book reviews

Book Review: SLAY

Title: SLAY

Author: Brittney Morris

Genre: Contemporary YA

Source: Won! (Twitter Giveaway)

Rating: ★★★★★

One sentence synopsis

Keira Johnson, a seventeen year old honor student and secret game designer, has to deal with the fallout when her game, SLAY, comes under attack.

Favorite Quote

“As we duel, as we chat, there’s an understanding that “your black is not my black” and “your weird is not my weird” and “your beautiful is not my beautiful,” and that’s okay. It brings tears to my eyes if I think about it too long.”

time to slay!
www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: Dec 4, 2019

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?

Current Reads

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

I’ll admit that this book started out slow, but I’m about halfway through now and it’s gotten INTENSE. And dark… I’m enjoying the thrill of it!

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

The only reason why I haven’t finished this audiobook is that I tend to listen to it at work and I was off today! But I’m almost done with it and, I have to say, I can’t wait to see how it ends!

Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey

I just picked this one up today and, so far, I’m liking it. Even though I enjoy sci-fi, space operas are very hit or miss for me, so we’ll see how this one fares.

Recently Finished

Fireborne by Rosaria Munda

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Y’all! I finally finished one of my Netgalley ARCs!! I still need to write my review, but I’m still pretty stoked! The fact that I ended up really enjoying it makes me pretty happy, too. Full review to come!

What’s Next

The Deep by Rivers Solomon

I’m gonna keep this ARC train rolling and dive into The Deep.

(See what I did there xD)

Perhaps after I finish The Deep, I’ll give The Bone Ships another go. I have to finish it at some point in time… *sigh*

Anyways, have y’all read any of these books? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday!

And, as always, happy reading!

top ten tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday: Holiday Reads… Kinda

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish back in June 2010. It is currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and, as is stated on the blog, it was “born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.”

Tuesday has made it’s way back and it’s time for another Top Ten! The theme this week is “Holiday Reads”, which, I’m gonna be honest, is not my bag. I love Christmas and I love the holiday season, but I don’t love reading books where the holidays are a major theme. I don’t know why. Usually because they are so syrupy sweet that my teeth ache. But even if they aren’t, holiday themed books just aren’t my cup of tea.

So! Instead, I’ve decided to give you a list of ten books I’m planning on reading in December. A TTT and a TBR all in one! Now, I don’t typically do TBRs as I’m a huge mood reader, but I do have quite a few books that I would really like to get to before 2020, so December is getting a TBR. Here’s the ten books I’m planning on finishing this month:

  1. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo: I’ve actually already started this one and it is daaaaark. I love it!
  2. Cinder by Marissa Meyer: Also currently reading this one and I’m not sure what I was expecting from this book, but I’m really digging it. I’m listening to the audiobook and the narrator is A+!
  3. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern: I am not letting 2019 end without reading my most anticipated release!
  4. Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey: My most recent library haul that is due back mid-December, so I kinda have to read it. I am looking forward to digging into it as it’s the first book in one of my husband’s favorite series.
  5. The Bone Ships by R. J. Barker: I’M GOING TO FINISH THIS ARC, DAMN IT! *shakes her fist at the sky*
  6. The Count of Monte Cristo: I started this audiobook in 2019 and I will finish it in 2019! I just gotta get through my current audiobook and then I will forsake all others until this one is done!
  7. The Deep by Rivers Solomon: Another ARC from my Netgalley list that I’m trying to have done before we enter the new year. It’s short, I just need to find the time!
  8. The God Game by Danny Tobey: Another ARC! Sensing a theme? This has been likened to Ready Player One, which is one of my favorite books, so I’m really looking forward to reading it!
  9. Middlegame by Seanan McGuire: I started reading Seanan McGuire this year (The Wayward Children series is a new fave!) and I’d love to get to this one before 2019 is over. I’ve heard tons of great things! I won’t be devastated if I don’t manage to get to it, though. I’ll just kick off 2020 with a bang!
  10. Girls of Storm and Shadow by Natasha Ngan: I just hauled this book over the holiday weekend, but I’ve been looking forward to it since I read Girls of Paper and Fire this summer. Again, though, if I can’t get to it before 2020 rolls around, I’ll be alright.

And there we have it, my list of “holiday” reads! I mean… it counts since I’m reading them during the holidays, right? Right.

What are you planning to read this holiday season? Do you have any holiday themed favorites that you think might sway me to actually give them a try? Let me know in the comments!

