#5OnMyTBR – Black Cover
5 on my tbr

#5OnMyTBR – Black Cover

kerrimcbooknerd5 Comments
#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!

I’m back with another 5 On My TBR! This week I had a tough time choosing the five books I wanted to feature for this post. Why? Because the topic for this Monday is books with black covers and I, apparently, have a lot of books on my TBR with black covers 😂 It took a minute to sift through them all and pick five that I really wanted to talk about today. The books I have picked are a nice mix, I think, and I can’t wait to read all five of them! So let me get to this #5OnMyTBR 😁

#1. Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth

This one is a fairly recent add to the TBR. I noticed it on Goodreads as I was randomly scrolling the home page one day and decided to read the synopsis. And when the synopsis starts with this:

“A highly imaginative and original horror-comedy centered around a cursed New England boarding school for girls—a wickedly whimsical celebration of the art of storytelling, sapphic love, and the rebellious female spirit.“

How could I not want to read it?! It sounds incredible! Also, there are illustrations, so I’m just extra intrigued.

#2. Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

I have an e-ARC of this one that I am so eager to finally pick up. I’ve been hearing nothing but rave reviews about this fantasy novel. It has prophecies, political intrigue, magic… basically all the things I love in a fantasy! I also really enjoyed Rebecca Roanhorse’s short story in the recent vampire anthology, Vampires Never Get Old, so I’m eager to read more of her work! And this cover, y’all. This cover is just absolutely gorgeous!

#3. Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou

Funny story: I work as a lab tech and I remember when I first heard about the company this book is about. I remember hearing the claims they were making about testing they could do with a single drop of blood and thinking “Yeah, that’s bullshit.” Turns out, it totally was! I’m intrigued about learning more about this failed company and how they tried to dupe the medical world. My best friend has read this and told me it’s probably gonna piss me off 😂 Exciting!

#4. There Will Come a Darkness by Katy Rose Pool

I’ve been wanting to read this since 2019, when it first came out. I’ve owned it since September of 2019… and yet 😅 It just has a lot of elements that I feel like I’m going to enjoy. There’s a prophecy! There’s a gang of people thrown together by circumstances! There’s a badass female assassin! I mean, come on… it’s like it was specifically written for me, ya know? Also, the cover super got me with this one. It’s so pretty, I can’t. Now I just need to actually read it.

#5. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

V.E. Schwab is one of my favorite authors so of course her latest book is on my list. I’ve also heard a lot of great reviews for this book from bookish folks who have similar tastes to me. And it’s a book that has a bookish element! I just know I’m going to love this book and I can’t wait to finally read it. Perhaps in December? Perhaps now…?

Who knows! But this one will definitely be read sooner rather than later.

What are some books with black covers on your TBR that you can’t wait to read? Have you read any of the books on mine? Let me know in the comments!

And, as always, happy reading!

book reviews

Book Review: No Truth Left to Tell by Michael McAuliffe

kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

Title: No Truth Left to Tell

Author: Michael McAuliffe

Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Courtroom Drama

Source: Publisher (Greenleaf Book Group Press)

Content/Trigger Warnings: KKK activity, cross burnings, racism, violence, death

Rating: ★★★

Book Links: Bookshop::Indiebound::TBD::B&N::Amazon::Goodreads

One Sentence Synopsis

Adrien Rush, a federal civil rights prosecutor, finds himself trying a case in Lynnwood, Louisiana after a night where five burning crosses are left around town to strike fear into the hearts of the minority community.

Favorite Quote

“Rush disliked being called counselor. Agents invoked the term using particularly clear diction and more than a hint of derision, or at least that’s how Rush saw it. Being labeled counselor was an agent’s way of emphasizing that the lawyer might have an advanced education, but the juris doctor degree didn’t come with street smarts or investigatory experience.”

Continue reading “Book Review: No Truth Left to Tell by Michael McAuliffe” →
Down the TBR Hole #3
down the tbr hole

Down the TBR Hole #3

kerrimcbooknerd5 Comments

Hello, reader!

Normally, Mondays are the days that I do my #5OnMyTBR post. I felt like catching up on my Down the TBR post, though, since I didn’t do one last week. Mostly because of I was in a stress spiral that made me want to hide in my blankets whenever I was home, heh. But! Now my source of stress has been removed and I can get back to being a more functional human being!

