Friday, February 28, 2025
Monthly ARC's Update 108
So I read my next book for Monthly ARC's and it was Igniting Fate by Jean Louise from the March list.
Here's the link to this month's post with my journey.
How it Works:
Here's the link to this month's post with my journey.
How it Works:
This is my monthly ARC accountability challenge, to list out the books that I have as ARC's that are being published in the coming month, rounding them up at the start of the month, and seeing how well I did at the end, as well as rounding up the next month's books.
Monthly Series March Round Up
In 2025, I going to continue to focus on continuing series. So each month, I'll chose a series that I was current on in a previous year, but has since been continued. A series that I started or continued, but didn't catch up with what was currently published. A series that I haven't touched since 2020. A series that I read from this year, but still need to continue. A series that I haven't started yet, but have been meaning to. Then each month, I'll do one more series from one of these types, so I have 2, it'll just depend on what I'm planning on reading that month. The goal is to finish out as many series as I can, and keep current on the series that are still ongoing.
So how did I do last month?
I read Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn, Court of Claws by Briar Boleyn, Empress of Fae by Briar Boleyn, Knight of the Goddess by Briar Boleyn, Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano, Vows & Ruins by Helen Scheuerer, Fate & Furies by Helen Scheuerer, Shadow & Storms by Helen Scheuerer, Blood of Dragons by Penelope Barsetti, The Dragon King by Penelope Barsetti, Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard, Gabriel's Rapture by Sylvain Reynard, Gabriel's Redemption by Sylvain Reynard, Gabriel's Promise by Sylvain Reynard, Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli, The Dragon Queen by Penelope Barsetti, so I stayed current with 2 series, and finished 4, so I'm really happy with that!
This month I've chosen which series, and the ones that got chosen and I'm going to be reading this month are:
Current in a Previous Year:
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Unfinished in a Previous Year:
Crowns of Nyaxia by Carissa Broadbent
Untouched Since 2020:
Galloway Trilogy by Amanda Scott
Series from This Year:
Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart
Series to Start:
The Gifted Ones by Dianne Duvall
The Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall
Monthly ARC's April Round Up
This is my monthly ARC accountability challenge, to list out the books that I have as ARC's that are being published in the coming month, rounding them up at the start of the month, and seeing how well I did at the end, as well as rounding up the next month's books.
So how did I do last month?
I read 2 of 5 books. But I'm also reading 1 right now, and I'm hoping to read the other 2 today, as well, so hopefully next week will have the rest of March's reads!
So the ARC's that I have coming out in April are
NetGalley:
Give Up the Night by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast - April 1st, 2025
How to Read a Killer's Mind by Tam Barnett - April 7th, 2025
Pride or Die by CL Montblanc - April 15th, 2025
Advocate by Daniel M. Ford - April 22nd, 2025
The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet by Lindz McLeod - April 29th, 2025
Edelweiss:
Meet Me at Blue Hour by Sarah Suk - April 1st, 2025
Their Monstrous Hearts by Yigit Turhan - April 8th, 2025
If We Were a Movie by Zakiya N. Jamal - April 22nd, 2025
The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Ancrum - April 22nd, 2025
All Fired Up by M. K. England - April 29th, 2025
The Murder Machine by Heather Graham - April 29th, 2025
11 books. Which is a lot, so I don't have a lot of hope of reading these all before
Book Blogger Hop #386, February 28th
Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end on Thursday. There will be a weekly prompt featuring a book related question. The hop's purpose is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
The Question of the week is: How much time does blogging take out of your life weekly? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)
Hmm, probably 2-3 hours a week. Sometimes more, especially at the start/end of months, there's a bunch of new books from various things, new TBRs and such, which I'm currently doing, and I'm getting stuck, not sure what to do, it's chaotic and then I don't end up doing anything. LIke, I've been stuck on my Friday posts, including this, for about 4 hours now, which is unfortunate, but I'm slowly working through things
First Lines Friday #720, February 28th
First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie of Precision Reviews. We encourage all of our fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.
-Grab your current read(s)-Share the first line(s)
-Include the title and author so that other FLF participants can add the book to their TBR Lists!
That's pretty atmospheric! Must read more now! What about you guys? Happy reading!
Thursday, February 27, 2025
Polarthon Readathon Update 16 and Wrap Up
So I read my final book for Polarthon Readathon, and it was A Jingle Bell Mingle which is for the prompt Snowy Cover, and yeah, I had a pretty great time, I did forget to actually sign up on time, but I read all the books in time, so I'm happy, I read some great books and I can't wait for the next round!
My Reading Journey:
My Reading Journey:
Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett
Prompt Fulfilled: Animal Companion
Started On: February 11th
Finished On: February 11th, 6:53 PM
Pages Read: 368
Gabriel's Redemption by Sylvain Reynard
Prompt Fulfilled: White Cover
Started On: February 16th
Finished On: February 16th, 3:26 PM
Pages Read: 496
Gabriel's Promise by Sylvain Reynard
Prompt Fulfilled: Black Cover
Started On: February 16th
Finished On: February 16th, 8:27 PM
Pages Read: 352
Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar, Derick Dillard, and Craig Borlase
Prompt Fulfilled: Non-Fiction
Started On: February 17th
Finished On: February 17th, 10:13 AM
Pages Read: 288
Breathless by Amy McCulloch
Prompt Fulfilled: Snowy Setting
Started On: February 17th
Finished On: February 17th, 7:41 PM
Pages Read: 368
The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall by J. Ann Thomas
Prompt Fulfilled: Blue Cover
Started On: February 19th
Finished On: February 19th, 11:35 AM
Pages Read: 320
Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver
Prompt Fulfilled: Chilly Vibes
Started On: February 19th
Finished On: February 19th, 2:41 PM
Pages Read: 416
Chaos King by Kacen Callender
Prompt Fulfilled: Foiled Cover
Started On: February 19th
Finished On: February 19th, 9:31 PM
Pages Read: 400
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker Chan
Prompt Fulfilled: Snowy
Started On: February 20th
Finished On: February 20th, 12:28 PM
Pages Read: 416
The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher
Prompt Fulfilled: Polar Fantasy
Started On: February 21st
Finished On: February 21st, 1:17 PM
Pages Read: 224
Uncharted by Adriana Anders
Prompt Fulfilled: Arctic Adventure
Started On: February 22nd
Finished On: February 22nd, 3:42 PM
Pages Read: 384
Followed by Frost by Charlie N. Holmberg
Prompt Fulfilled: Icy
Started On: February 22nd
Finished On: February 22nd, 8:17 PM
Pages Read: 264
Snow Place Like LA by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
Prompt Fulfilled: Warm
Started On: February 26th
Finished On: February 26th, 11:29 AM
Pages Read: 192
A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
Prompt Fulfilled: Winter Read
Started On: February 26th
Finished On: February 26th, 5:48 PM
Pages Read: 432
Seas and Greetings by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
Prompt Fulfilled: Cozy Vibes
Started On: February 26th
Finished On: February 26th, 8:24 PM
Pages Read: 144
A Jingle Bell Mingle by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
Prompt Fulfilled: Snowy Cover
Started On: February 27th
Finished On: February 27th, 1:46 PM
Pages Read: 400
Prompts: None Left!
