to make me believe
these two characters knew one another well before this book started. Their
chemistry was spot on and very compelling. It is easy to write a story where
two people are attracted to each other, but this story was more complex than
that. Judith and Christian have difficult history and Milan did an excellent
job showing how painful it would be to navigate their situation. I believed
this part of the story.
Overall this was a
good romance with a well written story. It was nicely paced and I don't
remember any serious problems with the language. Each of their characters was
well defined outside of their relationship as well. Judith was a very
independent young woman with a sharp mind and skills. Christian was funny and had his own problems to solve other than the ones Judith needed help with. I appreciated seeing her
personality on the page and will be sad when I follow someone else in the next
book since I adored her so much
A very good romance story with great characters. I'll be checking out more Courtney Milan soon.
As always if you would like to participate in Top Ten Tuesday, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl for topics and more information! This week I'm keeping things simple because 1) if I talked about this relationships in detail, we would be here forever and 2) there would be a lot of repetition. So just know these are some of my favorite book couples. There is a mix of recent favorites and some of the couples that first introduced me to "shipping" (aka Alanna and George) 1) Alanna & George Cooper (Tamora Pierce's Tortall World)
With his beloved sister tainted by scandal, his widowed brother shattered by grief , and his funds cut off, Darius Lindsey sees no option but to sell himself—body and soul. Until the day he encounters lovely, beguiling Lady Vivian Longstreet, whose tenderness and understanding wrap his soul in a grace he knows he'll never deserve...
This story
intrigued me because I saw someone promote it on twitter when it was a daily
deal. I didn't purchase it that day but I was looking for a romance and started
googling, carefully googling, the premise of this book to try to find it.
Even though this
premise sounds warped, I'm glad I gave it a chance. Darius and Vivan have an
interesting relationship and both their characters were more complex than I was
expecting. This didn't turn out to be the shallow lust fueled story I thought I
might find. Instead, it is layered with mystery and missed opportunities. Even
though Darius's situation is a little murky and unexplained, I found both
characters intriguing. The writing is a little unpolished and does a lot more
telling than showing, but overall I liked this first installment and decided to
continue on with the series.
So far in February I've thrown all my reading plans to the wind and instead picked up several romance novels and Truthwtich by Susan Dennard. This was not supposed to happen! I was meant to be reading all Fae books this week and it just hasn't happened. This is how my brain works. If I stick to a TBR for one month, my brain wrecks havoc on all plans the next month. Oh well, hopefully this weekend and I can get back on track.
Here's what I'm hoping to read over the next couple of days.
Currently Reading:
Truthwitch by Susan Dennard:
In the Witchlands, there are almost as many types of magic as there are ways to get in trouble—as two desperate young women know all too well.
Safiya is a Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lie. It’s a powerful magic that many would kill to have on their side, especially amongst the nobility to which Safi was born. So Safi must keep her gift hidden, lest she be used as a pawn in the struggle between empires.
Iseult, a Threadwitch, can see the invisible ties that bind and entangle the lives around her—but she cannot see the bonds that touch her own heart. Her unlikely friendship with Safi has taken her from life as an outcast into one of reckless adventure, where she is a cool, wary balance to Safi’s hotheaded impulsiveness.
Safi and Iseult just want to be free to live their own lives, but war is coming to the Witchlands. With the help of the cunning Prince Merik (a Windwitch and ship’s captain) and the hindrance of a Bloodwitch bent on revenge, the friends must fight emperors, princes, and mercenaries alike, who will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.
Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare:
It’s been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and avenging her losses.
Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn’t lead her in treacherous directions…
Making things even more complicated, Julian’s brother Mark—who was captured by the faeries five years ago—has been returned as a bargaining chip. The faeries are desperate to find out who is murdering their kind—and they need the Shadowhunters’ help to do it. But time works differently in faerie, so Mark has barely aged and doesn’t recognize his family. Can he ever truly return to them? Will the faeries really allow it?
For Chloe Wherlocke, it all begins with a vision - a glimpse into the future that foretells a terrible plot against Lord Julian Kenwood and his newborn son. Chloe's psychic gift allows her to save the child from certain death, but the earl remains in grave peril...
But When He Steals Her Heart...
Julian Kenwood knows someone is trying to kill him and he suspects his scheming wife and her lover are behind the plot. But Julian is shocked when Chloe, a captivating, dark-haired stranger, warns him that sinister forces are indeed at hand - and exposes a devastating secret that changes his life forever...
Will She Resist - or Surrender?
As Chloe reveals her plan to save Julian, neither can deny the attraction that grows each moment thy're together. Chloe knows the highborn earl could never love her as she loves him. But when danger strikes closer than ever, Chloe must risk everything - or lose Julian forever...
This was an
interesting story. Sadly, my least favorite part was the romance. I didn't find
the chemistry between the two main characters very compelling and neither one
had much depth. Chloe and her family grabbed my attention and I enjoyed the
paranormal elements involved in the story. Even though there isn't a lot of
information about the family and their powers, I knew the story was going to
focus on the romance and hoped the following books would expand on the
paranormal abilities. Howell created a believable historical setting but at
times the language was bit too modern. Overall, I was interested enough to
carry on reading the series, but I wasn't wowed by anything in this book.