That being said, let’s take a look at the status of my Want To Read shelf on Goodreads. Last round, I ended with 616 books on my shelf. As of today, there are 614 books on my shelf so… go me? I attribute this to the fact that I went through and got rid of some duplicates, which I need to remember to do more often. Either way, I’m doing well! Let’s see if we can cut that down even more!

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Not gonna lie, I started this book at one point ages ago, had to return it to the library, and never finished it. But, what I did read I was really enjoying! This book just got lost in the shuffle that is my ever-changing, ever-expanding TBR. What I do know is that I definitely want to finish this book at some point in time.

Verdict: Keep

Choke by Chuck Palahniuk

I mentioned in my last Down the TBR post that I’m just not feeling the Palahniuk these days. I went through a phase where his brand of weirdness was something I could get behind. The last Palahniuk book I read, however, left me feeling very meh. After reading the synopsis for this one, I don’t think this is the book that will make me change my mind.

Verdict: Remove

Cujo by Stephen King

This is one of the classic King books that I’m just not sure about. On the one hand, I’m sure it’ll be horrifying. Just the thought of your dog going mad with rabies and murdering everyone makes me shudder. But I dunno if I want to read that. I have to say, of all of King’s old books, this is the lowest on my priority list. Soooo…

Verdict: Remove

The Tempest by William Shakespeare

I love Shakespeare. I’ve read quite a few of his plays. I took various classes dedicated to his plays in college.

And, yet, I have approximately ZERO interest in reading The Tempest. I don’t know what it is about this particular play, but it sounds like an absolute snoozefest. And this is coming from someone who loves Shakespeare’s histories. Maybe one day I’ll change my mind, but, for now…

Verdict: Remove

The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul by Douglas Adams

This is the second book in the Dirk Gently series. I read the first book AGES ago and, honestly, remember absolutely nothing about it. Well… I remember liking it, but that’s it. That being said, I think I need to re-read the first book before continuing with the series and, until that happens, I guess book number two can stay. Now, if/when I do re-read the first book and I end up not liking it, this one will probably drop off the TBR.

Verdict: Keep

Under the Dome by Stephen King

Another Stephen King! Spoiler alert: there are two more before I’m done with this Down the TBR 😂 I remember at some point in my 20s, I decided that I wanted to read ALL of Stephen King’s books, not realizing just how prolific he is as a writer. So I added a ton on Goodreads, without really knowing what half of them were about. This is one of the ones that I wasn’t sure about but, after reading the synopsis, it’s one I’m definitely interested in.

Verdict: Keep

Timeline by Michael Crichton

I have no idea how this book ended up on my TBR. I did love Jurassic Park, so perhaps I added it because this is the same author? Either way, after reading the synopsis, I wasn’t sure about keeping it around. Time travel in books can be very hit or miss for me. But a lot of my Goodreads friends have rated it five stars, so now I’m intrigued.

Verdict: Keep

Dreamcatcher by Stephen King

He’s back! And this one I remember adding when I realized it was where the movie of the same name came from. The movie was terrible. I was hoping the book would be much better. After reading the synopsis and looking at some reviews, though, this may not be the case… Either way, I’ve lost all interest in picking this one up.

Verdict: Remove

Christine by Stephen King

And again! Honestly, I have a lot of King on my TBR, lol. Though this one is a classic, it is legit about a killer car and, like… bleh. It’s not even in the top five of King books I want to read. It just doesn’t sound like something I’m going to enjoy, so I think this is one I’ll give a pass.

Verdict: Remove

The Salmon of Doubt by Douglas Adams

This is a bit of a weird one. I thought it was the third book in the Dirk Gently series, but it appears to be a biography… memoir… thing? And I’m not a huge fan of most memoirs, if I’m being honest. I do love Douglas Adams… but I think I’m gonna give this one a miss for now.

Besides, even if this is the third Dirk Gently, I haven’t even read the second (see above)!

Verdict: Remove

And now for the numbers!

Starting total: 614
Removed: 6
End total: 608

We’re almost under 600, y’all! I did quite a purge this round. I never realized how many books I have on my TBR that I have no interest in anymore, lol. I’m excited to have another round done. I’ll see you next week!

And, as always, happy reading!

October 2020 Wrap Up
wrap up

October 2020 Wrap Up

kerrimcbooknerd8 Comments

Hello, reader!

It’s that time again to look back at how my reading went last month. I’m gonna tell you right now… it wasn’t great in October 😅 I hit a pretty bad reading slump last month. Absolutely nothing could hold my interest! Not even The Dragon Republic, which I was dying to read! But we’ll talk about it in a moment.