Read: 16
Pages Read: 5042
Random Reads #693, February 27th
Third Sentence Thursday #707, February 27th
Third Sentence Thursday is a weekly meme which likes to watch fireworks especially while eating a cookie!
1) Take the book you are currently reading and open it to a random page. Share the third full sentence on that page. (If there isn't a third one – like at the end of a chapter or a blank page – you can share the third sentence of the book or just choose another random page.) Feel free to share more than one sentence, if you feel the need to do so.
2) Review this sentence anyway you want (funny and silly reviews encouraged)
3) Post a link to your sentence at Words I Write Crazy (This Blog)
4) Visit one or two of the other blogs to check out their third sentences!
"Environment was half of creativity, they said." -A Jingle Bell Mingle by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone, page 52.
Yeah, that sounds pretty true! Must read more now! What are your guy's 3rd lines? Link up below!
"Environment was half of creativity, they said." -A Jingle Bell Mingle by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone, page 52.
Yeah, that sounds pretty true! Must read more now! What are your guy's 3rd lines? Link up below!
Will the Time Come #717, February 27th
Every Thursday I am going to list a book which I really want to read/keep meaning to get to. These are mostly books which have been on my shelf for awhile now but don't have to be, maybe you got it two weeks ago and really want to read it! Thanks to Jodie from Books for Company for this meme!
Want to Join?
-Pick a book you have been meaning to read
-Do a post telling us about the book
-Link the post up in the linky
-Visit the other blogs
Five years after the destruction of the so-called rehabilitation camps that imprisoned her and countless other Psi kids, seventeen-year-old Suzume "Zu" Kimura has assumed the role of spokesperson for the interim government, fighting for the rights of Psi kids against a growing tide of misinformation and prejudice. But when she is accused of committing a horrifying act, she is forced to go on the run once more in order to stay alive.
Determined to clear her name, Zu finds herself in an uncomfortable alliance with Roman and Priyanka, two mysterious Psi who could either help her prove her innocence or betray her before she gets the chance. But as they travel in search of safety and answers, and Zu grows closer to the people she knows she shouldn't trust, they uncover even darker things roiling beneath the veneer of the country's recovery. With her future-and the future of all Psi-on the line, Zu must use her powerful voice to fight back against forces that seek to drive the Psi into the shadows and save the friends who were once her protectors.
From #1 New York Times best-selling author Alexandra Bracken comes a harrowing story of resilience, resistance, and reckoning that will thrill loyal fans and new readers alike.
Why the time hasn't come yet...
I need to reread the rest of the series, and I started, but only made it through the first book, so I'll probably have to reread that, as well, but Iw ant to, I really enjoy this series! What about you guys? Happy reading!
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
The Bookworm Revolution March 2025 TBR
Well it's time to choose my March TBR for The Bookworm Revolution. So here are the books that I've picked this month:
5pts - Arrrr! - Has "ar" in the Title-The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent
5pts - Has Characters You "Ship"
5pts - Has a Character You'd Like to See Walk the Plank
5pts - Takes Place on a Body of Water
5pts - Someone Follows a "Map" (e.g. road map, GPS, mapped-out plan, etc.)
5pts - Pick & Choose 1-ARC-
5pts - Pick & Choose 2-Audiobook-
10pts - Revolution Read 1-Slaying the Vampire Conqueror by Carissa Broadbent
10pts - Revolution Read 2-Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
10pts - MC Gets Some Booty-Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli
10pts - Avast, Matey! -- Book with Strong Friendships - The Ragpicker King by Cassandra Clare
15pts - Features a Scallywag (Charismatic Criminal) or Scurvy Dog (Unlikeable Authority)
15pts - Mutiny! -- MC Resists Authority
20pts - Dead Men Tell No Tales -- Book with a Morally Gray FMC-Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me by Django Wexler
30pts - Ahoy! -- Features a Pirate-Mary Read-Steel by Carrie Vaughn
Beneath the Burning Sea by Amanda Bouchet
His Mortal Demise by Vanessa Le
Necrobane by Daniel M. Ford
Advocate by Daniel M. Ford
Queen of Shadows and Ruin by Nisha J. Tuli
Shadow's Heart by Kresley Cole
Oathbound by Tracy Deonn
So this month, the theme is Books featuring Pirates, the genre bonus is Historical Fiction and the inclusivity bonus is Transgender Author or Representation.
How did I do last month?
5pts - Book From Your Hoard (Book You Already Own/Borrowed/Started)-Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim-Read!
5pts - Book That Was a Wild Ride-Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano-Read!
5pts - Ouroboros (A Book That Makes You Immediately Want To Reread It)-I'll Pretend You're Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan-Read!
5pts - Pick & Choose 1-Ebook-Court of Claws by Briar Boleyn-Read!
5pts - Pick & Choose 2-ARC-Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito-Read!
10pts - Revolution Read 1-Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix-Read!
10pts - Revolution Read 2-On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn-Read!
10pts - Book Without a Human on the Cover-The Half King by Melissa Landers-Read!
15pts - Book Based on East Asian Mythology-She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker Chan-Read!
20pts - Book with a Dragon-Hydra-The Bond That Burns by Briar Boleyn-Read!
Polarthon Readathon Update 15
So I read my next book for Polarthon Readathon, and it was Seas and Greetings which is for the prompt Cozy Vibes, and I'll be reading A Jingle Bell Mingle next!
