It's Monday! What Are You Reading #727, May 12th

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 #726
Teaser Tuesday #734
WWW Wednesday #734
WOW #730
Will the Time Come #727
Third Sentence Thursday #717
Random Reads #703
First Lines Friday #730
Book Blogger Hop #396
The Reward Challenge Update #712
Wheel of TBR #259
How Well I Stuck to It #564
Wrote that Review Update #561

Week 19 Reviews:
Queen Demon

Mistwood

Silver and Lead

Seas and Shores 

Rosemary and Rue

Strangers in Court

A Local Habitation

An Artificial Night

Late Eclipses

Through This House

One Salt Sea 

In Salt-Sea Tears

Rat-Catcher

Ashes of Honor

No Sooner Met 

Chimes at Midnight 

Full of Briars 

Never Shines the Sun

Forbid the Sea

The Winter Long

The Fixed Stars

Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame

Enigma 

Chase the Dark

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge: 

Update 6

Update 7

Update 8

Update 9

Update 10

Update 11

OK, so I got 25 posts in 7 days, I didn't post a lot, but I binge read half of the series, because I love it, and I needed a few answers. And I'm going to be reading the other half of the series this week! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read whatever I want! 

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge Update 11

Ok, so I read my next book for Clean Sweep ARC Challenge, and it was They Fear Not Men in the Woods and I'll be reading Nobody in Particular next! 

My Reading Journey:

Atonement Sky by Nalini Singh

Started On: May 1st 

Finished On: May 1st, 6:19 PM

Pages Read: 432

Soul of Shadow by Emma Noyes

Started On: May 2nd

Finished On: May 2nd, 10:27 AM

Pages Read: 368

The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Anrum

Started On: May 2nd

Finished On: May 2nd, 4:03 PM

Pages Read: 384

Queen Demon by Martha Wells

Started On: May 3th

Finished On: May 3rd, 3:38 PM

Pages Read: 400

Silver and Lead by Seanan McGuire 

Started On: May 4th

Finished On: May 4th, 2:17 PM

Pages Read: 400

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang

Started On: May 6th

Finished On: May 6th, 9:04 AM

Pages Read: 176

Enigma by RuNyx

Started On: May 7th

Finished On: May 7th, 11:48 AM

Pages Read: 496

Chase the Dark by Annette Marie

Started On: May 9th

Finished On: May 9th, 10:28 AM

Pages Read: 320

Murder Land by Carlyn Greenwald

Started On: May 10th

Finished On: May 10th, 3:04 PM

Pages Read: 339

You've Awoken Her by Ann Dávila Cardinal

Started On: May 10th

Finished On: May 10th, 8:37 PM

Pages Read: 288

They Fear Not Men in the Woods by Gretchen McNeil

Started On: May 11th

Finished On: May 11th, 2:47 PM

Pages Read: 278

Nobody in Particular by Sophie Gonzales

Started On: May 12th

Currently On: Page 0 of 352

Books Read: 11

Goal: 25 Books

Pages Read: 3881

Wrote that Review Update #561, May 11th

If you want to participate, set a certain amount of reviews to write, and once you make that goal, you can get a reward!

My reviews to reward is writing all of the reviews of the week, and I motivated myself to write my review for Queen Demon, Mistwood, Silver and Lead, Seas and Shores, Rosemary and Rue, Strangers in Court, A Local Habitation, An Artificial Night, Late Eclipses, Through This House, One Salt Sea, In Salt-Sea Tears, Rat-Catcher, Ashes of Honor, No Sooner Met, Chimes at Midnight, Full of Briars, Never Shines the Sun, Forbid the Sea, The Winter Long, The Fixed Stars, Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame, Enigma, Chase the Dark, so I have 6 of 6 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 #564, May 11th

So I decided that I should have accountability on sticking to what should be in a week, so I'm doing How Well I Stuck to It every Sunday, because my schedule should be fixed in by now!

Week 20:

Nothing Planned!

Another free week, I'm continuing my reread of the October Daye series, and trying to read as many ARC's as I can.

Week 19:

Nothing Planned!

vs.