First, let’s take a look back at what I read in the month of October.

Books Read

Click on the covers to be taken to the book’s Goodreads page

  1. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang::★★★★★
  2. Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger::★★★★
  3. The Wolf and the Water by Josie Jaffrey::★★★★::My review
  4. Sentience by Courtney P. Hunter::★★★★::My review
Continue reading “October 2020 Wrap Up” →
Blog Tour: The Fires of Vengeance by Evan Winter
blog tour · book reviews

Blog Tour: The Fires of Vengeance by Evan Winter

kerrimcbooknerd7 Comments

Hello, reader!

Back in July of 2019, my family and I had just moved cross-country to Massachusetts. We had moved into our apartment, but none of our stuff was there. We were sleeping on air mattresses and sitting in those cloth folding chairs that you can never get back into their flimsy, little holders. It was a stressful time, but I had something with me that first month that helped me relax. I had an ARC of Evan Winter’s The Rage of Dragons. I had won it in a giveaway hosted by Orbit on their Instagram, not knowing much about it beyond the fact that it was written by a Black man and it had dragons. So, when I picked up during that stressful first month in our new home, I don’t think I was fully prepared for the incredible story contained within those pages. I flew through that ARC and knew before I was even halfway through that I was going to give it five stars. I also knew that I would fight the demons of Ishihogo to get my hands on the sequel!

Fast forward to this past summer, when Shealea @ Caffeine Book Tours put a call out to the bookish community for people would like to be part of #TheBurningTour for The Fires of Vengeance, the sequel I was so desperate to read. I don’t think I’ve ever filled out a form so fast! And you could have knocked me over with a feather when I was selected to be a part of the tour! So, before we get into the meat of this post, I wanted to take a moment to thank Shealea @ Caffeine Book Tours and the publisher, Orbit, for this opportunity. There are also a lot of other incredible bookish content creators on this tour, as well, so click here to take a look at the schedule. Also, we might as well get some disclaimers out of the way.

First, as you’ve probably figured out, I did receive an ARC of The Fires of Vengeance from Caffeine Book Tours and Orbit in exchange for my participation in this promotional tour. Second, as this is a review for the second book in a series, there might be some slight spoilers for the content of the first book within my review. If you haven’t read The Rage of Dragons (um, why haven’t you?) and wish to, perhaps skip this post until you have. This review, however, will be spoiler free for The Fires of Vengeance. And, last, stick with me until after my review for information about an amazing giveaway 🎉🎉🎉

Alright, with all that said, let’s get to it!

Synopsis

“Desperate to delay an impending attack by the indigenous people of Xidda, Tau and his queen craft a dangerous plan. If Tau succeeds, the queen will have the time she needs to assemble her forces and launch an all-out assault on her own capital city, where her sister is being propped up as the ‘true’ Queen of the Omehi.

If the city can be taken, if Tsiora can reclaim her throne and reunite her people, then the Omehi might have a chance to survive the coming onslaught.”

Continue reading “Blog Tour: The Fires of Vengeance by Evan Winter” →
#5OnMyTBR – Death
5 on my tbr

#5OnMyTBR – Death

kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

#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!

We have finished with the spookiest month of the year and find ourselves in November. You wouldn’t know that by the topic of today’s 5 On My TBR, though! Today, we will be talking about books that deal with death. Now, I kind of did a loose interpretation of this theme (as you’ll see), but the five books I picked are ones that I’m incredibly excited to read. They are all at least death-adjacent, so I think they work, lol.

Anyways, let’s get to my picks, shall we?

#1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I feel like I’m one of the only souls that hasn’t read this book, lol. It’s an obvious choice for this list as the narrator of the story is Death. I know I’ll probably love this story… there’s a bookish element which is one of my favorite things! I also know that this book will probably devastate me. I mean, the narrator is Death! This can’t have a happy ending…

#2. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

This is a non-fiction book that I’ve been wanting to read for what feels like ages! I work in the medical field and, while I was in training, I got to witness an autopsy. It was both sad and incredibly fascinating. So when this book appeared on my radar, I was excited to pick it up. My TBR, however, is where books go to be forgotten, apparently 😅 I’m still excited to read this book, but it’ll probably be awhile til I get to it.

