It's Monday! What Are You Reading #757, December 8th

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 #756
Teaser Tuesday #764
WWW Wednesday #764
WOW #760
Will the Time Come #757
Third Sentence Thursday #747
Random Reads #733
First Lines Friday #760
Book Blogger Hop #426

Monthly ARC's Update 137

25 Books to Read in 2025 Update 8

A-Z Reading Challenge Update 69
The Reward Challenge Update #742
Wheel of TBR #289
How Well I Stuck to It #594
Wrote that Review Update #591

Week 49 Reviews:

Twelve Months 

Watched 

The Possibility of Somewhere 

Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy 

Rogue Protocol 

Exit Strategy

Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory  

Fugitive Telemetry 

Network Effect 

System Collapse 

Kirkyards & Kindness 

Brimstone

The Nightmare Curse 

The Hallow Curse 

Holiday Ever After 

He Sees You When You're Sleeping 

Naughty Saint Nick 

Magical Readathon: Orilium: 

Lightfall at Old Favour Pass Sign Up 2025 Sign Up

Clear Your S**t Readathon: 

5.5 Readathon Sign Up

Update 1

Update 2

Merry Bookmas: 

Readathon 2025 Sign Up

Update 1

Update 2

Random:

Book Battle December 2025 TBR

The Bookworm Revolution December 2025 TBR

Celeste Connally Author Page

OK, so I got 36 posts in 7 days, and it was a decent week, I read some really great reads, and I'm just counting down the days! What about you guys? Happy reading!

So this week I want to read whatever I want.

Will the Time Come #713, January 30th

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:

Star-crossed lovers, against-all-odds friendship, and a brutally unforgiving world make this first in a trilogy utterly unforgettable.

We’re two songs joined. And there’s a word for that. A harmony.

Elsa is used to hiding the most important parts of herself—her feelings for Rye, her distaste for a world ruled by men, and, most crucially, her gift of songlight. She buries that secret deep inside. In Brightland, those with songlight are called Unhumans and are abhorred. Rye is the only other person Elsa has known with songlight, and their shared bond has brought them together.

Elsa’s world begins to fall apart one desperate, heart-wrenching day and she doesn’t know where to turn until a girl appears before her. But the girl isn’t really there—her songlight has been drawn to Elsa’s frantic grief.

Elsa lives in a remote seaside village; Nightingale, her new friend, lives in a city hundreds of miles away with her father, a government official responsible for rooting out Unhumans. The two never expected to connect via songlight. But when they do, and when they realize the extent of their power, they’ll be thrust in the middle of a war that threatens their very existence.

From an award-winning screenwriter making her novel debut comes this powerful, page-turning trilogy perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir and Adrienne Young.

Why the time hasn't come yet...

It's a book from an author I haven't read before, and I did get it as an ARC from Edelweiss, so I really need to pick it up, plus it sounds really good! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Will the Time Come #709, January 2nd

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:

In this Egyptian-inspired debut fantasy, a fugitive queen strikes a deadly bargain with her greatest enemy and finds herself embroiled in a complex game that could resurrect her scorched kingdom or leave it in ashes forever.

Ten years ago, the kingdom of Jasad burned. Its magic outlawed; its royal family murdered down to the last child. At least, that’s what Sylvia wants people to believe.

The lost Heir of Jasad, Sylvia never wants to be found. She can’t think about how Nizahl’s armies laid waste to her kingdom and continue to hunt its people—not if she wants to stay alive. But when Arin, the Nizahl Heir, tracks a group of Jasadi rebels to her village, staying one step ahead of death gets trickier.

In a moment of anger Sylvia’s magic is exposed, capturing Arin’s attention. Now, to save her life, Sylvia will have to make a deal with her greatest enemy. If she helps him lure the rebels, she’ll escape persecution.

A deadly game begins. Sylvia can’t let Arin discover her identity even as hatred shifts into something more. Soon, Sylvia will have to choose between the life she wants and the one she left behind. The scorched kingdom is rising, and it needs a queen.

Why the time hasn't come yet...

It's a debut that is getting it's sequel this year, so there's not much to remind me of it's existence, and there's just so many to read! But it sounds really good and I want to read it! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Week 48 Review: The Queen's Spade

From Goodreads:

In this riveting historical thriller that's loosely inspired by true-life events, The Count of Monte Cristo meets Bridgerton as revenge, romance, and twisted secrets take center stage in Victorian England's royal court when Sally, a kidnapped African princess and goddaughter to Queen Victoria, plots her way to take down the monarchy that stole her from her homeland.