Over the past few years I've started a lot of book series and failed to finished most of them.This week I wanted to chat about the series I have on my shelves that either I'm not caught up on or that I have left unfinished despite having the final book in my hands.
Why do we do this? I love a lot of these series. The characters are special and the plots intriguing. Why have I left them languishing on my TBR shelf while I pursue other series? I think the most obvious answer is: new series are shiny. New books and new releases grab my attention and steal it away from those older backlisted series on my shelves. Hopefully I'll finish a few of this this year and reduce the number on my shelf!
This was the first weekend in three weeks where I didn't need to work at all and my busy season is officially over. Therefore, I spent most of this weekend relaxing and reading. There was much tea and many blankets involved.
On Friday night was really excited to start my reread of Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers. I started this reread on audiobook because I listened to the first two on audio. However, by the time Sunday rolled around I was too anxious to read Annith's story I was reading the physical book. I'm about two thirds of the way through and will be ready for Courting Darkness release day!
Faebruary started on Friday and, while I wanted to read some of the books I selected for that readathon, I also wanted to finish some of the books I was already reading. So I read Mortal Heart and decided to DNF The Yard by Alex Grecian. I tried to read this book on audiobook and physically. Nothing was working for me and I'm really disappointed. All my buzzwords were involved, but this book just didn't work for me.
On Saturday night I had trouble falling asleep so I borrowed one of Grace Burrow's Lonely Lord books from the library. I started this series last year and was a little disgruntled with it, but I was intrigued enough to try it to solve my insomnia. In the series we follow a group of interconnected lords finding love in various places. Once I finally did sleep, I finished this off with my coffee in the morning. I also borrowed the next book Gabriel. I am actually really excited for this Lonely Lord story. The characters we are following were in a previous book and I was curious about their relationship.
The rest of my Sunday was cleaning and video games. I didn't actually read much more. I think my brain needed a little break after spending so much time reading on Saturday. How was your weekend? Did you read anything fun or exciting? My copy of King of Scars arrived this week and has been tempting me even though I have many other things started.
This month I've read quite a bit and I'm proud of myself for reading everyday so far this year. I participated in several readathons which have helped me read so much this month. As we move into February, a historically bad reading month for me, I hope I can continue this reading trend.
Books Mentioned:
The Curious Case of the Werewolf that Wasn't by Gail Carriger (audiobook)
Becoming by Michelle Obama (audiobook)
Herding Cats by Sarah Anderson
Uprooted by Naomi Novak
Read Bottom Up by Neel Shah & Skye Chatham
Tales of the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare
Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger (audiobook)
Rosemary Harper doesn’t expect much when she joins the crew of the aging Wayfarer. While the patched-up ship has seen better days, it offers her a bed, a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy, and most importantly, some distance from her past. An introspective young woman who learned early to keep to herself, she’s never met anyone remotely like the ship’s diverse crew, including Sissix, the exotic reptilian pilot, chatty engineers Kizzy and Jenks who keep the ship running, and Ashby, their noble captain.
Life aboard the Wayfarer is chaotic and crazy—exactly what Rosemary wants. It’s also about to get extremely dangerous when the crew is offered the job of a lifetime. Tunneling wormholes through space to a distant planet is definitely lucrative and will keep them comfortable for years. But risking her life wasn’t part of the plan. In the far reaches of deep space, the tiny Wayfarer crew will confront a host of unexpected mishaps and thrilling adventures that force them to depend on each other. To survive, Rosemary’s got to learn how to rely on this assortment of oddballs—an experience that teaches her about love and trust, and that having a family isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the universe.
What this book is:
A character centered story of found family aboard a spaceship with some space
travel and difficult decisions.
What this book is
not: Action packed, plot driven or hard science-fiction.
When I picked up
this story I was a little hesitant because I've had trouble with
science-fiction in the past. Though I had heard a lot of positive things, I
wasn't sure this book would be for me as I'm usually more interested in fantasy
than sci-fi. I was pleasantly surprised by this book and how it was much more
character focused. Though we learn about the world throughout the book, it is
more in context with how it has effected the characters we follow rather than a
big picture. Space and science are not the focus of this story. The plot is
thin for the most part, but the story works nonetheless. The focus of this
story is the crew of the Wayfair as well as their interactions and
relationships with one another.
While recommending
this book to my IRL family and friends, I described it as Firefly meets Star
Trek. There is a rag tag crew with tight knit relationships much like Firefly.
Then much like Star Trek, there are interspecies crew members and inter-planet politics
as well. It is rare that I push books on my family and friends because we all
enjoy different books, but I think this holds appeal for readers of all types.
This month I'm doing my best to participate in the Faebruary Readathon which is hosted by Sarah-Jane from TheBookLife. She's created this fun Fae centered readathon and I can't wait to read all my Fae themed books this month. I have a few on my TBR and am hoping to cross off as many of the bingo squares as possible. More on that here.
My TBR is a little flexible because I'm unsure if some of the books are going to contain enough Fae to make them count!
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