#3. Scythe by Neal Shusterman

I couldn’t compile this list and not put this book on it. The whole plot revolves around a corporation of grim reapers, after all. I love the concept of this story, with the world in a state of seeming utopia where no one dies, so there are people trained to cull the population. It sounds so twisted and intriguing! I’ve heard great things about this series and I can’t wait to pick it up.

#4. The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

The book with two very slightly different titles. I cannot tell you how confused I was when I initially went to add this to my TBR 😂 But this is a mystery novel that had really piqued my interest. It has a bit of the fantastical mixed into a murder plot and it sounds incredible! And it’s clearly centered around a death, so is perfect for this list. Will I love it? Will it leave me completely confused? Who knows, but I’m more than willing to find out!

#5. Dead Voices by Katherine Arden

I bought this book almost immediately after finishing the first one in the series, Small Spaces. I absolutely love that spooky little book! I’m waiting until we’re more into winter to read it, but I cannot wait! There are ghosts, my three favs are back, and it just looks like it’s going to be just as creepy as the first one. Give me all the horror, no matter what age group! Also, look at that cover. Just… 😍👻

What are some books centering around death that you want to read? Have you read any of my choices? Let me know in the comments!

And, as always, happy reading!

Book Review: Sentience by Courtney P. Hunter
book reviews

Book Review: Sentience by Courtney P. Hunter

kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

Hello, reader!

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but though fantasy is my favorite genre, science fiction is a close second. That being said, I’m far more picky with my sci-fi reads than I am with fantasy. One aspect of sci-fi that always grabs my interest, though, is artificial intelligence. Especially if the story delves into the moral issues surrounding the use of AI.

That’s why, when Courtney Hunter approached me about reading her upcoming sci-fi novel about four AI who don’t know they’re AI being part of a twisted Turing test, I jumped at the chance to read it! It sounded right up my alley and, I’m happy to report, turned out to be an amazing read.

But I’m getting ahead of myself! First, I want to thank Courtney for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review. It was very much appreciated! And, now, let’s get to the review.

Synopsis

“Robots, sex, lies, adventure, and chaos. Who can you trust when you can’t trust yourself? And what truly defines humanity and consciousness?

Running from a violent past, Leo Knox desperately decides to participate in a scientific experiment conducted by the infamous and greedy tech-giant, AlgorithmOS. Soon, Leo learns that she has agreed to take part in a Turing Test, a test that measures the ability of artificial intelligence to blend in among humanity, but what she doesn’t know is that the test set to take place is unlike any other of its kind.

Leo enters Eden, the contained preserve where the test will occur, with twenty-three others. While everyone appears to be human, four of the individuals are an indistinguishably advanced form of humanoid AI. The task is simple: identify the AI while trying to survive. The twist? The four AI are completely unaware of their nature, causing every participant to question what they know as reality.

The group embarks on a journey within the preserve, rigged with obstacles devised by the controllers of the experiment to elicit human response and emotion. Quickly, madness ensues and divides form, partnering Leo up with Avery Ford, a Marine who wears his demons on his sleeve. Romance falls together for the two as the world around them falls apart, revealing the lengths people will go to protect those they love, to achieve monetary gain, or simply to survive.

Back at AlgorithmOS, the story unfolds on the screens of Nathan Aimes, a scientist responsible for monitoring the experiment’s surveillance cameras. Nathan studies the humans involved as they wrestle with where they stand on the polarizing issue of AI and its applications. He watches the AI unknowingly fight to prove their humanity just to leave the experiment unscathed. All the while, Nathan is intimately aware of his company’s plans to weaponize or commodify the AI should they pass the test, and he must reconcile this with the chaos that plays out before him.”

Continue reading “Book Review: Sentience by Courtney P. Hunter” →
Down the TBR Hole #2
down the tbr hole

Down the TBR Hole #2

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Hello, reader!

I’m continuing my TBR cleansing journey today with another Down the TBR Hole! Down the TBR Hole was originally created by Lost in a Story. As a reminder, here are the guidelines:

  • Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 or 20 or however many you’re feeling) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

Last week, I ended with 619 books. This week, I’m starting with 620 books… so apparently I added a new book sometime within the last week! I honestly don’t even pay attention to when I add books, I swear. Let’s see if I’ll be cutting anything out this round!

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

I’m realizing that I have a lot of Gaiman on my TBR. I tend to get along better with his middle grade fiction (I love Coraline!), so I’m pretty exciting about reading this one. Besides, the premise is so interesting… a boy raised in a graveyard by ghosts? Yes, please!