A young lady can take only so many injuries before humiliation and insult forge a vow of revenge . . .

The year is 1862 and murderous desires are simmering in England. Nineteen-year-old Sarah Bonetta Forbes (Sally), once a princess of the Egbado Clan, desires one thing above all revenge against the British Crown and its system of colonial 'humanitarianism,' which stole her dignity and transformed her into royal property. From military men to political leaders, she's vowed to ruin all who've had a hand in her afflictions. The top of her list? Her godmother, Britain's mighty monarch, Queen Victoria herself.

Taking down the Crown means entering into a twisted game of court politics and manipulating the Queen's inner circle—even if that means aligning with a dangerous yet alluring crime lord in London's underworld and exploiting the affections of Queen Victoria's own son, Prince Albert, as a means to an end. But when Queen Victoria begins to suspect Sally's true intentions, she plays the only card in Victorian society that could possibly cage Sally once again: marriage. Because if there's one thing Sally desires more than revenge, it's her freedom. With time running out and her wedding day looming, Sally's vengeful game of cat and mouse turns deadly as she's faced with the striking revelation that the price for vengeance isn't just paid in blood. It means sacrificing your heart.

Loosely inspired by the true story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, Queen Victoria's African goddaughter, The Queen's Spade is a lush and riveting historical thriller perfect for fans of A Dowry of Blood and Grave Mercy.

My Review:


Author: Sarah Raughley 
Series: The Queen's Spade #1 
Read: November 29th, 2024 
Source: Edelweiss 
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really good, and it's a Historical Fiction 2024 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2024 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Harper Teen
Expected Publication: January 14th 2025

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Will the Time Come #695, September 26th

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:

Fourteen years ago, the Palmer sisters―Emma, Juliette, and Daphne―left their home in Arden Hills and never returned. But when Emma discovers she’s pregnant and her husband loses his job, she has no option but to return to the house that she and her estranged sisters still own . . . and where their parents were murdered.

Emma has never told anyone what she saw the night her parents died, even when she became the prime suspect. But her presence in the house threatens to uncover secrets that have stayed hidden for years, and the sisters are drawn together once again. As they face their memories of the past, rivalries restart, connections are forged, and, for the first time, Emma starts to ask questions about what really happened that night.

The more Emma learns, the more riddles emerge. And Emma begins to wonder just what her siblings will do to keep the past buried, and whether she did the right thing staying quiet about what was whispered that night: “No one can know.”

Why the time hasn't come yet...

I don't know, it's a stand alone, and I haven't really gotten into her adult books, but it sounds really great, and I want to read it! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Will the Time Come #694, September 19th

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:

Be wary of dark magic and the evil it carries. For when the hand of death enters Dunhollow Academy, no one is safe.Rose is a student at the prestigious and cutthroat institution of magical learning, Dunhollow Academy. The only problem is that she can't cast a single spell––something her chancellor mother and pretentious peers won't let her forget. Worst among them is Sylvie, the school's top caster, and Rose's academic rival.

At the start of her third year, Rose must deal with not only the Academy's expectations of her, but the presence of a vicious ghost, Aveline—a first year student whose sudden and mysterious disappearance was covered up last term.

Rose is the only person who can see Aveline's ghost, a secret she is keeping from everyone, even her best friend, Fen. When Sylvie's ghost appears, Rose realizes that death is following the students at Dunhollow.

Forced to team up, Rose and Sylvie find themselves tangled up in a web of old, dark magic and a dangerous secret Order. The deeper Rose and Sylvie search for answers, the darker the lies become. The clock is ticking, and Rose and Sylvie need to act fast before another student is claimed.d

Why the time hasn't come yet...

This book is coming out soon, and I have it as an ARC, and it sounds really great, and I can't wait tor ead it! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Week 34 Review: The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco

From Goodreads:

In Michelle Chouinard's clever mystery The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco, the granddaughter of a serial killer shows readers another side of the beloved city.

The chill of a San Francisco summer can be deadly. No one knows this better than Capri Sanzio, who makes her living giving serial killer tours of the city. Capri has been interested in the topic since she was a kid, when she discovered she’s the granddaughter of serial killer William 'Overkill Bill' Sanzio. She's always believed in his innocence, though she's never taken the leap to fully dive into the case.