Queen Demon by Martha Wells, Mistwood by Leah Cypress, Silver and Lead by Seanan McGuire, Seas and Shores by Seanan McGuire, Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire, Strangers in Court by Seanan McGuire, A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire, An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire, Late Eclipses by Seanan McGuire, Through This House by Seanan McGuire, One Salt Sea by Seanan McGuire, In Salt-Sea Tears by Seanan McGuire, Rat-Catcher by Seanan McGuire, Ashes of Honor by Seanan McGuire, No Sooner Met by Seanan McGuire, Chimes at Midnight by Seanan McGuire, Full of Briars by Seanan McGuire, Never Shines the Sun by Seanan McGuire, Forbid the Sea by Seanan McGuire, The Winter Long by Seanan McGuire, The Fixed Stars by Seanan McGuire, Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang, Enigma by RuNyx, Chase the Dark by Annette Marie 

I had a free week, and I read a pretty decent amount, so I'm happy with that, and my binge reread of the October Daye series, and I need to continue on! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Wheel of TBR #259, May 11th

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 Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire, A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire, Late Eclipses by Seanan McGuire. 

Binge Read Wheel:

For this month, I chose ARC. I read Silver and Lead by Seanan McGuire, Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang, Enigma by RuNyx, Chase the Dark by Annette Marie, Murder Land by Carlyn Greenwald, You've Awoken Her by Ann Dávila Cardinal, so I've read 7/9+.

Prompts Used This Week:
Death Roll, Audiobook, Series Not Touched in 2025. 

Death Roll-Green-A Red-Rose Chain by Seanan McGuire-I had 4 books,, and this is the last one standing after the death roll!

Audiobook-Red-The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem-I have this book as an audiobook from the library, so I'll be reading it! 

Series Not Touched in 2025-Azure-A Curse Carved in Bone by Danielle L. Jensen-I haven't read from this series in 2025, so that works! 

Colour Totals:
Red: 2
Orange: 0
Yellow: 1 
Chartreuse: 0
Green: 1
Spring Green: 0
Cyan: 0
Azure: 1
Blue: 0 
Violet: 0
Magenta: 0
Rose: 1

Prompts for Next Week:

Book to Read in 2025-Red
Oversized Hardcover--Orange

My Initials-Yellow

Series Started and Unfinished/Current 2022-Chartreuse

Short Book-Green

Review Week-Spring Green
2024 Purchase-Cyan
Word-Azure

Series Not Touched since before 2020-Blue

Most Anticipated-Violet

Series Started and Unfinished/Current 2023-Magenta

Blurbed-Rose

So those are some of the books I'm going to try to read this week. What about you guys? Happy reading!

The Reward Challenge Update #712, May 11th

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 Queen Demon which counts 4 times as a NetGalley Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book, Mistwood which counts 4 times as a DAC Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WTC Book, Silver and Lead which counts 4 as a NetGalley Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and WoW Book, Seas and Shores which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Rosemary and Rue which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Strangers in Court which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, A Local Habitation which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, An Artificial Night which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Late Eclipses which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Through This House which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, One Salt Sea which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, In Salt-Sea Tears which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Rat-Catcher which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Ashes of Honor which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, No Sooner Met which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Chimes at Midnight which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Full of Briars which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Never Shines the Sun which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Forbid the Sea which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, The Winter Long which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, The Fixed Stars which counts twice as a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book, Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame which counts 3 times as a NetGalley Book and a SAC 2025 Book, Enigma which counts 3 times as a NetGalley Book and a SAC 2025 Book, Chase the Dark which counts 3 times as a NetGalley Book and a  Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book.

So I have 57 counts which translates to $28.50 this week! I'll use it to buy books!

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge Update 10

Ok, so I read my next book for Clean Sweep ARC Challenge, and it was You've Awoken Her and I'll be reading They Fear Not Men in the Woods next! 