Verdict: Keep

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

I can’t really remember why I added this book in the first place. Perhaps because I had a vague interest in Bladerunner, the movie based on this book? Perhaps because it’s a sci-fi classic? Maybe it filled a prompt for a readathon? Either way, I have about zero interest in this book now.

Verdict: Remove

Continue reading “Down the TBR Hole #2” →
The Liebster Award
book tag

The Liebster Award

kerrimcbooknerd7 Comments

Hello, reader!

I have an exciting post for you today. I was nominated/tagged to do the Liebster Award! I’ve seen this tag floating around many bookish blogs and I’ve always loved seeing the unique questions and reading everyone’s answers. Now I get a chance to answer and make up some of my own!

I was tagged by the wonderful Danni @ _ForBooksSake. Her blog is my go-to if I’m on the hunt for a thriller or something spooky. You should definitely go check her out! Also, her pets are super cute and there are pictures on her Liebster Award post, so you gotta at least read that one. I haven’t a clue who originally came up with the Liebster Awards, but thank you, random blogger!

Alright, let’s get to the post, shall we?

Rules:

  1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and give a link to their blog (Thank you, Danni!)
  2. Answer the 11 questions asked of you
  3. Nominate 11 bloggers
  4. Ask your nominees 11 questions
  5. Notify your nominees once you have uploaded your post

Questions:

#1. What is your favourite book of the year so far?

There is no way I can talk about this book nearly enough, but I’m sure if you’ve been around this blog for awhile, you knew the answer to this question 😂 My favorite has to go to Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko! I’ve already re-read it, which is something I rarely do… especially in the same year that I first read it! I own two copies (so far) and was super stoked to get a free download of the audiobook in my October OwlCrate. This book is just incredible and I will be shouting it’s praises until I can shout no more. Now I’m not-so-patiently waiting for the sequel, which comes out next summer!

Continue reading “The Liebster Award” →
#5OnMyTBR – Halloween Freebie
5 on my tbr

#5OnMyTBR – Halloween Freebie

kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

#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!

Happy Halloween week! In honor of the spookiest time during spooky season, today’s 5 On My TBR is a Halloween freebie. There’s so much potential here, but Imma be honest… I’ve just gotten home from a busy shift and my brain is feeling particularly fried. With that being said, we’re gonna be basic here and go with five horror books on my TBR that I can’t wait to read!

Time for some frights!

#1. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Gotta start out with a classic! I’ve wanted to read this book for awhile, but it always ends up on the backburner. Now, with the Netflix adaptation and this being the perfect time of year, I just have the urge to pick it up. Of course, I would actually need a copy first, but I am due a bookstore run 👀👀 I do love a good haunted house book and this novel is one of the quintessential ones!

#2. Horrid by Katrina Leno

Speaking of haunted houses… I just received this book in my September OwlCrate box and it looks perfectly creepy! I don’t know much about this book, though I have seen it around the bookish internet. I have heard there are ghosts involved, so I’m in! I want a good ghost story to chill my bones. Any excuse to wrap myself in a blanket and sip hot cocoa while I read, amiright?

#3. The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

I do love a horror novel that also has some social commentary. This is what is promised in the synopsis for this book. I’ve also heard nothing but amazing things about it! I’ve been interested in reading something written by Stephen Graham Jones for a minute, now, too. Why not make it something scary? I can’t wait to read this one!

#4. Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

Another book that centers around a supposedly haunted house! Are we sensing a favorite trope of mine? We most certainly are 😂 That being said, I’ve also been dying to actually read one of the three books I own that are written by Riley Sager. Because, for some reason, I keep buying his books but haven’t read a single one. It makes no sense any way you look at it, lol. Let’s hope I love his writing caaaaaauuuse…

#5. It by Stephen King

And now we’re ending this list with another classic! I started reading Stephen King books with the sole purpose of working my way up to reading It. It’s a chonky boy. It features a murderous clown. And I saw the original movie at a probably inappropriate age, so there is a long history of me being freaked out by It, lol. But I do want to read it eventually and I know it’s gonna freak me out. Probably won’t be getting to it (hahaha) this Halloween, but perhaps next year? Yeah… that’s what we’ll go with 😅

What books are you planning on picking up this week? Any spooky reads to get you in the mood for Halloween? Let me know in the comments!

And, as always, happy reading!