My Reading Journey:
My Reading Journey:
Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett
Prompt Fulfilled: Animal Companion
Started On: February 11th
Finished On: February 11th, 6:53 PM
Pages Read: 368
Gabriel's Redemption by Sylvain Reynard
Prompt Fulfilled: White Cover
Started On: February 16th
Finished On: February 16th, 3:26 PM
Pages Read: 496
Gabriel's Promise by Sylvain Reynard
Prompt Fulfilled: Black Cover
Started On: February 16th
Finished On: February 16th, 8:27 PM
Pages Read: 352
Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar, Derick Dillard, and Craig Borlase
Prompt Fulfilled: Non-Fiction
Started On: February 17th
Finished On: February 17th, 10:13 AM
Pages Read: 288
Breathless by Amy McCulloch
Prompt Fulfilled: Snowy Setting
Started On: February 17th
Finished On: February 17th, 7:41 PM
Pages Read: 368
The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall by J. Ann Thomas
Prompt Fulfilled: Blue Cover
Started On: February 19th
Finished On: February 19th, 11:35 AM
Pages Read: 320
Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver
Prompt Fulfilled: Chilly Vibes
Started On: February 19th
Finished On: February 19th, 2:41 PM
Pages Read: 416
Chaos King by Kacen Callender
Prompt Fulfilled: Foiled Cover
Started On: February 19th
Finished On: February 19th, 9:31 PM
Pages Read: 400
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker Chan
Prompt Fulfilled: Snowy
Started On: February 20th
Finished On: February 20th, 12:28 PM
Pages Read: 416
The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher
Prompt Fulfilled: Polar Fantasy
Started On: February 21st
Finished On: February 21st, 1:17 PM
Pages Read: 224
Uncharted by Adriana Anders
Prompt Fulfilled: Arctic Adventure
Started On: February 22nd
Finished On: February 22nd, 3:42 PM
Pages Read: 384
Followed by Frost by Charlie N. Holmberg
Prompt Fulfilled: Icy
Started On: February 22nd
Finished On: February 22nd, 8:17 PM
Pages Read: 264
Snow Place Like LA by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
Prompt Fulfilled: Warm
Started On: February 26th
Finished On: February 26th, 11:29 AM
Pages Read: 192
A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
Prompt Fulfilled: Winter Read
Started On: February 26th
Finished On: February 26th, 5:48 PM
Pages Read: 432
Seas and Greetings by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
Prompt Fulfilled: Cozy Vibes
Started On: February 26th
Finished On: February 26th, 8:24 PM
Pages Read: 144
A Jingle Bell Mingle by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
Prompt Fulfilled: Snowy Cover
Started On: February 27th
Currently On: Page of 400
Prompts: None Left!
Read: 15
Pages Read: 4642
Polarthon Readathon Update 14
So I read my next book for Polarthon Readathon, and it was A Holly Jolly Ever After which is for the prompt Winter Read, and I'll be reading Seas and Greetings next!
My Reading Journey:
My Reading Journey:
Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett
Prompt Fulfilled: Animal Companion
Started On: February 11th
Finished On: February 11th, 6:53 PM
Pages Read: 368
Gabriel's Redemption by Sylvain Reynard
Prompt Fulfilled: White Cover
Started On: February 16th
Finished On: February 16th, 3:26 PM
Pages Read: 496
Gabriel's Promise by Sylvain Reynard
Prompt Fulfilled: Black Cover
Started On: February 16th
Finished On: February 16th, 8:27 PM
Pages Read: 352
Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar, Derick Dillard, and Craig Borlase
Prompt Fulfilled: Non-Fiction
Started On: February 17th
Finished On: February 17th, 10:13 AM
Pages Read: 288
Breathless by Amy McCulloch
Prompt Fulfilled: Snowy Setting
Started On: February 17th
Finished On: February 17th, 7:41 PM
Pages Read: 368
The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall by J. Ann Thomas
Prompt Fulfilled: Blue Cover
Started On: February 19th
Finished On: February 19th, 11:35 AM
Pages Read: 320
Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver
Prompt Fulfilled: Chilly Vibes
Started On: February 19th
Finished On: February 19th, 2:41 PM
Pages Read: 416
Chaos King by Kacen Callender
Prompt Fulfilled: Foiled Cover
Started On: February 19th
Finished On: February 19th, 9:31 PM
Pages Read: 400
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker Chan
Prompt Fulfilled: Snowy
Started On: February 20th
Finished On: February 20th, 12:28 PM
Pages Read: 416
The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher
Prompt Fulfilled: Polar Fantasy
Started On: February 21st
Finished On: February 21st, 1:17 PM
Pages Read: 224
Uncharted by Adriana Anders
Prompt Fulfilled: Arctic Adventure
Started On: February 22nd
Finished On: February 22nd, 3:42 PM
Pages Read: 384
Followed by Frost by Charlie N. Holmberg
Prompt Fulfilled: Icy
Started On: February 22nd
Finished On: February 22nd, 8:17 PM
Pages Read: 264
Snow Place Like LA by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
Prompt Fulfilled: Warm
Started On: February 26th
Finished On: February 26th, 11:29 AM
Pages Read: 192
A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
Prompt Fulfilled: Winter Read
Started On: February 26th
Finished On: February 26th, 5:48 PM
Pages Read: 432
Seas and Greetings by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
Prompt Fulfilled: Cozy Vibes
Started On: February 26th
Currently On: Page of 144
Prompts: Snowy Cover
Read: 13
Pages Read: 4498
Polarthon Readathon Update 13
So I read my next book for Polarthon Readathon, and it was Snow Place Like LA which is for the prompt Warm, and I'll be reading A Holly Jolly Ever After next!
My Reading Journey:
My Reading Journey:
Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett
Prompt Fulfilled: Animal Companion
Started On: February 11th
Finished On: February 11th, 6:53 PM
Pages Read: 368
Gabriel's Redemption by Sylvain Reynard
Prompt Fulfilled: White Cover
Started On: February 16th
Finished On: February 16th, 3:26 PM
Pages Read: 496
Gabriel's Promise by Sylvain Reynard
Prompt Fulfilled: Black Cover
Started On: February 16th
Finished On: February 16th, 8:27 PM
Pages Read: 352
Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar, Derick Dillard, and Craig Borlase
Prompt Fulfilled: Non-Fiction
Started On: February 17th
Finished On: February 17th, 10:13 AM
Pages Read: 288
Breathless by Amy McCulloch
Prompt Fulfilled: Snowy Setting
Started On: February 17th
Finished On: February 17th, 7:41 PM
Pages Read: 368
The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall by J. Ann Thomas
Prompt Fulfilled: Blue Cover
Started On: February 19th
Finished On: February 19th, 11:35 AM
Pages Read: 320
Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver
Prompt Fulfilled: Chilly Vibes
Started On: February 19th
Finished On: February 19th, 2:41 PM
Pages Read: 416
Chaos King by Kacen Callender
Prompt Fulfilled: Foiled Cover
Started On: February 19th
Finished On: February 19th, 9:31 PM
Pages Read: 400
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker Chan
Prompt Fulfilled: Snowy
Started On: February 20th
Finished On: February 20th, 12:28 PM
Pages Read: 416
The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher
Prompt Fulfilled: Polar Fantasy
Started On: February 21st
Finished On: February 21st, 1:17 PM
Pages Read: 224
Uncharted by Adriana Anders
Prompt Fulfilled: Arctic Adventure
Started On: February 22nd
Finished On: February 22nd, 3:42 PM
Pages Read: 384
Followed by Frost by Charlie N. Holmberg
Prompt Fulfilled: Icy
Started On: February 22nd
Finished On: February 22nd, 8:17 PM
Pages Read: 264
Snow Place Like LA by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
Prompt Fulfilled: Warm
Started On: February 26th
Finished On: February 26th, 11:29 AM
Pages Read: 192
A Holly Jolly Ever After by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
Prompt Fulfilled: Winter Read
Started On: February 26th
Currently On: Page of 432
Prompts: Cozy Vibes, Snowy Cover
Read: 13
Pages Read: 4498
Waiting on Wednesday #720, February 26th
Expected Publication: March 11th, 2025
From Goodreads:
It's been a long afterlife, but Mary Dunlavy's not ready to be exorcised quite yet.