My Reading Journey:

Atonement Sky by Nalini Singh

Started On: May 1st 

Finished On: May 1st, 6:19 PM

Pages Read: 432

Soul of Shadow by Emma Noyes

Started On: May 2nd

Finished On: May 2nd, 10:27 AM

Pages Read: 368

The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Anrum

Started On: May 2nd

Finished On: May 2nd, 4:03 PM

Pages Read: 384

Queen Demon by Martha Wells

Started On: May 3th

Finished On: May 3rd, 3:38 PM

Pages Read: 400

Silver and Lead by Seanan McGuire 

Started On: May 4th

Finished On: May 4th, 2:17 PM

Pages Read: 400

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang

Started On: May 6th

Finished On: May 6th, 9:04 AM

Pages Read: 176

Enigma by RuNyx

Started On: May 7th

Finished On: May 7th, 11:48 AM

Pages Read: 496

Chase the Dark by Annette Marie

Started On: May 9th

Finished On: May 9th, 10:28 AM

Pages Read: 320

Murder Land by Carlyn Greenwald

Started On: May 10th

Finished On: May 10th, 3:04 PM

Pages Read: 339

You've Awoken Her by Ann Dávila Cardinal

Started On: May 10th

Finished On: May 10th, 8:37 PM

Pages Read: 288

They Fear Not Men in the Woods by Gretchen McNeil

Started On: May 11th

Currently On: Page 0 of 278

Books Read: 10

Goal: 25 Books

Pages Read: 3603

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge Update 9

Ok, so I read my next book for Clean Sweep ARC Challenge, and it was Murder Land and I'll be reading You've Awoken Her next! 

My Reading Journey:

Atonement Sky by Nalini Singh

Started On: May 1st 

Finished On: May 1st, 6:19 PM

Pages Read: 432

Soul of Shadow by Emma Noyes

Started On: May 2nd

Finished On: May 2nd, 10:27 AM

Pages Read: 368

The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Anrum

Started On: May 2nd

Finished On: May 2nd, 4:03 PM

Pages Read: 384

Queen Demon by Martha Wells

Started On: May 3th

Finished On: May 3rd, 3:38 PM

Pages Read: 400

Silver and Lead by Seanan McGuire 

Started On: May 4th

Finished On: May 4th, 2:17 PM

Pages Read: 400

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang

Started On: May 6th

Finished On: May 6th, 9:04 AM

Pages Read: 176

Enigma by RuNyx

Started On: May 7th

Finished On: May 7th, 11:48 AM

Pages Read: 496

Chase the Dark by Annette Marie

Started On: May 9th

Finished On: May 9th, 10:28 AM

Pages Read: 320

Murder Land by Carlyn Greenwald

Started On: May 10th

Finished On: May 10th, 3:04 PM

Pages Read: 339

You've Awoken Her by Ann Dávila Cardinal

Started On: May 10th

Currently On: Page 0 of 288

Books Read: 9

Goal: 25 Books

Pages Read: 3315

Week 19 Review: Chase the Dark

From Goodreads:

Piper Griffiths wants one thing in life: To become a Consul, a keeper of the peace between humans and daemons. There are three obstacles in her way.

The first is Lyre. Incubus. Hotter than hell and with a wicked streak to match. His greatest mission in life is to annoy the crap out of her, but he isn't as harmless as he seems. The second is Ash. Draconian. Powerful. Dangerous. He knows too much and reveals nothing. Also, disturbingly attractive — and scary. Did she mention scary?

The third is the Sahar Stone. Top secret magical weapon of mass destruction. Previously hidden in her Consulate until thieves broke in, went on a murder spree, and disappeared with the weapon.

And they left Piper to take the fall for their crimes.

Now she's on the run, her dreams of becoming a Consul shattered and every daemon in the city gunning to kill her. She's dead on her own, but there's no one she can trust — no one except two entirely untrustworthy daemons ... See problems one and two.

My Review:


Author: Annette Marie 
Series: Steel & Stone #1, Steel & Stone Universe Books #1
Read: May 9th, 2025 
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Sounded really good and I love her writing, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book! 
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Published: May 6th 2025

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 19 Review: Enigma

From Goodreads:

A new breathtaking tale of unforgettable romance, set in a dark academia world of secret societies, lush suspense and sizzling sensuality, from RuNyx, the New York Times bestselling author of Gothikana.

Salem Salazar comes to Mortimer University to get to the bottom of her sister's mysterious death. There, obsessed with forensics, she discovers there have been a lot more unexplained deaths on the campus. Her search leads her down a dark and dangerous path to a secret society and to Caz.

Cazimir van der Waal is in her way and another mystery to unravel. Is he just an art student, a man living a double life, or a murderer? While also at the university seeking answers for another death, Caz has a lot more to him than meets the eye.

