first lines friday

First Lines Friday #63


First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?  If you want to make your own post, feel free to use or edit the banner above, and follow the rules below:

  • Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
  • Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first (I cheat a little bit here *cough*)
  • Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re using Twitter, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!


Hello, reader!

Happy Friday to y’all! Here’s hoping you’re having a good one and have an even better weekend to look forward to. Let’s kick things off with another First Lines Friday post! Today, I’m featuring a book that I recently picked up from the library on a whim. I do that… quite often, but this one just seemed like the perfect read for spooky season!

Now, let me further convince you of that by sharing the first few lines.


The Line(s):

“The trees were full of crows and the woods were full of madmen. The pit was full of bones and her hands were full of wires.”


The Hints:

This intriguing read is a mixture of fantasy and horror.

It reads like a Grimm’s fairytale. Emphasis on the ‘grim’.

But it’s also quite humorous at times. I mean… there’s a demon chicken!


The Reveal:

Continue reading “First Lines Friday #63”
down the tbr hole

Down the TBR Hole #44


It’s time for a new round of Down the TBR Hole! This is where I go through my Goodreads ‘Want to Read’ shelf and do a bit of cleaning up. If you want to see the full description of what this post is all about, check out my first round HERE.


Hello, reader!

After a busy day of pre-best-friend’s-wedding stuff, I figured it was time for some bookish stuff. So now I’m bringing you another round of Down the TBR Hole! I have somehow managed to maintain the amount of books on my ‘Want to Read’ shelf at 690 books since completing the last round. I’m honestly impressed because I’ve been hearing more and more about books coming out in 2023. The urge to add is very high, haha.

For now, let’s see if I can make more room on the TBR!


#1. The Tea Dragon Festival by Kay O’Neill

Yeah, there’s no way this is coming off my TBR 😂 This is the second graphic novel in the Tea Dragon series and I absolutely loved the first one. It was so cute and heartwarming! Not to mention the fact that the art is just gorgeous. I love all the little tea dragons, the story, and the inclusiveness of the story. I’m eager to jump back into this world!

Verdict: Keep


#2. Spellslinger by Sebastian de Castell

So forever ago, I read the first book in the Greatcoats series by this author and loved it! And I haven’t picked up a book of his since 😅 I have no good reasons, no excuses… I just kind of forgot about him a little bit. That being said, I’ve heard some great things about the Spellslinger series, so that’s how it ended up on my TBR. The fact that I know that I enjoy his writing, as well, means that I’m keeping it around for now.

Verdict: Keep

Continue reading “Down the TBR Hole #44”
www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: Oct 19, 2022


It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

  1. What are you currently reading?
  2. What did you recently finish reading?
  3. What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.


Current Reads

The Kiss Curse by Erin Sterling

After completely devouring The Ex Hex, I couldn’t resist picking up the sequel when I came across it on Scribd! So far, this is just as fun and sexy as the first. I’m loving the rivals-to-lovers vibe and Gwen is a certified badass. This book makes me want to live in Graves Glen even more! Also, I have to say I’m really enjoying the narrator for this book.

Continue reading “WWW Wednesday: Oct 19, 2022”
blog tour · book reviews

Blog Tour: The Miraculous Sweetmakers by Natasha Hastings


Hello, reader!

I have another wonderful tour post for you today hosted by The Write Reads. This time, I get to tell you my thoughts on an upcoming middle grade fantasy that is as sweet as it sounds: The Miraculous Sweetmakers by Natasha Hastings! This magical book took me on a frosty adventure and I loved every minute of it.

Before I get further into my review, though, I have people to thank. First, thank you to Dave @ The Write Reads and all of the crew for giving me a spot on this tour! Second, thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC via Netgalley so that I could participate. It is, as always, appreciated 😊

Now, let’s get to my post!



  • Title: The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair
  • Author: Natasha Hastings
  • Illustrated by: Alex T. Smith
  • Publication date: November 1st, 2022
  • Genre: Fantasy
  • Age group: Middle Grade
  • Content/Trigger Warnings: Depictions of child neglect, death of a loved one, grief

Bookshop::TBD::B&N::Amazon::
Goodreads



An amazing and captivating, curl-up-on-the-sofa debut about a magical frost fair and the lasting power of friendship.