From Goodreads:
Seanan McGuire’s New York Times-bestselling and Hugo Award-nominated InCryptid series continues with a whirlwind adventure....
After four generations of caring for the Price family, Mary Dunlavy has more than earned a break from the ongoing war with the Covenant of St. George. Instead, what she's getting is a new employer, in the form of the anima mundi, Earth's living soul made manifest, and a new assignment: to hunt down the Covenant agents on the East Coast and make them stop imprisoning America's ghosts.
All in a day's work for a phantom nanny, even one who'd really rather be teaching her youngest charges how to read.
One ghost can't take on the entire Covenant without backup, which is how she winds up on a road trip with the still-mourning Elsie and the slowly collapsing Arthur, both of whom are reeling in their own way from the loss of their mother. New allies and new enemies await in Worcester, Massachusetts, where the path of the haunting leads.
With the anima mundi demanding results and Mary's newfound freedom at stake, it's down to Mary to make sure that everyone gets out of this adventure alive.
Expected Publication: March 11th, 2025
From Goodreads:
Kris might be in some trouble. Especially when it turns out that the mystery behind Christmas’s stolen magic isn’t as simple as an outright theft. But why would a Holiday that Christmas has never had contact with, one that’s always been the very basis of carefree, want to steal joy? Can a spare prince even hope to unravel all this, or will Kris lose something way more valuable than his Holiday’s resources—like his heart?
From Goodreads:
Featuring exquisite emerald sprayed edges!
It’s enemies to lovers in this sexy and delightful holiday mash up that pairs the spare prince of Christmas with the crown prince of St. Patrick’s Day!
Someone has been stealing Christmas’s joy, and there’s only one clue to the culprit—a single shamrock.
With Coal busy restructuring Christmas—and their dad now having a full midlife crisis in the Caribbean—Kris volunteers to investigate St. Patrick’s Day. His cover: an ambassador from Christmas to foster goodwill. What could go wrong?
Everything, it seems. Because Prince Lochlann Patrick, Crown Prince of St. Patrick’s Day, happens to be the mysterious student that Kris has been in a small war with at Cambridge. They attempt to play nice for the tabloids, but Kris can’t get through one conversation without wanting to smash Loch’s face in—he’s infuriating, stubborn, loud, obstinate, hot—
Wait—hot?
Expected Publication: March 11th, 2025
From Goodreads:
There’s only one person the empress hasn’t accounted for, but he hasn’t been human in a long time, and he may not have the time to master his yōkai powers fast enough to save his friends.
From Goodreads:
"Death is not an ending, it’s simply the next chapter. Do not be afraid to turn the page...."
It’s been one month since Ian’s reunited friends escaped the hellish game of Meido and saved him. The survivors may have sealed the gate to the world of the dead shut and destroyed Empress Izanami, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still reeling over the challenges they endured in her grim game. They can relax back in the world of the living, taking solace in the fact that they rescued Ian from the nightmare that tried to steal him away. There’s just one problem―Ian didn’t come home alone.
The empress―now possessing Ian's heart―hitched a ride into the world of the living and the only way to free Ian from her grasp, yet again, is to find three artifacts for her, sacred objects which have been hidden across many realms.
Unwilling to leave Ian behind a second time, Ian’s friends dive into a new deadly game, with challenges that not only test their mettle, but demand sacrifices―including their very lives. If they don’t solve each terrifying new task and retrieve the empress’s artifacts, Ian will be lost forever, but if they do, it's the end of their world as they know it.
Expected Publication: March 11th, 2025
From Goodreads:
Time is running out, and the only chance Mina has to stop the destruction and horrific killings is finding and destroying the Saint’s host. Everyone is a suspect, including Mina's closest loved ones. She will have to decide how far she’ll go to save her city―and who she’s willing to kill to do it.
From Goodreads:
Inspired by an ominous Prague legend, What Wakes the Bells is a lavish gothic fantasy by debut author Elle Tesch.
Built by long-gone Saints, the city of Vaiwyn lives and breathes and bleeds. As a Keeper, Mina knows better than most what her care of Vaiwyn’s bells means for the sentient city. It’s the Strauss family’s thousand-year legacy―prevent the Vespers from ringing, or they will awake a slumbering evil.
One afternoon, to Mina's horror, her bell peals thirteen times, shattering the city’s tenuous peace. With so much of the city's history and lore lost in a long-ago disaster, no one knows the danger that has been unleashed―until the city begins to fight back. As the sun sets, stone gargoyles and bronze statues tear away from their buildings and plinths to hunt people through the streets. Trapped in Mina’s bell, the soul of a twisted and power-hungry Saint festered. Now free of his prison, he hides behind the face of one of Vaiwyn’s citizens, corrupting the city and turning it on itself.
I've read about half of these, and they were really good, and I can't wait for them all to be out, they're from authors and series I love, and a new one that sounds really good! What about you guys? Happy reading!
WWW Wednesday #724, February 26th
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you'll read next?
Thanks to MizB of Should Be Writing now A Daily Rhythm for starting this meme! And thanks now to Taking on a World of Words for reviving it!
What about you guys? Happy reading!
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Teaser Tuesday #724, February 25th
Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
"But this might be my only chance to get away. I would have to go with my gut, and my gut was telling me to run."
- Grab your current read
- Open to a random page
- Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
"But this might be my only chance to get away. I would have to go with my gut, and my gut was telling me to run."
That doesn't sound good! ust read more now! What about you guys? Happy reading!