Secret forces are at play in Mortimer and no one is safe. As Salem tries to go under radar and Caz tries to block her path, somehow, they both end up in the crossfire of a powerful, secret society. They are forced to work together to discover the truth or risk losing their lives.

In this magnificent, steamy dark academia romance from RuNyx, sparks will fly, rivals will become lovers, and terrible secrets will be unleashed.

My Review:


Author: RuNyx
Read: May 7th, 2025
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a SAC 2025 Book! 
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Published: April 29th 2025

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 19 Review: Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame

From Goodreads:

With an armored, oath-bound hero reminiscent of The Mandalorian and the Asian-inspired epic fantasy of She Who Became the Sun , Neon Yang's Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame is a stunning queer novella about a dragon hunter finding home with a dragon queen.

Few know the true identity of the masked guildknight of Mithrandon.

She barely remembers herself.

The masked guildknight—Yeva—was thirteen when she killed her first dragon. With her gift revealed, she was shipped away to the imperial capital to train in the rare art of dragon-slaying. Now a legendary dragon hunter, she has never truly felt at home—nor removed her armor in public—since that fateful day all those years ago.

Yeva must now go to Quanbao, a fiercely independent and reclusive kingdom. It is rumored that there, dragons are not feared as is right and proper, but instead loved and worshipped. It is rumored that there, they harbor a dragon behind their borders.

While Yeva searches for the dreaded beast, she is welcomed into the palace by Quanbao's monarch, Lady Sookhee. Though wary of each other, Yeva is shocked to find herself slowly opening up to the beautiful, mysterious queen.

As they grow closer, Yeva longs to let Lady Sookhee see the person behind the armor, but she knows she must fulfill her purpose and slay the dragon. Ultimately, she must decide who—or what—she is willing to her own heart, or the sacred duty that she has called home for so long.

My Review:


Author: Neon Yang 
Read: May 6th, 2025 
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a SAC 2025 Book! 
Publisher: Recorded Books
Published: May 6th 2025

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 19 Reviews: Silver and Lead, Seas and Shores, Rosemary and Rue, Strangers in Court, A Local Habitation, An Artificial Night, Late Eclipses, Through This House, One Salt Sea, In Salt-Sea Tears, Rat-Catcher, Ashes of Honor, No Sooner Met, Chimes at Midnight, Full of Briars, Never Shines the Sun, Forbid the Sea, The Winter Long, The Fixed Stars

From Goodreads:

Seanan McGuire's New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award-nominated October Daye series continues as Toby Daye is thrust once again into danger... and this time she has more than ever to protect.

Something is rotten in Faerie. In the aftermath of Titania's reality-warping enchantment, things are returning to what passes for normal in the Kingdom in the Mists―until it's discovered that the royal vaults have been looted, and several powerful magical artifacts are missing. None are things that can be safely left unsecured, and some have the potential to do almost as much damage as Titania did, and having them in the wrong hands could prove just as disastrous

At least the theft means that Sir October "Toby" Daye, Knight errant and Hero of the Realm, finally has an excuse to get out of the house. Sure, she's eight and a half months pregnant, but that doesn't mean she can't take care of herself. But with the sea witch offering to stand godmother to Toby's child, maybe there are greater dangers ahead for Toby and her family than it appears....

Old enemies will resurface, new enemies will disguise themselves as friends, and Queen Windermere must try to keep her Hero on the case without getting herself gutted by the increasingly irritated local King of Cats. Sometimes, what's been lost can be the most dangerous threat of all.

My Review:

Author: Seanan McGuire 
Series: October Daye #19, 19.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 4.1, 5, 5.1, 5.2, 6, 

First Read:

Second Read: 
Read: May 4th 4th, 4th, 4th, 5th, 6th, 6th, 6th, 7th, 7th, 7th, 7th, 7th, 8th, 8th, 8th, 8th, 8th, 9th, 9th, 9th, 2025 
Source: NetGalley, Own 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series so much, and they're Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Books, and Silver and Lead is a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: September 30th 2025, September 30th 2025, 

Silver and Lead: 

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Seas and Shores:

Rosemary and Rue

Strangers in Court

A Local Habitation

An Artificial Night

Late Eclipses

Through This House

One Salt Sea 

In Salt-Sea Tears

Rat-Catcher

Ashes of Honor

No Sooner Met 

Chimes at Midnight 

Full of Briars 

Never Shines the Sun

Forbid the Sea

The Winter Long

The Fixed Stars

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 19 Review: Mistwood

From Goodreads:

The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwood. But when she is needed she always comes.

Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.

Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty—because without it, she may be his greatest threat.

Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.

Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew.

My Review:


Author: Leah Cypress
Series: Mistwood #1
Read: May 3rd, 2025 
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really good, and it's a DAC Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WTC Book! 
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Published: July 14th 2009

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 19 Review: Queen Demon

From Goodreads:

From the breakout SFF superstar author of Murderbot comes the remarkable sequel to the USA Today and Sunday Times bestselling novel, Witch King. A fantasy of epic scope, Queen Demon is a story of power and friendship, of trust and betrayal, and of the families we choose.

Dahin believes he has clues to the location of the Hierarchs' Well, and the Witch King Kai, along with his companions Ziede and Tahren, knowing there's something he isn't telling them, travel with him to the rebuilt university of Ancartre, which may be dangerously close to finding the Well itself.

Can Kai stop the rise of a new Hierarch?

And can he trust his companions to do what’s right?

Follow Kai to the end of the world in this thrilling sequel to the USA Today-bestselling Witch King.

My Review:


Author: Martha Wells 
Series: The Rising World #2
Read: May 3rd, 2025
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2025 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Tor Books 
Expected Publication: October 7th 2025

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge Update 8

Ok, so I read my next book for Clean Sweep ARC Challenge, and it was Chase the Dark and I'll be reading Murder Land next! 

My Reading Journey:

Atonement Sky by Nalini Singh

Started On: May 1st 

Finished On: May 1st, 6:19 PM

Pages Read: 432

Soul of Shadow by Emma Noyes

Started On: May 2nd

Finished On: May 2nd, 10:27 AM

Pages Read: 368

The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Anrum

Started On: May 2nd

Finished On: May 2nd, 4:03 PM

Pages Read: 384

Queen Demon by Martha Wells

Started On: May 3th

Finished On: May 3rd, 3:38 PM

Pages Read: 400

Silver and Lead by Seanan McGuire 

Started On: May 4th

Finished On: May 4th, 2:17 PM

Pages Read: 400

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang

Started On: May 6th

Finished On: May 6th, 9:04 AM

Pages Read: 176

Enigma by RuNyx

Started On: May 7th

Finished On: May 7th, 11:48 AM

Pages Read: 496

Chase the Dark by Annette Marie

Started On: May 9th

Finished On: May 9th, 10:28 AM

Pages Read: 320

Murder Land by Carlyn Greenwald

Started On: May 10th

Currently On: Page 0 of 339

 

Books Read: 8

Goal: 25 Books

Pages Read: 2976

Book Blogger Hop #396, May 9th

Book Blogger Hop

The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Jennifer from Crazy-For-Books in March 2010 and ended on December 31, 2012. With Jennifer's permission, Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer relaunched the meme on February 15, 2013. Check out the hop here! 

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: Have you ever looked at the young adult book section in a modern bookstore and felt out of touch or old? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

Nope, I love YA, and the further I get away from the target audience, I'm not noticing, because I only think the thoughts that the narrator is, I have a hard time getting out when I'm reading, and so I don't have that outside critical thoughts even when I'm not reading the book. What about you guys? Happy reading! 

First Lines Friday #730, May 9th

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!

"The woods were dark, filled with strange shadows. They twisted and swirled independent of any light source, making the space beneath the towering sequoias look treacherous and wild. Not much in the way of illumination could trickle all thew ay down through the tightly-laced branches to ground level; the few streaks of moonlight that had managed to reach us were washed out and thin managed to seem almost darker than having no light at all."-The Winter Long by Seanan McGuire

Well that sounds pretty atmospheric! Must reread more now! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Random Reads #703, May 8th

Random Reads is a monthly meme (that I'm going to do weekly) hosted by I'm Loving Books to read some books that have been on our TBR piles for a long time. Using Random.org, I got 3435 which turned out to be by The Dragon's Price by Bethany Wiggins! It's been on my TBR pile since February 23rd, 2016, and I added it because it sounded really good! What about you guys? Happy reading!