But now an Overkill Bill copycat has struck in San Francisco. And Capri's former mother-in-law, Sylvia, just cut off Capri's daughter's tuition payments. Needing cash, Capri wonders if this is the time to exonerate her grandfather. The case is back in the news and the police will be looking to understand the past to catch a present-day killer. Capri could finally uncover the truth about Overkill Bill—documenting the process with a podcast and a book—and hopefully earn some money.

Before Capri can get very far, the cops discover the copycat's latest victim: Sylvia. Capri soon finds herself at the heart of the police's investigation for an entirely different reason. She and her daughter are prime suspects.

My Review:
Oh, this was such a fantastic read! The idea of your grandfather being a convicted killer, and then someone kills your ex-mother-in-law in the same method? Right after you had a fight with her? Yeah, that's an awkward position to be in! 

At first, Capri is looking into Overkill Bill's case, because financially, she needs it, and better her then someone who is unconnected to the story. And then the current murders start up, and it gets even more complicated, with the hope that the past might influence the future.

I really enjoyed her investigation, she had skills from being a journalist, that helped her look into things like companies and who owned them, which was an interesting avenue to take that I don't often see. And as she learned more about Sylvia and why she did what she did, made the ending all the more crushing! Loved it! 

The way things ended, that was really satisfying to read! Though I wouldn't mind if this became a series, to see Capri investigate more cases, just maybe ones that weren't so personal to her, since that's had enough upheaval as it was. 

Loved reading this book, and i can't wait to read more by Michelle Chouinard! 

Author: Michelle Chouinard 
Read: August 23rd, 2024
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Sounded really good, and it's a DAC Book and a SAC 2024 Book! 
Publisher: Minotaur Books 
Expected Publication: September 24th 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 38 Review: Lumara

From Goodreads:

The answers lie within.

Boarding school student Talia Morris has no idea her boyfriend, Nathaniel, is a Mystic, let alone second in line to the throne of a secretive, aspirational magical community―one no mortal has ever been allowed to step inside. Until now. Nathanial's cousin is about to be married in the biggest wedding the magical world has ever seen, and Nathaniel is allowed to bring a date. Talia is the lucky recipient of the golden ticket every Mystic wannabe in the world would kill for―only she doesn't want it. Talia thinks Mystic worship is lame and stupid and unnecessarily aggrandizes people for being born a certain way. When she finds out Nathaniel is "one of them," she almost jumps ship. But Nathaniel loves her, and she loves him. So when he begs her to give his family and their community a shot, she reluctantly agrees.

Enter the most fantastical world any mortal has ever seen, and the coolest magical wedding ever. After a few days of bonding with Nathaniel's family on the island, of seeing how beautiful their magic is and how peaceful their community, Talia's about to be won over―until the entire wedding party suddenly falls into an unexplainable coma and the community goes on lockdown. Talia, the outsider, is pegged as the culprit and has to do everything in her meager non-power to prove her innocence. As she embarks on a journey to find the truth, Talia soon discovers reality is not all it seems, and her past may put her in more danger than she ever imagined.

In this captivating YA fantasy, Talia must solve a multigenerational mystery and break a curse, all the while being torn between making her family proud and regaining the trust of the boy she loves.

My Review:
Well this book was really great! I've read her one sci-fi series and this paranormal fantasy sounded really great! To have her boyfriend belong to this group where one of their members really screwed her over, and to have her come to their inner circle? Yeah, it was such a great read! 

This world of magic and mystics, of the island of Lumara, was intriguing to read. That a basically scam artist took her money, but didn't heal her heart condition, yeah, I was completely on her side, and I can't understand why she was hesitant to go with Nate to this wedding.   

Maybe near the midpoint, man, this book goes in a completely unexpected direction! To have that explain everything that happened, yeah, it was out of left field and I loved it! And made the following investigation into what happened, into the curse, so much better! 

Honestly, I felt bad for basically everybody. Some of them made some really poor choices, but they were grieving and in pain. The initial incident, though, that could've been avoided. So I blame him for kicking the whole cycle off. 

Loved reading this book, and I need to read more by Melissa Landers! 