And, as always, happy reading!

book tag

Book Tag: Quick Fire Fantasy

On this new adventure of blogging, I’ve started reading a vast number of blogs as I unwind for the night. It’s wonderful wandering through so many beautiful and insightful blogs that help inspire me! And I do love reading a good book tag. I recently stumbled across this tag over on Kristin @ Kristin Kraves Books’ blog and it sounded like fun! It helps that my favorite genre happens to be fantasy.

Continue reading “Book Tag: Quick Fire Fantasy”
in other words

In Other Words #3

It’s Sunday! It’s December! IT’S SNOWING!

Normally, I wouldn’t be excited about snow because I a) hate winter and b) hate snow. Something about moving from the desert to a place that actually has seasons makes me eager for these signs of the changes, though. I haven’t experienced a good snow fall in years and apparently I missed it? Either way, it’s beautiful outside right now.

And now it’s time for another post of mostly random stuff. But, first, let’s wrap up my most recent posts.

Last Week’s Posts

Continue reading “In Other Words #3”
book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Nov 29 – Dec 5

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 BBH ties in with American Thanksgiving and shopping. Let’s take a look at our question for the week.

Image by Coffee Addicted Reader
Continue reading “Book Blogger Hop: Nov 29 – Dec 5”
book reviews

Book Review: The Raven Tower

Title: The Raven Tower

Author: Emma Miles

Genre: Fantasy

Source: e-ARC; BookSirens

Rating: ★★★★

One sentence synopsis

A magic-wielding, free-spirited woman is forced to marry a sorcerer dubbed the Dark Man in exchange for help fighting against evil necromancers.

Favorite quote

“Are you going to turn all the women in my hold into savages?”

“Just the best ones.”

Continue reading “Book Review: The Raven Tower”
Uncategorized

WWW Wednesday: Nov 27, 2019

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?

Current Reads

Fireborne by Rosaria Munda

So, I think I’m abandoning The Bone Ships, for now because I just… can’t with that book at the moment. I’ve decided to move on to another Netgalley book dealing with dragons and, so far, it is WAY better! I’m already hooked and I’ve just started! Hopefully this will get me out of my reading funk. And, bonus, I’ll check one more book off my Netgalley backlist.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

My library hold came in for the audiobook of Cinder. I’ve been wanting to check out this series for a long time, but it was always passed over for other books. I figured getting the audiobook from the library would be a good way to finally start reading the Lunar Chronicles. And then I’ll know if I want to continue!

Recently Finished

Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I tore through this book and discovered that I am as much a fan of YA thrillers as adult ones! This kept me guessing until the very end!

What’s Next

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

This one got bumped up the list because on of my Goodreads groups chose this as the adult BOM and the group read starts December 2nd. So it’s time to dive into this dark and twisty tale! Not that I’m complaining.

I do still plan to start The Starless Sea and The Deep, but they will probably be read later in the month. And then, maybe… I’ll give The Bone Ships another shot. We shall see.

Anyways, have y’all read any of these books? What were your thoughts? Let me know in the comments.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday!

And, as always, happy reading!

Uncategorized

Top Ten Tuesday: Thankful Freebie

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish back in June 2010. It is currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and, as is stated on the blog, it was “born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.”

It’s time for the last TTT of the month. The theme for this week is a “Thankful Freebie”, which, with American Thanksgiving being this Thursday, is very topical. This is the time of year when I start reminiscing about my past year and thinking about all the things for which I am thankful. And, let me tell you, it’s a lot! I could probably ramble on for ages about it, so I’ve decided to focus on bookish things. With that being said, here is my list!

Continue reading “Top Ten Tuesday: Thankful Freebie”
Uncategorized

End of the Year Book Tag 2019

While I was at work today, I realized that December is literally next week! I’m honestly shocked that this year (and this decade!) is almost over. It was a busy year so that probably contributed to the fact that it feels like everything flew by.

It’s been a busy reading year for me, too. That was a big change for me after a year where I barely read two books. I’m currently sitting at 70 books on my Goodreads Reading Challenge, which blows my goal of 50 out of the water! It’s been a great reading year, y’all, but it’s not quite over. It’s time to look at what I’ll be doing for the last month of this decade.

I was tagged by the lovely Nikki @The Night is Dark and Full of Books! Thank you so much for the tag! Y’all should check her out because her blog is fantastic. This was originally created by Ariel @ArielBisset.

On to the questions!