Third Sentence Thursday #717, May 8th

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!

"Maybe I'd been avoiding him long enough." -Ashes of Honor by Seanan McGuire, page 20.

Yeah, maybe! But with no context, I don't know! Must reread more! What are your guy's 3rd lines? Link up below!

Will the Time Come #727, May 8th

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

From Goodreads:

Moving to a new high school sucks. Especially a rich-kid private school. With uniforms. But nothing is worse than finding out the first girl you meet is dead. And a klepto.

No one can see or hear Kimberlee except Jeff, so--in hopes of bringing an end to the snarkiest haunting in history--he agrees to help her complete her "unfinished business." But when the enmity between Kimberlee and Jeff's new crush, Sera, manages to continue posthumously, Jeff wonders if he's made the right choice.

Clash meets sass in this uproarious modern-day retelling of Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Why the time hasn't come yet...

I've read a few of her books, but it's a stand alone, so as always, I don't have something to remind me that this book exists.I just want to read it, it sounds really good! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge Update 7

Ok, so I read my next book for Clean Sweep ARC Challenge, and it was Enigma and I'll be reading Chase the Dark next! 

My Reading Journey:

Atonement Sky by Nalini Singh

Started On: May 1st 

Finished On: May 1st, 6:19 PM

Pages Read: 432

Soul of Shadow by Emma Noyes

Started On: May 2nd

Finished On: May 2nd, 10:27 AM

Pages Read: 368

The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Anrum

Started On: May 2nd

Finished On: May 2nd, 4:03 PM

Pages Read: 384

Queen Demon by Martha Wells

Started On: May 3th

Finished On: May 3rd, 3:38 PM

Pages Read: 400

Silver and Lead by Seanan McGuire 

Started On: May 4th

Finished On: May 4th, 2:17 PM

Pages Read: 400

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang

Started On: May 6th

Finished On: May 6th, 9:04 AM

Pages Read: 176

Enigma by RuNyx

Started On: May 7th

Finished On: May 7th, 11:48 AM

Pages Read: 496

Chase the Dark by Annette Marie

Started On: May 9th

Currently On: Page 0 of 320

 

Books Read: 7

Goal: 25 Books

Pages Read: 2656

Waiting on Wednesday #730, May 7th

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating!

Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong

Expected Publication: May 20th, 2025
From Goodreads:

Death at a Highland Wedding is the fourth installment in New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong's gripping Rip Through Time Novels.

After slipping 150 years into the past, modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson has embraced her new life in Victorian Scotland as housemaid Catriona Mitchel. Although it isn’t what she expected, she's developed real, meaningful relationships with the people around her and has come to love her role as assistant to undertaker Dr. Duncan Gray and Detective Hugh McCreadie.

Mallory, Gray, and McCreadie are on their way to the Scottish Highlands for McCreadie's younger sister's wedding. The McCreadies and the groom’s family, the Cranstons, have a complicated history which has made the weekend quite uncomfortable. But the Cranston estate is beautiful so Gray and Mallory decide to escape the stifling company and set off to explore the castle and surrounding wilderness. They discover that the groom, Archie Cranston, a slightly pompous and prickly man, has set up deadly traps in the woods for the endangered Scottish wildcats, and they soon come across a cat who's been caught and severely injured. Oddly, Mallory notices the cat's injuries don't match up with the intricacies of the trap. These strange irregularities, combined with the secretive and erratic behavior of the groom, put Mallory and Duncan on edge. And then when one of the guests is murdered, they must work fast to uncover the murderer before another life is lost.

New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong’s unique time travel mystery series continues to entertain as Mallory adjusts to life in the 1870s.

Rebel in the Deep by Katee Robert

Expected Publication: May 20th, 2025
From Goodreads:

The rebellion’s fight turns into a battle for their hearts aboard the next sexy fantasy romance from Katee Robert, the New York Times bestselling author of Hunt on Dark Waters.

Nox has been steadfastly working as a quartermaster for the rebellion for years. They don’t ask for much in return, except for one crucial condition—their ex, the noble Lord Bastian, stays as far away from them as possible. To say things ended poorly between them is a gross understatement . . . and it’s the only relationship Nox has never quite recovered from.

