wrap up

February 2022 Wrap Up

March 14, 2022 kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

Hello, reader!

I know, I know. It’s already the middle of March and I’m just now doing my February wrap up. Imma be honest with you… I apparently had a dream that I had already finished this post and it was out on the internet for all to read. Then, I started questioning myself, looked it up, and realized that my subconscious thinks I’m far more on top of things than I actually am. Really, just a snapshot of how my brain has been working this path month. Like a sloth crawling through molasses up in here *taps head*

Anyhoo! Now that I’ve realized my mistake, it’s time to go over all the wonderful books I read last month. It was a pretty incredible reading month, especially considering it’s the shortest month of the year. I read a lot of books for me and a lot of quality books, at that! So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.

Books Read

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

Book: Revenge of the Beast by Jack Meggitt-Phillips

Rating: ★★★★

Thoughts: This was just as much fun as the first book in the series! I loved watching Ebenezer and Bethany bond even more. I also loved watching them learn more about friendship and what it is to be a ‘do-gooder’. I read this for a The Write Reads tour and you can read my full thoughts here.

Book: False Value by Ben Aaronovitch

Rating: ★★★★★

Thoughts: Another gem in the Rivers of London series and this one finally reached the full five stars for me! I think this book really shows how much Peter has grown over the course of this series. I also loved all the tech talk and, of course, the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy references! I’m looking forward to whatever comes next.

Book: Noor by Nnedi Okorafor

Rating: ★★★★

Thoughts: Another novella by Dr. Okorafor that I truly enjoyed! I think I liked Remote Control a smidge more, but this was a great read, as well. I loved how it examines topics like misogyny and how people treat those they see as ‘other’. This was a quick, engaging read and I enjoyed discovering all its layers.

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book tag

Bookish Scenarios Book Tag

March 13, 2022March 13, 2022 kerrimcbooknerd3 Comments

Hello, reader!

Having lost an hour of sleep last night because of Daylight Savings Time in the United States (can we just get rid of this please?) and working a full shift today, I am currently running on fumes. This is when I wish past-Kerri had thought ahead and scheduled a post… but alas! I have been burned by her once again 😂

What I’m trying to say is that I’m currently very much in ‘no thoughts, head empty’ mode, but I still want to do a post for today! When that happens, my go-to post type is a good ol’ fashioned book tag. Thankfully, I had two incredible bloggers, Jenny @ Jen Jen Reviews and Ashlee @ Books Are 42, tag me in the Bookish Scenarios Book Tag! Thanks for bailing me out for the day, y’all! If you’re not already following these two, you should definitely give their blogs a peek. They both create wonderful bookish posts that are a lot more coherent than my ramblings today are gonna be. They’re both also genuinely wonderful people ❤❤ This tag was originally created by LindsayHeartsBooks on YouTube.

Alright, let’s get to the post!

The Prompts:

You have to get rid of all your books and you can only keep ONE from each of these genres: Contemporary, fantasy, nonfiction and one other of your choosing. What books do you keeps?

This question is cruel! One of each? ONLY ONE FANTASY?!? Fiiiiine…

Contemporary: I’m not gonna cheat and pick a contemporary fantasy, though I am sorely tempted. Instead, I’m going to pick a book that made me realize I could enjoy a contemporary novel. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas was such an incredible read that it not only convinced me to not disregard all contemporaries, it re-sparked my interest in YA novels. It also helps that it introduced me to one of my favorite authors!

Fantasy: This one hurts. I have so many five star fantasies that I would want to keep! If it came down to only being able to keep one, though, I’d have to pick The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern. One, because it’s one of the few fantasy standalones on my five star list, haha. And, two, because I adore this book and this author and, of her two novels, this is definitely my favorite. I connected with this one on a deep level and I couldn’t imagine letting it go. It’s also signed!

Non-fiction: This is a bit easier as I honestly haven’t read a ton of non-fiction that I thoroughly enjoyed. One of the few non-fiction novels that I would love to keep on my shelves is Becoming by Michelle Obama. It’s a stunning memoir and by a person I truly admire. Of all the non-fiction I actually own, this would be the one I’d want to hang on to.

Reader’s Choice: I suppose I could sneak another fantasy on, at this point. But I’m gonna defy expectations! Kind of. You see, the book I’m picking could be considered a mystery or a thriller or fantasy. It’s also a new favorite and one that I already want to re-read! I recently read The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd for a blog tour and now I can’t stop thinking about it! It’s a clear sign I should keep it around, right? Right *nod*

You’re at the book store and you can hear a teenager telling their mother they don’t like to read, but their mother insists they pick something. You walk over and recommend a book you think is great for people who aren’t big on reading – what book is it?

I would need to know more about the teen before I could truly answer this question! What are their interests? Are the open to fantasy? Or do they like more realistic stories? Are they okay with romance? If I knew nothing about the teen in question, I would probably lean towards something contemporary as they are usually quick reads. I’d attempt to keep it light-hearted, as well. I think Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon could work! Even if the ending destroyed me 😭

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book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Mar 11 – 17

March 12, 2022 kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

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

Do you have a bookish pet peeve? If so, what is it?

Submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer.

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday #38

March 11, 2022March 10, 2022 kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

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!

I hope your Friday is treating you well. If not, how about a little First Lines Friday post to help forget your woes? Or at least distract you for a couple of minutes, haha. I have to work this weekend and I’m not excited about it, but I’m still happy that we’ve made it to the end of the week!

But on to the bookish stuff! The novel I’ve picked for today’s First Lines Friday post is a contemporary novel that has been on my Netgalley shelf for… an embarrassingly long amount of time. Especially since it’s a book that I’ve really wanted to read! I think what has me hesitating is the fact that I don’t really pick up contemporaries a lot, but this one has elements that definitely appeal to me.

Now, let’s see if the first lines can appeal, as well!

The Line(s):

“Everyone has a story about the first time they read the Orman Chronicles. This is mine.”

The Hints:

This YA contemporary was released in February of 2021.

It has one of my favorite tropes: bookish themes!

It also takes a close look at grief and love.

The Reveal:

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blog tour · book reviews

BBNYA Finalist Blog Tour: Odriel’s Heirs by Hayley Reese Chow

March 10, 2022March 9, 2022 kerrimcbooknerd3 Comments

Hello, reader!

I’ve got yet another blog tour for you today, this one featuring one of the 10 finalists from last year’s Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA)! This YA fantasy is a quick, exciting read that had me completely wrapped in the story. It’s easy to see why Odriel’s Heirs by Hayley Reese Chow made it to the finals! But, first, let me tell you more about BBNYA.

BBNYA is a yearly competition where Book Bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors. If you are an author and wish to learn more about the BBNYA competition, you can visit the official website www.bbnya.com or twitter @bbnya_official.

The sign-ups will soon be open for the 2022 BBNYA competition, be it for authors to enter their books, or for bloggers wanting to be part of the new panel, so keep your eyes peeled!!

As a note, I received this book to read and review as part of the 2021 BBNYA tours organised by the TWR Tour team. All opinions are my own, unbiased and honest. Now, let’s get into the post!

Book Details

Title: Odriel’s Heirs
Author: Hayley Reese Chow
Publication date: March 1st, 2020
Genre: Fantasy
Age group: Young Adult
Content/Trigger Warnings: For a list of potential content and trigger warnings, check out this book’s page on BookTriggerWarnings.com

Book Links

B&N::Amazon::Goodreads

Synopsis

The brave, burning with fire, harnessed the Dragon’s Rage….

As the Dragon Heir, seventeen-year-old Kaia inherited the power of flame to protect her homeland from a godlike necromancer’s undead army. But after centuries of peace, the necromancer has faded to myth, and the Dragon Heir is feared by the people. Persecuted and cast out, Kaia struggles to embrace and control her seemingly useless gift while confined to her family’s farm.

But when the necromancer’s undead terrorize the land once again, Kaia runs away to join the battle.

With the help of her childhood rival, the handsome Shadow Heir, and a snarky, cursed cat, Kaia must figure out how to control both her fire and her confidence in time to save Okarria. If she fails, she will sacrifice her family, her new friends, and the enchanting world she has only just begun to see.

And time is running out.

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blog tour · book spotlight

Blog Tour Spotlight: Princess Ever After by Connie Glynn

March 9, 2022March 8, 2022 kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

Hello, reader!

Remember my review last week for Undercover Princess? And how I said there would be more Rosewood Chronicles content coming soon? Well, here it is! Today, I have a spotlight for the fifth and last book in this YA fantasy series, Princess Ever After by Connie Glynn! Now, after loving the first book so much, I knew I was going to want to continue with the series. I also knew that there was no way I was going to read three other books before it was time for me to post this, so I opted for a spotlight instead. If you haven’t read any of the Rosewood Chronicles series, I would suggest checking out my earlier review instead.

Of course, I want to thank The Write Reads team and the publisher, Penguin, for giving me a spot on this tour. I always appreciate it!

Now, let’s get to the spotlight 👑

Book Details

Title: Princess Ever After
Author: Connie Glynn
Series: The Rosewood Chronicles #5
Publication date: February 17th, 2022
Genre: Fantasy
Age group: Young Adult

Book Links

TBD::Amazon::Goodreads

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blog tour · book reviews

Blog Tour: The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

March 8, 2022March 8, 2022 kerrimcbooknerd6 Comments

Hello, reader!

I’m excited to bring you a review today as part of my stop for a book tour run by Turn the Page Tours! This tour is celebrating a book that I actually picked up in my recent Book of the Month club box. It sounded so fascinating, I couldn’t resist. The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd is a mystery that is also a fantasy and it absolutely blew me away!