Author: Melissa Landers 
Read:  September 19th, 2023
Source: Library 
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really great, and it's a SAC 2023 Book! 
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Published: December 6th 2022

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

How Well I Stuck to It #459, May 7th

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 19:

Nothing Planned!

Another free week, I have a bunch I want to read, but nothing new, so I'll pick and choose as I go! 

Week 18:

Nothing Planned!

vs.

The Luis Ortega Survival Club by Sonora Reyes, Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim, The Last One to Fall by Gabriella Lepore, Rift by Andrea Cremer, Stolen Souls by Andrea Cremer, Rise by Andrea Cremer, Shadow's Legacy by Julie Kagawa, The Iron Raven by Julie Kagawa, The Iron Sword by Julie Kagawa, The Iron Vow by Julie Kagawa, Witch King by Martha Wells, Ghostly Game by Christine Feehan, Capture the Sun by Jessie Milalik, No Kissing Allowed by Melissa West, No Falling Allowed by Melissa West, Painted Devils by Margaret Owen, All in a Name by Honor Raconteur

I read a decent amount, but I am going to try and take May easier, I went hard in April, with 80-ish books read, so I'm going to be taking it slower in May. But there are some really fantastic books and I can't wait! What about you guys? Happy reading!

First Lines Friday #587, August 12th

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!

"Dayton Culver was well aware he was trespassing when he and his golden tetriever, Lulu, veered off the path in the woods. If he had known the knightnmares the transgression would bring him after that horrifying spring day, maybe he wouldn't have strated. Lord knew he was goingt o spend the rest of his life wishing he'd never climbed that hill."-Daughter by Kate McLaughlin

That's certainly a statement! Must read more now! What about you guys? Happy reading! 

Week 7 Review: Tear Down the Throne

From Goodreads:

Bestselling author Jennifer Estep continues her Gargoyle Queen epic fantasy series where magic reigns, alliances are tested, and a dangerous attraction could tear down a throne. . .

Crown princess. Clever spy. Powerful mind magier. Gemma Ripley of Andvari is all those things--and determined to stop an enemy from using magical tearstone weapons to conquer her kingdom.

Gemma's quest for answers leads her to a trade Summit between the various kingdoms. Among the other royals in attendance is Queen Maeven Morricone of Morta and her son, Prince Leonidas--Gemma's charming and dangerous nemesis.

Gemma knows that Maeven always has a long game in motion, and sure enough, the cunning queen invokes an arcane tradition that threatens the fragile truce between Andvari and the other kingdoms. Despite her best intentions, Gemma once again finds herself thrown together with Leo and battling her growing feelings for the enemy prince.

When a series of deadly attacks shatters the Summit's peaceful negotiations, Gemma realizes that someone wants to tear the royals down from their thrones--and that this enemy just might succeed. 

My Review:
I had such a great time reading this book! This world is so fantastic, and I enjoyed spending more time here with Gemma, dealing with life as a royal, and as a spy! That we spend this story at the Summit, with about half of the kingdoms represented, well, the drama that ensues was so great to read!

The Gauntlet that Leo has to go through, was so interesting to read. Of course Maeven would make it a weapon, but when we basically learn her motives, yeah, I can understand why she did so. Though I'm hoping that he takes her name, if they get married in the next book, because she's the one that's going to inherit a crown. 

There's a lot of politics, both with Andvari and Morta, as well as with Ryusama. There's a lot of people with a lot of agendas, and it was hard to know who to trust. And trust is a big issue with Gemma and Leo, that she doesn't trust him. So I really enjoyed how all these politics, personal and country wide-scope worked out! That ending was pretty epic!

On one hand, I can understand why we aren't getting Evie in this series, this is Gemma's turn to shine. But I still would like more updates about her life, besides that she's dealing with a problem. Do she and Lucas have kids? Have they found more Blairs? I want to know!

Loved reading this book, and I can't wait for book 3! 

Author: Jennifer Estep
Series: Gargoyle Queen #2
Read: February 14th, 2022
Source: Edelweiss
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2022 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Expected Publication: May 3rd 2022

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Book Blogger Hop #195, July 2nd

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 searched out theme songs for your favorite books? (submitted by Julie @ JadeSky)

Nope. Sometimes if I listen to a song on repeat while reading a book, I'll associate that song with that book, and think of that book when I hear the song again, at least for a little while. What about you guys? Happy reading!