But now the rules have changed. Siobhan, the rebel leader, has emerged from hiding to tell Nox that Bastian’s involvement in the rebellion has been discovered, and he’s being taken to stand trial in the capital as a traitor. The fate of the entire rebellion now rests on Nox and Siobhan’s ability to rescue Bastian from the Cŵn Annwn ship.

Saving Bastian is only the start of their hardships, as the trio is tracked by ferocious pirates across Threshold. And Nox’s complicated relationships and entanglements with Bastian and Siobhan put not only their life at risk but their heart on the line.

Marked by Moonlight by Sophie Jordan

Expected Publication: May 20th, 2025
From Goodreads:

“A riveting plot, steeping with sultry sexual tension and unforgettable love scenes” (Kresley Cole, #1 New York Times bestselling author), makes this first entry in the Moon Chasers series an unforgettable paranormal romance.

Claire Morgan has always been the quiet one: a shy, mousy schoolteacher, overlooked and unwanted. Until one day, out of nowhere, she wakes up a whole new woman—bold, wild, passionate...and impossible to ignore.

When Gideon March tells her she was bitten by a werewolf, Claire doesn’t want to believe the brutally handsome stranger. Sure, she was attacked by a nasty dog in a back alley, but this guy insists he’s a member of an underground society of lycan hunters and his mission is to kill her.

But Claire and Gideon are bound by a desire they can’t resist. And if they can’t break the curse by the next full moon, Claire’s soul will be lost forever and Gideon will be forced to end the woman who is dangerously close to devouring him, heart and soul.

Not Safe for World by Nisha J. Tuli

Expected Publication: May 20th, 2025
From Goodreads:

Rival engineers dabble in personal chemistry while at a tropical company retreat in this smart, zippy romcom.

Engineer Trishara Malik once dreamed of being the first woman of color to smash the glass ceiling at WMC Purcell, but after years of dealing with white male privilege and blatant nepotism, she watches her hard-earned promotion go to her nemesis, Rafe Gallagher—the boss’s son. Teetering on the edge of burnout, Tris is stunned when she’s picked to attend WMC's corporate leadership retreat in Hawaii. It’s a chance to revive her stalled career and compete for a coveted spot in an executive training program—plus, three weeks in paradise! The only downside? Rafe is her co-attendee.

Tris plans to avoid Rafe entirely, but when she arrives in Maui, a booking error has them stuck sharing the honeymoon suite. Sure, it’s not all torture. Rafe is a smoldering ten—okay fine, an eleven—but after years of competition, they can barely stand being in the same time zone. As they vie against each other during aptitude tests and team-building exercises, Tris begins to realize Rafe might not be the villain after all. With her dreams at stake, can she learn to trust the man who might have been standing in her corner all along?

The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig

Expected Publication: May 20th, 2025
From Goodreads:

From NYT bestselling author Rachel Gillig comes the next big romantasy sensation, a gothic, mist-cloaked tale of a young prophetess who is forced on an impossible quest with the one infuriating knight whose future is beyond her sight. Perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout and Leigh Bardugo.

Sybil Delling has spent nine years dreaming of having no dreams at all. Like the other foundling girls who traded a decade of service for a home in the great cathedral, Sybil is a Diviner. In her dreams she receives visions from six unearthly figures known as Omens. From them, she can predict terrible things before they occur, and lords and common folk alike travel across the kingdom of Traum’s windswept moors to learn their futures by her dreams.

Just as she and her sister Diviners near the end of their service, a mysterious knight arrives at the cathedral. Rude, heretical, and devilishly handsome, the knight Rodrick has no respect for Sybil's visions. But when Sybil's fellow Diviners begin to vanish one by one, she has no choice but to seek his help in finding them. For the world outside the cathedral’s cloister is wrought with peril. Only the gods have the answers she is seeking, and as much as she'd rather avoid Rodrick's dark eyes and sharp tongue, only a heretic can defeat a god. 

Behooved by M. Stevenson

Expected Publication: May 20th, 2025
From Goodreads:

A charming slow-burn romantasy featuring a duty-bound noblewoman with a chronic illness, a prince who would rather be in a library than on a throne, and a magical ride through a world of cozy enchantment

Bianca knows her duty comes before her heart. So when the threat of war looms, she agrees to marry the neighboring kingdom’s heir. But not all royal weddings are a fairytale, and Prince Aric, Bianca’s betrothed, is cold, aloof, and seems to hate her on sight.