Before I get into the post, however, I want to send thanks to the Turn the Page Tours team and the publisher with providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my participation with this tour and an honest review. It is always appreciated! Also, if you’d like to check out the other bookish creators helping out with the tour, you can find the full schedule here. Make sure to check out my Instagram post, as well, for a giveaway!

Alright, let’s get to the post!

Book Details

Title: The Cartographers
Author: Peng Shepherd
Publication date: March 15th, 2022
Genre: Mystery/Fantasy
Age group: Adult
Content/Trigger Warnings: Blood, violence, stalking, mental heath issues, obsession, cheating, fire, death, strained parent/child relationship

Book Links

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

Synopsis

What is the purpose of a map?

Nell Young’s whole life and greatest passion is cartography. Her father, Dr. Daniel Young, is a legend in the field, and Nell’s personal hero. But she hasn’t seen or spoken to him ever since he cruelly fired her and destroyed her reputation after an argument over an old, cheap gas station highway map.

But when Dr. Young is found dead in his office at the New York Public Library, with the very same seemingly worthless map hidden in his desk, Nell can’t resist investigating. To her surprise, she soon discovers that the map is incredibly valuable, and also exceedingly rare. In fact, she may now have the only copy left in existence… because a mysterious collector has been hunting down and destroying every last one—along with anyone who gets in the way.

But why?

To answer that question, Nell embarks on a dangerous journey to reveal a dark family secret, and discover the true power that lies in maps…

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down the tbr hole

Down the TBR Hole #26

March 7, 2022March 17, 2022 kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

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!

Welcome to a new week for more bookish content! I thought today would be a good day for another round of Down the TBR Hole. Mostly because I’m trying to stay ahead of my obsessive need to add new books to my TBR shelf, haha. Case in point, in the time since I did my last round, I’ve gone from 734 books on my Goodreads Want to Read shelf to 738 books. Admittedly, 4 books isn’t that bad, but when you already have over 700 on the list… sigh…

There’s just so many incredible sounding books popping up on my radar and I can’t resist!

Let’s see if we can trim a little bit this round before I, inevitably, add more 😂

The World of Tomorrow by Brendan Mathews

I couldn’t remember adding this book and, after reading the synopsis, I think I must have done it while in an altered state. Because this book does not sounds appealing to me at all. Did I add as a possible book for a reading challenge? Was I trying to get more into historical fiction? Who knows, but it’s definitely not staying.

Verdict: Remove

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

In contrast, I remember adding this one to my TBR and I still really want to read it! I actually own a copy, as well, so it’s not leaving the TBR any time soon. This is one of those books where I know I’m going to have to prepare myself to be angry probably the entire time I’m reading. Still, I’ve heard nothing but great things and am excited to read it when I finally get around to the book.

Verdict: Keep

Reign the Earth by A.C. Gaughen

Ahhh, yet another YA fantasy series that I thought sounded interesting, then never started. Honestly, at this point, though this sounds like this could be thrilling, I’m just not interesting in diving into yet another series. Perhaps when I’ve gotten through the multiple ones I’m currently reading, I’ll revisit this. For now, though, it’s time to part ways.

Verdict: Remove

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book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Mar 4 – 10

March 6, 2022 kerrimcbooknerd5 Comments

This Week’s Question

What inspired you to start book blogging?

Submitted by Julie @ Stepping Stone Book Reviews.

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readathon

WomenInMyth-athon TBR

March 5, 2022March 4, 2022 kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

Hello, reader!

What’s this? Another TBR? That’s right because, in March, I’ll be taking part in not one, but two readathons! The WomenInMythAThon is a readathon that speaks to my Greek mythology loving heart. It’s also put on by one of my favorite bookish people, Livy @ Shelves Of Starlight! There was no way I wasn’t going to give it a go. Check out her post to see all the rules and prompts for this fun readathon!

Now, if you read my Trope-ical Readathon TBR, you’ll probably noticed a lot of carryover from that one to this one. That’s because there ain’t no way I’m reading 12+ books this month! Maybe I took the entire month off from work I could make it happen. As it is, I’m going to try and make books I’m already planning on reading work for this readathon.

With all that said, let’s get to the TBR!

Athena – Read a book focused on academia.

Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett

So this doesn’t necessarily focus on academia. A big part of the story, however, is about a woman who is both witch and wizard delving into the world of the Unseen University… so I think that counts! It’s also short, so I could probably squeeze it in with all my other reads.

Aphrodite – Read a romance book.

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary

This romance about two roommates that share a bed but have never met is not only on my other readathon TBR, but it’s on my 12 friends, 12 recs TBR. So it makes the most sense to stick it on this one! That just makes it more likely that I’ll actually read it! I’m so excited to give it a try.

Artemis – Read a book with ace and/or are rep.

Bloody Spade by Brittany M. Willows

I received a copy of this book forever ago from the author for review and I’m embarrassed that I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet. Life has certainly gotten in the way, but this seems like the perfect excuse to finally get to this one! I’ve heard great things about the novel and its rep, so I’m looking forward to diving in.

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