Olivia Dade Author Page
The Story: I saw Spoiler Alert going around on Goodreads and the book spaces, and it sounded good, and it was, and I loved the whole trilogy, and I can't wait to read more by Olivia Dade!
Website
Series: Spoiler Alert, Harlot's Bay, Supernatural Entanglements.
Website
Series: Spoiler Alert, Harlot's Bay, Supernatural Entanglements.
Spoiler Alert: Spoiler Alert and her site, my review, All the Feels and her site, my review, Ship Wrecked and her site, my review.
Harlot's Bay: At First Sight and her site, my review.
Monday, February 24, 2025
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #716, February 24th
It's Monday! What Are You Reading is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week...and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well...you never know where that next "must read" book will come from!
What happened in the past week:Weekly Memes:
It's Monday! What Are You Reading #715
Teaser Tuesday #723
WWW Wednesday #723
WOW #719
Will the Time Come #716
Third Sentence Thursday #706
Random Reads #692
First Lines Friday #719
Book Blogger Hop #385
23 Books to Read in 2023 Update 16
The Reward Challenge Update #701
Wheel of TBR #248
How Well I Stuck to It #553
Wrote that Review Update #550
Week 8 Reviews:
OK, so I got 42 posts in 7 days, and it was a pretty decent week, I'm happy with what I read, and I'm looking forward to this week, since I have a week and a day of vacation, so I'm going to be reading and catching up with writing my reviews. What about you guys? Happy reading!
So this week I want to read The Dark Mirror!
The Reward Challenge Update #701
Wheel of TBR #248
How Well I Stuck to It #553
Wrote that Review Update #550
Week 8 Reviews:
Phase Out Your Seriesathon:
Magical Readathon: Orilium:
Polarthon Readathon:
Random:
So this week I want to read The Dark Mirror!
Paige Mahoney is outside the Republic of Scion for the first time in more than a decade – but she has no idea how she got to the free world. Half a year has been wiped from her memory.
As she makes her way back to the revolution, her journey takes her to Venice, where she learns a dangerous secret – one that could change the face of the war between humans and immortals. Before she can return to London, she must help the Domino Programme unravel the sinister Operation Ventriloquist.
And it soon becomes clear that the one person who could recover her memories – Arcturus Mesarthim – might also hold the key to saving Italy.
Lyrical and action-packed, The Dark Mirror drives the Bone Season series forward, showing Samantha Shannon at the height of her powers.
Sunday, February 23, 2025
Magical Readathon: Orilium Update 14
So I read my next book for Magical Readathon: Orilium, and it was Rule of the Aurora King which was for the prompt 2C South , and I'll be reading My March TBR next!
My Reading Journey:
Memories of Ash by Intisar Khanani
Prompt Fulfilled: 1C
Started On: January 22nd
Finished On: January 22nd, 4:28 PM
Pages Read: 355
Hearts that Cut by Kika Hatzopoulou
Prompt Fulfilled: 1B
Started On: January 25th
Finished On: January 25th, 11:31 AM
Pages Read: 336
The Crimson Crown by Heather Walter
Prompt Fulfilled: 1D
Started On: January 25th
Finished On: January 25th, 3:45 PM
Pages Read: 544
The Party by Natasha Preston
Prompt Fulfilled: 1C
Started On: January 27th
Finished On: January 27th, 10:53 AM
Pages Read: 352
Return of the Vengeful Queen by C.J. Redwine
Prompt Fulfilled: 1E
Started On: January 30th
Finished On: January 30th, 11:04 AM
Pages Read: 400
I Am the Dark that Answers When You Call by Jamison Shea
Prompt Fulfilled: 1B
Started On: January 31st
Finished On: January 31st, 2:00 PM
Pages Read: 336
Vilest Things by Chloe Gong
Prompt Fulfilled: 1A
Started On: January 31st
Finished On: January 31st, 6:36 PM
Pages Read: 416
The Half King by Melissa Landers
Prompt Fulfilled: 2A North
Started On: February 8th
Finished On: February 8th, 7:28 PM
Pages Read: 512
Tell Me No Lies by A.V. Geiger
Prompt Fulfilled: 2C South
Started On: February 9th
Finished On: February 9th, 6:48 PM
Pages Read: 330
Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard
Prompt Fulfilled: 2B West
Started On: February 15th
Finished On: February 15th, 9:18 PM
Pages Read: 545
Gabriel's Redemption by Sylvain Reynard
Prompt Fulfilled: 2B West
Started On: February 16th
Finished On: February 16th, 3:26 PM
Pages Read: 496
He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan
Prompt Fulfilled: 2E South East
Started On: February 20th
Finished On: February 20th, 6:47 PM
Pages Read: 496
Shutter by Courtney Alameda
Prompt Fulfilled: 2D North East
Started On: February 21st
Finished On: February 21st, 9:15 PM
Pages Read: 384
Rule of the Aurora King by Nisha J. Tuli
Prompt Fulfilled: 2C South
Started On: February 23rd
Finished On: February 23rd, 10:50 PM
Pages Read: 514
Prompts Left: None Left!
Read: 14
Pages Read: 6016
Wrote that Review Update #550, February 23rd
My reviews to reward is writing all of the reviews of the week, and I motivated myself to write my review for The Fox and the Falcon, I'll Pretend You're Mine, Gabriel's Inferno, Gabriel's Rapture, Gabriel's Redemption, Gabriel's Promise, Counting the Cost, Breathless, Rebel Witch, The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall, Scythe & Sparrow, Chaos King, She Who Became the Sun, He Who Drowned the Earth, Take His Memory to Your Grave, The Raven and the Reindeer, Trigger and Shutter, so I have 12 of 12 reviews written!
And as always, I want to review this week's reviews!
What about you guys? Happy reading!
How Well I Stuck to It #553, February 23rd
Week 9:
The Dark Mirror by Samantha Shannon
NetGalley: NA.
Edelweiss: NA.
New Books: 1. Check.
Just one new book again, but one that I need to read, I love this series so much!
Week 8:
Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli
The Fox and the Falcon by Piper C.J., I'll Pretend You're Mine by Tashie Bhuiyan, Gabriel's Inferno by Sylvain Reynard, Gabriel's Rapture by Sylvain Reynard, Gabriel's Redemption by Sylvain Reynard, Gabriel's Promise by Sylvain Reynard, Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar, Derick Dillard, and Craig Borlase, Breathless by Amy McCulloch, Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli, The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall by J. Ann Thomas, Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver, Chaos King by Kacen Callender, She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan, He Who Drowned the Earth by Shelley Parker-Chan, Take His Memory to Your Grave by Shelley Parker-Chan, The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher, Trigger by Courtney Alameda, Shutter by Courtney Alameda,
I read what I wanted to, and more, so I'm really happy with this week, and I'm hoping that I'll read a good amount this week when I'm on vacation! What about you guys? Happy reading!