To make matters worse, on their wedding night, an assassination attempt goes awry—leaving Aric magically transformed into a horse. Bianca does what any bride in this situation would she mounts her new husband and rides away to safety.

Sunset returns Aric to human form, but they soon discover the assassination attempt is part of a larger plot against the throne. Worse, Bianca has been framed for Aric’s murder, and she’s now saddled with a husband who is a horse by day and a frustratingly attractive man by night.

As an unexpected romance begins galloping away with their hearts, Bianca and Aric must rely on each other to unravel the curse and save the throne.

"Behooved is bewitchingly charming, a romantic fairy-tale adventure that will sweep you off your feet (or hooves)!"—Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

Don't Let Me Go by Kevin Christopher Snipes

Expected Publication: May 20th, 2025
From Goodreads:

From acclaimed author Kevin Christopher Snipes comes a moving romance about two star-crossed boys trapped in a millennium-spanning cycle of reincarnation whose only hope of escape may be a price that neither is willing to pay. Perfect for fans of Adam Silvera and Eliot Shrefer!

Out and proud, Riley Iverson knows there’s nothing more cringe than crushing on a straight boy. But from the moment that the handsome, sporty, and painfully heterosexual Jackson Haines walks into his life, Riley can’t help but feel an instant and undeniable connection. Mainly because, as impossible as it seems, Jackson is the spitting image of the boy who’s recently appeared in Riley’s dreams—dreams set in another time and another place where he and Jackson were desperately in love.

At first Riley tries to dismiss the coincidence as a product of his hormone-fueled, overactive imagination, but as his friendship with Jackson deepens into something more, the dreams prove harder to ignore. Especially when Jackson begins having them too. Plunged into increasingly vivid visions of the past, the boys find themselves in various eras scattered throughout history. No matter where or when their dreams take them, though, two things remain Riley and Jackson are always together, and they always die at the end.

As it becomes increasingly difficult to view their dreams as anything but warnings, the boys are forced to consider the possibility that their burgeoning relationship might be propelling them headfirst into their own tragic ending. But is it worth staying apart to save their lives if the price is forsaking a love that has defied not only time and space but even death itself?

Oh, there's some really amazing books here, I've read almost all of them and they were all so good, and they're all some really great authors, and I can't wait for them to come out! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

WWW Wednesday #734, May 7th

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• 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! 

I'm currently reading One Salt Sea, and yeah, loving it again!

I read Late Eclipses, and it so so good to read it again! 

I'm going to be reading Ashes of Honor, because I need to continue on with my reread! 

What about you guys? Happy reading!

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge Update 6

Ok, so I read my next book for Clean Sweep ARC Challenge, and it was Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame and I'll be reading Enigma next! 

My Reading Journey:

Atonement Sky by Nalini Singh

Started On: May 1st 

Finished On: May 1st, 6:19 PM

Pages Read: 432

Soul of Shadow by Emma Noyes

Started On: May 2nd

Finished On: May 2nd, 10:27 AM

Pages Read: 368

The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Anrum

Started On: May 2nd

Finished On: May 2nd, 4:03 PM

Pages Read: 384

Queen Demon by Martha Wells

Started On: May 3th

Finished On: May 3rd, 3:38 PM

Pages Read: 400

Silver and Lead by Seanan McGuire 

Started On: May 4th

Finished On: May 4th, 2:17 PM

Pages Read: 400

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang

Started On: May 6th

Finished On: May 6th, 9:04 AM

Pages Read: 176

Enigma by RuNyx

Started On: May 7th

Currently On: Page 0 of 496

 

Books Read: 6

Goal: 25 Books

Pages Read: 2160

Teaser Tuesday #734, May 6th

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• 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!

Today's teaser comes from An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire, page 8.

"I'd finally managed to make it to a toy store downtown just before closing, where the clerk assured me that no four-year-old boy could ever have enough plastic dinosaurs. Since I'd been out of bed for less than half an hour, I was groggy enough that I would  have agreed to buy the kid a box of plastic forks if it meant I could get out of there and go for coffee."

Yeah, being sleepy right after getting up is real., and I love the humour of this! Must reread more now! What about you guys? Happy reading!