It's Monday! What Are You Reading #534, August 30th

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 #533
Teaser Tuesday #541
WWW Wednesday #541
WOW #537
Will the Time Come #534
Third Sentence Thursday #524
Random Reads #510
First Lines Friday #537
Book Blogger Hop #203

21 Books to Read in 2021 Update 11
The Reward Challenge Update #519
Wheel of TBR #66
How Well I Stuck to It #371
Wrote that Review Update #369

Week 34 Reviews:
Reaper of Souls

Phoenix Flame

Don't Read the Comments

A RomaJuliette Christmas Special

Our Violent Ends

The Book of Living Secrets

Breaking Badger

Follow Me Back

The Bullet

Tour:

True Dead: Review

ARC August: 

Update 13

Update 14

Update 15

Update 16

Update 17

Update 18

Update 19

Update 20

Update 21

Among Us Readathon: 

Update 17

Update 18

Update 19

Update 20

Update 21

Update 22

Update 23

Update 24

Update 25

TBR Trail July: 

Update 6 and Wrap Up

Polarthon: The Meltdown: 

Update 1

Update 2

Update 3 and Wrap Up

Random:

Chloe Gong Author Page

Shelby Mahurin Author Page

OK, so I got 47 posts in 7 days, and yeah, reading is picking up, which is really great, and the house is starting to come together, though I've hit a snag what with 2 of the new bookcases (that are the same) the cam bolts aren't screwing in all the way. Bah. I'm no carpenter, but my grandpa has extensive experience, so my mom might be able to help. But I should be able to do some other work on unpacking! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read whatever I want to, I have a few readathon prompts left to fulfill before next month starts! 

Week 34 Review: Don't Read the Comments

From Goodreads:
Divya Sharma is a queen. Or she is when she's playing Reclaim the Sun, the year's hottest online game. Divya—better known as popular streaming gamer D1V—regularly leads her #AngstArmada on quests through the game's vast and gorgeous virtual universe. But for Divya, this is more than just a game. Out in the real world, she's trading her rising-star status for sponsorships to help her struggling single mom pay the rent.

Gaming is basically Aaron Jericho's entire life. Much to his mother's frustration, Aaron has zero interest in becoming a doctor like her, and spends his free time writing games for a local developer. At least he can escape into Reclaim the Sun—and with a trillion worlds to explore, disappearing should be easy. But to his surprise, he somehow ends up on the same remote planet as celebrity gamer D1V.

At home, Divya and Aaron grapple with their problems alone, but in the game, they have each other to face infinite new worlds…and the growing legion of trolls populating them. Soon the virtual harassment seeps into reality when a group called the Vox Populi begin launching real-world doxxing campaigns, threatening Aaron's dreams and Divya's actual life. The online trolls think they can drive her out of the game, but everything and everyone Divya cares about is on the line…

And she isn't going down without a fight. 

My Review:
This book was so fantastic! The whole concept of this book, of trolls going after these two, was just infuriating, and I wanted to see how these characters would deal with it! Especially Divya, given that gaming is portrayed by the media to be male dominated, and is most likely like that in real life.

So much of this book, of the way that both of these characters were treated, just boiled my blood! The Vox Populi, like really, you're really going to be that immature and awful? It's just a game, and you escalated it to real life, and that's not cool! And how Aaron slowly became disillusioned about his so-called friends actually paying him for his work. 

Divya is supporting her family by being a gamer streamer. Since her dad left, and her mom is almost done with going back to school, she's earning money to pay the bills, which puts a lot of stress on her. This situation with the trolls makes a difficult situation even harder.

I really enjoyed their relationship, because he's pretty awed by her, and they really had a chance encounter that really grew into something bigger! But that they never met in person-until the con, and things go down in a big way! That was so satisfying to read, on so many levels! 

I had such a great time reading this book, and I can't wait to see what Eric Smith writes next!

Author: Eric Smith
Read: August 22nd, 2021
Source: NetGalley/Library
Reason Why: Sounded really great, and it's a SAC 2021 Book!
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Published: January 28th 2020

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Among Us Readathon Update 16

So I read my next book for Among Us Readathon, and it was Don't Read the Comments which was for the prompt Kill Purple, and I'll be reading The Book of Living Secrets next! 