Wheel of TBR #248, February 23rd
I saw Codie's Book Corner doing the Wheel of TBR, and I thought that sounded like a great way to pick what to read from your TBR. So thanks to her! I'll only do 3 spins, because I'm doing this every week, and so it won't make up my total TBR of the week, but it'll be a start!
Rules:1. For each week of the month, I'll do 3 spins each week to read each week though I do have the rest of the month to read them. Once a prompt is used, I'll randomly choose one from the list, keeping track of how often a colour comes up. If colour comes up 3 or more times in month, I'll do another spin once it comes up 3 times.
2. If I don't read a book that week or at least start it before the end of the month, then for my next week of spins, I have to add a punishment for each book unread. I'll roll for each unread book, and have to apply each and every punishment chosen to the week.
3. Each month I'll get a prompt from my Binge Read Wheel (either specifically picking the prompt, or spinning the wheel) and I have to read at least 9 books, though I can read more!
Of the books from the last week, I read Gabriel's Rapture by Sylvain Reynard, Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar, Derick Dillard, and Craig Borlase, Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli.
Binge Read Wheel:
For this month, the wheel picked Ebook TBR. I read Breathless by Amy McCulloch, Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli, Chaos King by Kacen Callender, The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher, Uncharted by Adriana Anders, Followed by Frost by Charlie N. Holmberg, so I've read 23/9+.
For next month, the wheel picked Genre.
Prompts Used This Week:
Booktuber Read, Spine, Short Book.
Booktuber Read-Yellow-The Dark Mirror by Samantha Shannon-I've seen Ashleigh from A Frolic Through Fiction love this series, including this book, and I need to read this one ASAP!
Spine-Chartreuse-Pearl Gentian Blue-Heavenbreaker by Sara Wolf-This might not be exact, but there's a few shades of blue on the spine of this book (though I'm going to be listening to the audiobook, I do own the hardcover) so I'll be reading that!
Short Book-Green-Junkyard Roadhouse by Faith Hunter-Goodreads says this book is 153 pages, so that works!
Colour Totals:
Red: 0
Orange: 1
Yellow: 1
Chartreuse: 1
Green: 2
Spring Green: 3
Cyan: 2
Azure: 1
Blue: 0
Violet: 1
Magenta: 1
Rose: 0
Prompts for Next Week:
Red: 0
Orange: 1
Yellow: 1
Chartreuse: 1
Green: 2
Spring Green: 3
Cyan: 2
Azure: 1
Blue: 0
Violet: 1
Magenta: 1
Rose: 0
Prompts for Next Week:
ARC Book to Read in 2024-Red
No Article Words Title-Orange
No Article Words Title-Orange
Newly Published-Yellow
Book to Read in 2023-Chartreuse
Genre-Green
Series Continued and Unfinished/Current 2022-Spring Green
Series Started and Unfinished/Current 2023-Cyan
Reading Now-Azure
Series Continued and Unfinished/Current 2022-Spring Green
Series Started and Unfinished/Current 2023-Cyan
Reading Now-Azure
NetGalley Book to Read in 2021-Blue
ARC Book to Read in 2023-Violet
Series Started and Unfinished/Current 2023-Magenta
ARC Book to Read in 2025-Rose
The Reward Challenge Update #701, February 23rd
The Reward Challenge is almost the complete opposite to a book buying ban as you'll end up buying lots of new books throughout the challenge but only after you've completed a certain amount of reading. It was hosted by Good Golly Miss Holly, so thanks to her for starting it!
OK, so I read The Fox and the Falcon which counts 3 times as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book, I'll Pretend You're Mine which counts 4 times as a Edelweiss Book, SAC 2025 Book and a WoW Book, Gabriel's Inferno which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Gabriel's Rapture which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Gabriel's Redemption which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Gabriel's Promise which counts 3 times as a End of Series 2025 Book and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Counting the Cost which counts twice as a SAC 2025 Book, Breathless which counts twice as a SAC 2025 Book, Rebel Witch which counts 4 times as a End of Series 2025 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book, The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall which counts 3 times as a Netgalley Book and a SAC 2025 Book, Scythe & Sparrow which counts 4 times as a End of Series 2025 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book, Chaos King which counts 4 times as a NetGalley Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book, She Who Became the Sun which counts 5 times as a 2025 Retelling Reading Challenge Books, DAC Book, Historical Fiction 2025 Book and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, He Who Drowned the Earth which counts 6 times as a 2025 Retelling Reading Challenge Books, End of Series 2025 Book, Historical Fiction 2025 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a Sophomore Challenge 2025 Book, Take His Memory to Your Grave which counts 3 times as a Historical Fiction 2025 Book and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, The Raven and the Reindeer which counts 3 times as a 2025 Retelling Reading Challenge Book and a SAC 2025 Book, Trigger which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Shutter which counts 4 times as a DAC Book, End of Series 2025 Book, and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book.
So I have 74 counts which translates to $37 this week! I'll use it to buy books!
OK, so I read The Fox and the Falcon which counts 3 times as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book, I'll Pretend You're Mine which counts 4 times as a Edelweiss Book, SAC 2025 Book and a WoW Book, Gabriel's Inferno which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Gabriel's Rapture which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Gabriel's Redemption which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Gabriel's Promise which counts 3 times as a End of Series 2025 Book and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Counting the Cost which counts twice as a SAC 2025 Book, Breathless which counts twice as a SAC 2025 Book, Rebel Witch which counts 4 times as a End of Series 2025 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book, The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall which counts 3 times as a Netgalley Book and a SAC 2025 Book, Scythe & Sparrow which counts 4 times as a End of Series 2025 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book, Chaos King which counts 4 times as a NetGalley Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book, She Who Became the Sun which counts 5 times as a 2025 Retelling Reading Challenge Books, DAC Book, Historical Fiction 2025 Book and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, He Who Drowned the Earth which counts 6 times as a 2025 Retelling Reading Challenge Books, End of Series 2025 Book, Historical Fiction 2025 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a Sophomore Challenge 2025 Book, Take His Memory to Your Grave which counts 3 times as a Historical Fiction 2025 Book and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, The Raven and the Reindeer which counts 3 times as a 2025 Retelling Reading Challenge Book and a SAC 2025 Book, Trigger which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Shutter which counts 4 times as a DAC Book, End of Series 2025 Book, and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book.
So I have 74 counts which translates to $37 this week! I'll use it to buy books!