It’s a cold winter during the Great Frost of 1683. Thomasina and Anne are the best of friends, one running her father’s sweet shop and the other the apprentice at the family apothecary – together they sell their goods on the frozen River Thames. When a family tragedy turns Thomasina’s world upside down, she is drawn to a mysterious conjuror and the enchanted frost fair.

But soon the world of Father Winter threatens to claim everything she holds dear. Will they be able to solve the magical mysteries that surround them . . . ?

Continue reading “Blog Tour: The Miraculous Sweetmakers by Natasha Hastings”
5 on my tbr

#5OnMyTBR – Forest


#5OnMyTBR is a bookish meme hosted by E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Nook where you chose five books from your to-be-read pile that fit that week’s theme. If you’d like more info, head over to the announcement post!


Hello, reader!

It’s time for another 5 On My TBR! Today, we’re talking about one of my favorite settings in books. That’s because the theme is forests. I’m a huge fan of a book that features a creepy woods/forest, so I was pumped to pick out five to feature in this post! Even if I stretched the idea of it a wee bit.

That being said, let’s jump in!


#1. Wildblood by Lauren Blackwood

This is the book where I stretched the whole ‘forest’ theme because this is set in a jungle. It’s still a collection of trees, so I think it counts! This is the newest book from the author of Within These Wicked Walls, which I recently read and loved. It follows a young woman with magic in her blood who leads expeditions through a terrifying jungle. It sounds absolutely incredible and I was lucky enough to get an e-ARC from Netgalley to read! I’m so excited to pick it up.


#2. Midnight in Everwood by Maria Kuzniar

I’m honestly not sure how prominently the snowy forest on the cover of this book is featured, but I wanted to throw this book on the list anyways. Mostly because I’ve been eager to read this for awhile now! It’s a Nutcracker retelling that sounds like it would be a great time. I know I like this author’s writing and I would love to see what she does with this classic tale. Also, the cover is freakin’ gorgeous 😍

Continue reading “#5OnMyTBR – Forest”
sundays in bed with

Sundays In Bed With… Babel by R.F. Kuang


Sundays in Bed With… is a meme that dares to ask you what book has been in your bed this morning and is hosted by Midnight Book Girl. Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed with, or which book you wish you had time to read today!


Hello, reader!

I hope you’re having a relaxing Sunday, wherever you are. I had to work, but now I’m off for a week because my best friend is getting MARRIED! I’m so excited for her and will be spending the week making sure everything goes as swimmingly as it can. And getting prepared to be fancy for a day, haha. For tonight, though, I’m spending the night reading because I’m in the middle of a book that I can already feel is going to be a five star read and I don’t want to stop 😆

So let me quickly tell you more about it so I can get back to reading!


My Sunday Read Is…

Babel by R.F. Kuang

Y’all. THIS BOOK.

I went into this knowing that I’m a fan of R.F. Kuang’s writing. I also knew that she is an author that does not pull punches and that is definitely true of her newest novel. Is it as horrific as The Poppy War? So far, no… but she does not shy away from depicting the horrible affects of racism and colonialism. I’m completely wrapped up in this novel and have a feeling this might be one of my favorite reads of 2022. The academia vibes are spot on, the characters have my whole heart, and I am invested in the plot that is unraveling. If you like dark academia even a little bit, you need to check this one out!

Continue reading “Sundays In Bed With… Babel by R.F. Kuang”
book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Oct 14 – 20


The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Crazy-For-Books and is currently being hosted by Coffee Addicted Writer. Every Friday, a new question is posted for book bloggers to answer in the coming week. The purpose of the hop is connection and community. You can discover new blogs to follow, new books to read, and you may end up with some new followers, as well!


This Week’s Question

Image by Coffee Addicted Writer

Do you suggest new authors to your readers?

Submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer.

Continue reading “Book Blogger Hop: Oct 14 – 20”
blog tour · book reviews

Blog Tour: The Legend of Black Jack by A.R. Witham


Hello, reader!

It’s time, once again, for another fabulous blog tour hosted by The Write Reads! This go around, I’m bringing you a review for a young adult fantasy novel that sweep me off my feet: The Legend of Black Jack by A.R. Witham. This story absolutely captivated my imagination and I can’t wait to tell you more about it!