My Reading Journey:

The Starless Crown by James Rollins

Prompt Fulfilled: Fake a Task

Started On: August 1st

Finished On: August 1st, 10:54 PM

Pages Read: 704

Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Orange

Started On: August 3rd

Finished On: August 3rd, 9:52 PM

Pages Read: 304

The Midnight Girls by Alicia Jasinska

Prompt Fulfilled: Vent

Started On: August 4th

Finished On: August 4th, 10:00 PM

Pages Read: 384

Archangel's Light by Nalini Singh

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Red

Started On: August 5th

Finished On: August 5th, 11:14 PM

Pages Read: 368

Unpregnant by Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Pink

Started On: August 9th

Finished On: August 9th, 11:52 AM

Pages Read: 335

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett

Prompt Fulfilled: Blame Someone Else

Started On: August 11th

Finished On: August 11th, 11:24 AM

Pages Read: 433

The Duke Goes Down by Sophie Jordan 

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Lime

Started On: August 14th

Finished On: August 14th, 11:01 PM

Pages Read: 352

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Green

Started On: August 16th

Finished On: August 16th, 10:01 PM

Pages Read: 496

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Yellow

Started On: August 17th

Finished On: August 17th, 8:49 PM

Pages Read: 416

Reclaimed by Madeleine Roux

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill White

Started On: August 18th

Finished On: August 18th, 9:48 PM

Pages Read: 368

Kill Joy by Holly Jackson

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Brown

Started On: August 19th

Finished On: August 18th, 2:52 PM

Pages Read: 128

As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Cyan

Started On: August 19th

Finished On: August 19th, 10:15 PM

Pages Read: 565

Master of Tomes by Honor Raconteur

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Black

Started On: August 20th

Finished On: August 20th, 8:26 PM

Pages Read: 223

Reaper of Souls by Rena Barron

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Blue

Started On: August 21st

Finished On: August 21st, 6:57 PM

Pages Read: 448

Phoenix Flame by Sara Holland

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Brown

Started On: August 21st

Finished On: August 21st, 11:45 PM

Pages Read: 320

Don't Read the Comments by Eric Smith

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Purple

Started On: August 22nd

Finished On: August 22nd, 8:10 PM

Pages Read: 368

The Book of Living Secrets by Madeleine Roux

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Extra 1 - Kill Green

Started On: August 23rd

Currently On: Page 0 of 400

Prompts Left: Kill Extra 2

Read: 16
Pages Read: 6211

ARC August Update 12

So I read my next book for ARC August, and it was Don't Read the Comments and I'll be reading The Book of Living Secrets next! 

My Reading Journey:

The Starless Crown by James Rollins

Started On: August 1st

Finished On: August 1st, 10:54 PM

Pages Read: 704

Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Started On: August 3rd

Finished On: August 3rd, 9:52 PM

Pages Read: 304

The Midnight Girls by Alicia Jasinska

Started On: August 4th

Finished On: August 4th, 10:00 PM

Pages Read: 384

Archangel's Light by Nalini Singh

Started On: August 5th

Finished On: August 5th, 11:14 PM

Pages Read: 368

Unpregnant by Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan

Started On: August 9th

Finished On: August 9th, 11:52 AM

Pages Read: 335

The Duke Goes Down by Sophie Jordan 

Started On: August 14th

Finished On: August 14th, 11:01 PM

Pages Read: 352

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury

Started On: August 16th

Finished On: August 16th, 10:01 PM

Pages Read: 496

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

Started On: August 17th

Finished On: August 17th, 8:49 PM

Pages Read: 416

Reclaimed by Madeleine Roux

Started On: August 18th

Finished On: August 18th, 9:48 PM

Pages Read: 368

Reaper of Souls by Rena Barron

Started On: August 21st

Finished On: August 21st, 6:57 PM

Pages Read: 448

Phoenix Flame by Sara Holland

Started On: August 21st

Finished On: August 21st, 11:45 PM

Pages Read: 320

Don't Read the Comments by Eric Smith

Started On: August 22nd

Finished On: August 22nd, 8:10 PM

Pages Read: 368

The Book of Living Secrets by Madeleine Roux

Started On: August 23rd

Currently On: Page 0 of 400

Goals: 31
Read: 12
Pages Read: 4911

Among Us Readathon Update 15

So I read my next book for Among Us Readathon, and it was Phoenix Flame which was for the prompt Kill Brown, and I'll be reading Don't Read the Comments next! 