Saturday, February 22, 2025
Polarthon Readathon Update 12
So I read my next book for Polarthon Readathon, and it was Followed by Frost which is for the prompt Icy, and I'll be reading Snow Place Like LA next!
My Reading Journey:
My Reading Journey:
Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett
Prompt Fulfilled: Animal Companion
Started On: February 11th
Finished On: February 11th, 6:53 PM
Pages Read: 368
Gabriel's Redemption by Sylvain Reynard
Prompt Fulfilled: White Cover
Started On: February 16th
Finished On: February 16th, 3:26 PM
Pages Read: 496
Gabriel's Promise by Sylvain Reynard
Prompt Fulfilled: Black Cover
Started On: February 16th
Finished On: February 16th, 8:27 PM
Pages Read: 352
Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar, Derick Dillard, and Craig Borlase
Prompt Fulfilled: Non-Fiction
Started On: February 17th
Finished On: February 17th, 10:13 AM
Pages Read: 288
Breathless by Amy McCulloch
Prompt Fulfilled: Snowy Setting
Started On: February 17th
Finished On: February 17th, 7:41 PM
Pages Read: 368
The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall by J. Ann Thomas
Prompt Fulfilled: Blue Cover
Started On: February 19th
Finished On: February 19th, 11:35 AM
Pages Read: 320
Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver
Prompt Fulfilled: Chilly Vibes
Started On: February 19th
Finished On: February 19th, 2:41 PM
Pages Read: 416
Chaos King by Kacen Callender
Prompt Fulfilled: Foiled Cover
Started On: February 19th
Finished On: February 19th, 9:31 PM
Pages Read: 400
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker Chan
Prompt Fulfilled: Snowy
Started On: February 20th
Finished On: February 20th, 12:28 PM
Pages Read: 416
The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher
Prompt Fulfilled: Polar Fantasy
Started On: February 21st
Finished On: February 21st, 1:17 PM
Pages Read: 224
Uncharted by Adriana Anders
Prompt Fulfilled: Arctic Adventure
Started On: February 22nd
Finished On: February 22nd, 3:42 PM
Pages Read: 384
Followed by Frost by Charlie N. Holmberg
Prompt Fulfilled: Icy
Started On: February 22nd
Finished On: February 22nd, 8:17 PM
Pages Read: 264
Snow Place Like LA by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
Prompt Fulfilled: Warm
Started On: February
Currently On: Page of 192
Prompts: Cozy Vibes, Snowy Cover, Winter Read
Read: 12
Pages Read: 4306
Polarthon Readathon Update 11
So I read my next book for Polarthon Readathon, and it was Uncharted which is for the prompt Arctic Adventure, and I'll be reading Followed by Frost next!
My Reading Journey:
My Reading Journey:
Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett
Prompt Fulfilled: Animal Companion
Started On: February 11th
Finished On: February 11th, 6:53 PM
Pages Read: 368
Gabriel's Redemption by Sylvain Reynard
Prompt Fulfilled: White Cover
Started On: February 16th
Finished On: February 16th, 3:26 PM
Pages Read: 496
Gabriel's Promise by Sylvain Reynard
Prompt Fulfilled: Black Cover
Started On: February 16th
Finished On: February 16th, 8:27 PM
Pages Read: 352
Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar, Derick Dillard, and Craig Borlase
Prompt Fulfilled: Non-Fiction
Started On: February 17th
Finished On: February 17th, 10:13 AM
Pages Read: 288
Breathless by Amy McCulloch
Prompt Fulfilled: Snowy Setting
Started On: February 17th
Finished On: February 17th, 7:41 PM
Pages Read: 368
The Spirit Collection of Thorne Hall by J. Ann Thomas
Prompt Fulfilled: Blue Cover
Started On: February 19th
Finished On: February 19th, 11:35 AM
Pages Read: 320
Scythe & Sparrow by Brynne Weaver
Prompt Fulfilled: Chilly Vibes
Started On: February 19th
Finished On: February 19th, 2:41 PM
Pages Read: 416
Chaos King by Kacen Callender
Prompt Fulfilled: Foiled Cover
Started On: February 19th
Finished On: February 19th, 9:31 PM
Pages Read: 400
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker Chan
Prompt Fulfilled: Snowy
Started On: February 20th
Finished On: February 20th, 12:28 PM
Pages Read: 416
The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher
Prompt Fulfilled: Polar Fantasy
Started On: February 21st
Finished On: February 21st, 1:17 PM
Pages Read: 224
Uncharted by Adriana Anders
Prompt Fulfilled: Arctic Adventure
Started On: February 22nd
Finished On: February 22nd, 3:42 PM
Pages Read: 384
Followed by Frost by Charlie N. Holmberg
Prompt Fulfilled: Icy
Started On: February 22nd
Currently On: Page of 264
Prompts: Cozy Vibes, Snowy Cover, Warm, Winter Read
Read: 11
Pages Read: 4042
Week 8 Reviews: Trigger, Shutter
Micheline Helsing is a tetrachromat - a girl who sees the auras of the undead in a prismatic spectrum. Now she's facing one of her most challenging ghost hunts ever. Lock, stock, and lens, she's in for one hell of a ride.
From Goodreads:
My Review:
Author: Courtney Alameda
Series: Shutter #0.5, 1
Read: February 21st, 21st, 2025
Source: Online, Own
Reason Why: Love her writing, and they sounded really good, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Books, and Shutter is a DAC Book and a End of Series 2025 Book!
Publisher: Tor Books, Square Fish
Published: June 3rd 2015, February 3rd 2015
Micheline Helsing is a tetrachromat-a girl who sees the auras of the undead in a prismatic spectrum. As one of the last descendants of the Van Helsing lineage, she has trained since childhood to destroy monsters both corporeal and spiritual: the corporeal undead go down by the bullet, the spiritual undead by the lens. With an analog SLR camera as her best weapon, Micheline exorcises ghosts by capturing their spiritual energy on film. She's aided by her crew: Oliver, a techno-whiz and the boy who developed her camera's technology; Jude, who can predict death; and Ryder, the boy Micheline has known and loved forever.
When a routine ghost hunt goes awry, Micheline and the boys are infected with a curse known as a soulchain. As the ghostly chains spread through their bodies, Micheline learns that if she doesn't exorcise her entity in seven days or less, she and her friends will die. Now pursued as a renegade agent by her monster-hunting father, Leonard Helsing, she must track and destroy an entity more powerful than anything she's faced before . . . or die trying.
Lock, stock, and lens, she's in for one hell of a week.