Before I do, though, I’ve got folks to thank! First, I want to thank Dave @ The Write Reads and all of the crew for giving me a spot on this tour! Next, I want to thank the author for providing me with a free e-book so that I could share my thoughts! It is, as always, much appreciated.

Now, let’s jump into my tour stop!



  • Title: The Legend of Black Jack
  • Author: A.R. Witham
  • Publication date: May 20th, 2022
  • Genre: Fantasy
  • Age group: Young Adult
  • Content/Trigger Warnings: Depictions of child neglect, violence, blood, gore, dismemberment, torture, alcoholism

Bookshop::TBD::B&N::Amazon::
Goodreads



Prepare to be whisked away to another realm in this epic fantasy adventure, perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman’s characters in Stardust or Patrick Rothfuss’s prose in The Name of the Wind.

Jack Swift remembers everything—even the horrible things he’d like to forget. To keep his guilt-ridden memories from haunting him, and to dodge his abusive foster mom, he buries himself in any book he can find, dreaming of his ultimate escape: becoming a doctor.

But fate has another escape in mind.

At 3:33 am on his fourteenth birthday, Jack is kidnapped by a monstrous rhinoceros and whisked away to another sphere of existence: the land of Keymark. Though this world is filled with pixies, monsters, pirates, elves, warriors, and mythical wonders, it is without healing magic—that magic was stolen by an evil, immortal prince hell-bent on domination. With no understanding of medical science to heal their wounds or illnesses, Jack’s kidnappers ask the impossible of him: use his knowledge to save a life…or be trapped in this bizarre world with no chance of rescue.

Jack doesn’t have secret magic, a great destiny, or any medical experience.

Why do they all expect him to become a legend?

Continue reading “Blog Tour: The Legend of Black Jack by A.R. Witham”
down the tbr hole

Down the TBR Hole #43


It’s time for a new round of Down the TBR Hole! This is where I go through my Goodreads ‘Want to Read’ shelf and do a bit of cleaning up. If you want to see the full description of what this post is all about, check out my first round HERE.


Hello, reader!

Today seems like a good day for another round of Down the TBR Hole! I’m rather impressed with myself, though. My ‘Want to Read’ shelf has somehow shrank from 696 books down to 692 books. I’m not 100% sure how I managed that, haha. I’m gonna take the win, though!

Now we’re gonna see if I can trim it down even more.


Forest of Souls by Lori M. Lee

Not gonna lie, I definitely added this book to my TBR because of the cover. I will admit, though, having read the synopsis, I’m still intrigued! There’s a young girl who somehow returns her friend to life after she dies. There’s a Spider King. And, most importantly, there’s a creepy forest. That’s my favorite!

Verdict: Keep


The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin

I legitimately have no memory of adding this book to my TBR. On the surface, it doesn’t look like a book that would typically draw my attention. Then I see it’s adult contemporary and I’m really confused as to how it got here 😂 Reading the synopsis does nothing for me, either, so I think we’re just gonna chalk this up to a fluke.

Verdict: Remove

Continue reading “Down the TBR Hole #43”
www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: Oct 12, 2022


It’s time for another WWW Wednesday! This is a bookish meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where bloggers answer the 3 Ws:

  1. What are you currently reading?
  2. What did you recently finish reading?
  3. What do you think you’ll read next?

If you’d like to learn more about any of these books, click on the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page.


Current Reads

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

I started listening to this because I had finished an audiobook and I didn’t have another one downloaded. I’ve been wanting to read a Lucy Foley book for awhile, so this seemed like a sign. So far, I’m enjoying the mystery of it all. It’s dark and twisty, with plenty of secrets to keep me interested. Jess kind of makes me want to throttle her, but that’s neither here nor there 😂


Recently Finished

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

Uuuugh, this book was so freakin’ CUTE! I was reading this as part of a buddy read, but after the first section, I just couldn’t get myself to stop. Which is fine since the feeling was very mutual in the buddy read group 😂 This was such a compulsively readable book. When I wasn’t reading it, I wanted to be, and now that it’s over, I want more! Thankfully, this is just the start to a romance series, which means I can dive right back into Graves Glen.

Continue reading “WWW Wednesday: Oct 12, 2022”