My Reading Journey:

The Starless Crown by James Rollins

Prompt Fulfilled: Fake a Task

Started On: August 1st

Finished On: August 1st, 10:54 PM

Pages Read: 704

Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Orange

Started On: August 3rd

Finished On: August 3rd, 9:52 PM

Pages Read: 304

The Midnight Girls by Alicia Jasinska

Prompt Fulfilled: Vent

Started On: August 4th

Finished On: August 4th, 10:00 PM

Pages Read: 384

Archangel's Light by Nalini Singh

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Red

Started On: August 5th

Finished On: August 5th, 11:14 PM

Pages Read: 368

Unpregnant by Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Pink

Started On: August 9th

Finished On: August 9th, 11:52 AM

Pages Read: 335

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett

Prompt Fulfilled: Blame Someone Else

Started On: August 11th

Finished On: August 11th, 11:24 AM

Pages Read: 433

The Duke Goes Down by Sophie Jordan 

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Lime

Started On: August 14th

Finished On: August 14th, 11:01 PM

Pages Read: 352

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Green

Started On: August 16th

Finished On: August 16th, 10:01 PM

Pages Read: 496

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Yellow

Started On: August 17th

Finished On: August 17th, 8:49 PM

Pages Read: 416

Reclaimed by Madeleine Roux

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill White

Started On: August 18th

Finished On: August 18th, 9:48 PM

Pages Read: 368

Kill Joy by Holly Jackson

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Brown

Started On: August 19th

Finished On: August 18th, 2:52 PM

Pages Read: 128

As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Cyan

Started On: August 19th

Finished On: August 19th, 10:15 PM

Pages Read: 565

Master of Tomes by Honor Raconteur

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Black

Started On: August 20th

Finished On: August 20th, 8:26 PM

Pages Read: 223

Reaper of Souls by Rena Barron

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Blue

Started On: August 21st

Finished On: August 21st, 6:57 PM

Pages Read: 448

Phoenix Flame by Sara Holland

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Brown

Started On: August 21st

Finished On: August 21st, 11:45 PM

Pages Read: 320

Don't Read the Comments by Eric Smith

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Purple

Started On: August 22nd

Currently On: Page 0 of 368

Prompts Left: Kill Purple, Kill Extra 1, Kill Extra 2

Read: 15
Pages Read: 5843

ARC August Update 11

So I read my next book for ARC August, and it was Phoenix Flame and I'll be reading Don't Read the Comments next! 

My Reading Journey:

The Starless Crown by James Rollins

Started On: August 1st

Finished On: August 1st, 10:54 PM

Pages Read: 704

Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Started On: August 3rd

Finished On: August 3rd, 9:52 PM

Pages Read: 304

The Midnight Girls by Alicia Jasinska

Started On: August 4th

Finished On: August 4th, 10:00 PM

Pages Read: 384

Archangel's Light by Nalini Singh

Started On: August 5th

Finished On: August 5th, 11:14 PM

Pages Read: 368

Unpregnant by Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan

Started On: August 9th

Finished On: August 9th, 11:52 AM

Pages Read: 335

The Duke Goes Down by Sophie Jordan 

Started On: August 14th

Finished On: August 14th, 11:01 PM

Pages Read: 352

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury

Started On: August 16th

Finished On: August 16th, 10:01 PM

Pages Read: 496

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

Started On: August 17th

Finished On: August 17th, 8:49 PM

Pages Read: 416

Reclaimed by Madeleine Roux

Started On: August 18th

Finished On: August 18th, 9:48 PM

Pages Read: 368

Reaper of Souls by Rena Barron

Started On: August 21st

Finished On: August 21st, 6:57 PM

Pages Read: 448

Phoenix Flame by Sara Holland

Started On: August 21st

Finished On: August 21st, 11:45 PM

Pages Read: 320

Don't Read the Comments by Eric Smith

Started On: August 22nd

Currently On: Page 0 of 368

Goals: 31
Read: 11
Pages Read: 4543

First Lines Friday #536, August 20th

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!