My Review:
Author: Courtney Alameda
Series: Shutter #0.5, 1
Read: February 21st, 21st, 2025
Source: Online, Own
Reason Why: Love her writing, and they sounded really good, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Books, and Shutter is a DAC Book and a End of Series 2025 Book!
Publisher: Tor Books, Square Fish
Published: June 3rd 2015, February 3rd 2015
Trigger:
 |
| 5/5 Hearts |
 |
| 5/5 Books |
 |
| 5/5 Stars |
Shutter:
|
| 5/5 Hearts |
|
| 5/5 Books |
|
| 5/5 Stars |
Week 8 Review: The Raven and the Reindeer
When Gerta’s friend Kay is stolen away by the mysterious Snow Queen, it's up to Gerta to find him. Her journey will take her through a dangerous land of snow and witchcraft, accompanied only by a bandit and a talking raven. Can she win her friend's release, or will following her heart take her to unexpected places?
A strange, sly retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s "Snow Queen," by T. Kingfisher, author of "Bryony and Roses" and "The Seventh Bride."
My Review:
Author: T. Kingfisher
Read: February 21st, 2025
Source: Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really good, and it's a 2025 Retelling Reading Challenge Book and a SAC 2025 Book!
Publisher: Red Wombat Tea Company
Published: February 7th 2016
|
| 5/5 Hearts |
|
| 5/5 Books |
|
| 5/5 Stars |
Week 8 Reviews: She Who Became the Sun, He Who Drowned the World, Take His Memory to Your Grave
Mulan meets The Song of Achilles; an accomplished, poetic debut of war and destiny, sweeping across an epic alternate China.
"I refuse to be nothing…"
In a famine-stricken village on a dusty yellow plain, two children are given two fates. A boy, greatness. A girl, nothingness…
In 1345, China lies under harsh Mongol rule. For the starving peasants of the Central Plains, greatness is something found only in stories. When the Zhu family's eighth-born son, Zhu Chongba, is given a fate of greatness, everyone is mystified as to how it will come to pass. The fate of nothingness received by the family's clever and capable second daughter, on the other hand, is only as expected.
When a bandit attack orphans the two children, though, it is Zhu Chongba who succumbs to despair and dies. Desperate to escape her own fated death, the girl uses her brother's identity to enter a monastery as a young male novice. There, propelled by her burning desire to survive, Zhu learns she is capable of doing whatever it takes, no matter how callous, to stay hidden from her fate.
After her sanctuary is destroyed for supporting the rebellion against Mongol rule, Zhu uses takes the chance to claim another future altogether: her brother's abandoned greatness.
The sequel and series conclusion to She Who Became the Sun, the accomplished, poetic debut of war and destiny, sweeping across an epic alternate China. Mulan meets The Song of Achilles.
How much would you give to win the world?
Zhu Yuanzhang, the Radiant King, is riding high after her victory that tore southern China from its Mongol masters. Now she burns with a new to seize the throne and crown herself emperor.
But Zhu isn't the only one with imperial ambitions. Her neighbor in the south, the courtesan Madam Zhang, wants the throne for her husband―and she's strong enough to wipe Zhu off the map. To stay in the game, Zhu will have to gamble everything on a risky alliance with an old the talented but unstable eunuch general Ouyang, who has already sacrificed everything for a chance at revenge on his father's killer, the Great Khan.
Unbeknownst to the southerners, a new contender is even closer to the throne. The scorned scholar Wang Baoxiang has maneuvered his way into the capital, and his lethal court games threaten to bring the empire to its knees. For Baoxiang also desires to become the most degenerate Great Khan in history―and in so doing, make a mockery of every value his Mongol warrior family loved more than him.
All the contenders are determined to do whatever it takes to win. But when desire is the size of the world, the price could be too much for even the most ruthless heart to bear…
From Goodreads:
My Review:
These were just such incredible reads! The synopsis sounded really good, and I've heard good things, so when I had the chance to pick up this series, I took it, and I'm so glad that I did, they were all so entertaining to read!
He Who Drowned the World Preorder Reward
My Review:
These were just such incredible reads! The synopsis sounded really good, and I've heard good things, so when I had the chance to pick up this series, I took it, and I'm so glad that I did, they were all so entertaining to read!
This series is not easy, it's difficult and complex, and oh, so enjoyable to read! The first book sets up the world and the characters, and starts plots into motion, and the sequel pushes those dominos down, into such an engaging story. There were such elegant plans, that maybe sometimes were executed a bit messily, but they had their goals, and I really enjoyed seeing them strive towards them.
That the daughter takes over the son's fate after the son gives up on life, yeah, it was so good! It did make it more complicated, but she honestly deserved greatness more then him, because she was willing to put the effort in. And then there's Ouyang, eunuch general who wanted revenge after the way his family was treated, the reason why he's an eunuch. There were a lot of powerful emotions, and I was really captivated by their stories! That ending, though, was so very well done, I really enjoyed where we left these characters!
The preorder reward, yeah, that hurt. After all that happened in these books, their relaitonship is complicated, and we knew how it ended, so seeing this time, knowing what's coming, it hurt. I'm glad that we got it, but it's just so sad in context.
Loved reading these stories and I can't wait to read more by Shelley Parker-Chan!
Author: Shelley Parker-Chan
Series: The Radiant Emperor #1, 2, 2.5
Read: February 20th, 20th, 20th, 2025
Source: Library, Bought, Online
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and they're 2025 Retelling Reading Challenge Books, Historical Fiction 2025, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Books, and She Who Became the Sun is a DAC Book, and He Who Drowned the World is a End of Series 2025 Book and a Sophomore Challenge Book!
Publisher: Macmillan Audio, Tor Books, Shelley Parker-Chan
Published: January 20th 2021, July 16th 2024, August 22nd 2023
Author: Shelley Parker-Chan
Series: The Radiant Emperor #1, 2, 2.5
Read: February 20th, 20th, 20th, 2025
Source: Library, Bought, Online
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and they're 2025 Retelling Reading Challenge Books, Historical Fiction 2025, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Books, and She Who Became the Sun is a DAC Book, and He Who Drowned the World is a End of Series 2025 Book and a Sophomore Challenge Book!
Publisher: Macmillan Audio, Tor Books, Shelley Parker-Chan
Published: January 20th 2021, July 16th 2024, August 22nd 2023
She Who Became the Sun:
|
| 5/5 Hearts |
|
| 5/5 Books |
|
| 5/5 Stars |
He Who Drowned the Earth:
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| 5/5 Hearts |
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| 5/5 Books |
|
| 5/5 Stars |
Take His Memory to Your Grave:
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| 5/5 Hearts |
|
| 5/5 Books |
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| 5/5 Stars |
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