"'Mom. We've been over this. Don't read the comments,' I say, sighing as my mother stares at me with her fretful, deep-set eyes. They're dark green, just like mine, and stand out against her soft brown skin. Wrinkle lines trail out from the corners, like thin tree branches, grown over a lifetime of worrying.

I wish I could wash away all of her worries, but I only seem to be causing her more lately." -Don't Read the Comments by Eric Smith

Well, this is rather sad, but it's kinda funny that the title is spoke right at the start! Must read more now! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Among Us Readathon Update 12

So I read my next book for Among Us Readathon, and it was As Good As Dead which was for the prompt Kill Cyan, and I'll be reading Don't Read the Comments next! 

My Reading Journey:

The Starless Crown by James Rollins

Prompt Fulfilled: Fake a Task

Started On: August 1st

Finished On: August 1st, 10:54 PM

Pages Read: 704

Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Orange

Started On: August 3rd

Finished On: August 3rd, 9:52 PM

Pages Read: 304

The Midnight Girls by Alicia Jasinska

Prompt Fulfilled: Vent

Started On: August 4th

Finished On: August 4th, 10:00 PM

Pages Read: 384

Archangel's Light by Nalini Singh

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Red

Started On: August 5th

Finished On: August 5th, 11:14 PM

Pages Read: 368

Unpregnant by Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Pink

Started On: August 9th

Finished On: August 9th, 11:52 AM

Pages Read: 335

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett

Prompt Fulfilled: Blame Someone Else

Started On: August 11th

Finished On: August 11th, 11:24 AM

Pages Read: 433

The Duke Goes Down by Sophie Jordan 

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Lime

Started On: August 14th

Finished On: August 14th, 11:01 PM

Pages Read: 352

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Green

Started On: August 16th

Finished On: August 16th, 10:01 PM

Pages Read: 496

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Yellow

Started On: August 17th

Finished On: August 17th, 8:49 PM

Pages Read: 416

Reclaimed by Madeleine Roux

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill White

Started On: August 18th

Finished On: August 18th, 9:48 PM

Pages Read: 368

Kill Joy by Holly Jackson

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Brown

Started On: August 19th

Finished On: August 18th, 2:52 PM

Pages Read: 128

As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Cyan

Started On: August 19th

Finished On: August 19th, 10:15 PM

Pages Read: 565

Don't Read the Comments by Eric Smith

Prompt Fulfilled: Kill Purple

Started On: August 20th

Currently On: Page 0 of 368

Prompts Left: Kill Brown, Kill Blue, Kill Black, Kill Extra 1, Kill Extra 2
Read: 12
Pages Read: 4852

ARC August Update 9

So I read my next book for ARC August, and it was Reclaimed and I'll be reading Don't Read the Comments next! 

My Reading Journey:

The Starless Crown by James Rollins

Started On: August 1st

Finished On: August 1st, 10:54 PM

Pages Read: 704

Pride by Ibi Zoboi

Started On: August 3rd

Finished On: August 3rd, 9:52 PM

Pages Read: 304

The Midnight Girls by Alicia Jasinska

Started On: August 4th

Finished On: August 4th, 10:00 PM

Pages Read: 384

Archangel's Light by Nalini Singh

Started On: August 5th

Finished On: August 5th, 11:14 PM

Pages Read: 368

Unpregnant by Jenni Hendriks and Ted Caplan

Started On: August 9th

Finished On: August 9th, 11:52 AM

Pages Read: 335

The Duke Goes Down by Sophie Jordan 

Started On: August 14th

Finished On: August 14th, 11:01 PM

Pages Read: 352

Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury

Started On: August 16th

Finished On: August 16th, 10:01 PM

Pages Read: 496

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer

Started On: August 17th

Finished On: August 17th, 8:49 PM

Pages Read: 416

Reclaimed by Madeleine Roux

Started On: August 18th

Finished On: August 18th, 9:48 PM

Pages Read: 368

Don't Read the Comments by Eric Smith

Started On: August 20th

Currently On: Page 0 of 368

Goals: 31
Read: 9
Pages Read: 3727