Tag: claribel a ortega

Top 5 Tuesday: Illustrated

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Top 5 Tuesday is a fun, weekly meme that asks you to pick 5 books that fit that week’s theme. It was created by Bionic Bookworm and is currently being hosted by Meeghan Reads. You should check out their wonderful blog for more details and the list of prompts!

Hello, reader!

It’s time for another Top 5 Tuesday! This week, it took me a bit to find five books to feature because the topic is all about illustrated books. This could be books with full on pictures or just pretty chapter headers or end pages. But I quickly realized that I haven’t read a ton of books with illustrations! Thankfully, I did find five books I’ve truly loved to put on my list.

With that said, let’s get to the post!

#1. Frostheart by Jamie Littler

I read this book earlier this year and fell in love with the characters and the story. The fact that it had beautiful illustrations throughout the book was a bonus! They added to the fun of the novel and made me love it even more. I’m excited to continue on with the series at some point. Also, I feel like adult books should be taking a page from middle grade and start throwing in some illustrations!

#2. A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow

This book has a combination of illustrations and beautiful chapter headers that were just stunning. I wasn’t expecting it when I picked the book up and was pleasantly surprised! It gave the novella a storybook feel, which makes sense since it’s a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. This was a quick and engaging read that featured Alix E. Harrow’s beautiful writing. I’m hoping the sequel is just as incredible with more fantastic art peppered throughout.

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WWW Wednesday: May 25, 2022

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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 A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie: I’m continuing on my Poirot reading and, so far, this has been one of the more interesting ones. I’ve only just begun, but I’m loving the mystery in this! I’m also loving that Hastings is back. He may be completely obtuse, but he’s my favorite, haha. The friendship between Poirot and Hastings is one of my favorite things in these books, so I always miss Hastings when he’s not around. Anyways, I’m really enjoying this one so far.
  • The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna: I’ve started in on one of my most anticipated reads of the year and, so far, it’s living up to expectations. Of course, I’m only a few chapters in, but this is just as cinematic and vivid as the first one! I feel like this book is going to contain a bit more action than the first since, ya know, there’s a war going on and I am ready for it. I’m excited to see how this one turns out.
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WWW Wednesday: May 11, 2022

kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

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

  • Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega: This is the Middle Grade Marvels pick for May and I’m absolutely loving it! I love the glimpses of Dominican culture, I love all the spookiness, and I especially love Lucely and Syd. There are some heavier themes in this book, but that’s something I really enjoy about Claribel A. Ortega’s stories. They don’t shy away from tough aspects of life just because they’re geared towards a younger audience. Also, the audiobook narrator is incredible! Massive props to Almarie Guerra.
  • The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart: I picked this up slightly on a whim, but mostly because it’s due back to the library soon and my renewal limit has been reached 😅 Thankfully, it’s proving to be a quick, engaging read! I’ll admit that time travel books always leave me scratching my head a bit, but even when I’m mildly confused, I’m still fully invested in the story. January, our main character, is a true asshole and I often want to slap some sense into her. At the same time, I can’t help but root for her to get to the bottom of whatever is going on. I just started this last night and I’m already over halfway through, so I think I can safely say I’m enjoying this one.
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ARC Review: Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega

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Title: Witchlings

Author: Claribel A. Ortega

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Content/Trigger Warnings: For a list of potential content and trigger warnings, check out this book’s page on BookTriggerWarnings.com

Rating: ★★★★★

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

Goodreads Synopsis

A magical adventure for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers and Nevermoor, about three witchlings who must work together to do the impossible if they have any hope of earning their full powers.

Every year, in the magical town of Ravenskill, Witchlings who participate in the Black Moon Ceremony are placed into covens and come into their powers as full-fledged witches.

And twelve-year-old Seven Salazar can’t wait to be placed in the most powerful coven with her best friend! But on the night of the ceremony, in front of the entire town, Seven isn’t placed in one of the five covens. She’s a Spare!

Spare covens have fewer witches, are less powerful, and are looked down on by everyone. Even worse, when Seven and the other two Spares perform the magic circle to seal their coven and cement themselves as sisters, it doesn’t work! They’re stuck as Witchlings—and will never be able to perform powerful magic.

Seven invokes her only option: the impossible task. The three Spares will be assigned an impossible task: If they work together and succeed at it, their coven will be sealed and they’ll gain their full powers. If they fail… Well, the last coven to make the attempt ended up being turned into toads. Forever.

But maybe friendship can be the most powerful magic of all…

With action-packed adventure, a coven of quirky witchlings, Claribel A. Ortega’s signature humor and girl-power vibes, this middle grade Latine witch story is truly a modern classic.

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WWW Wednesday: Mar 30, 2022

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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

  • Scorpica by G.R. Macallister: I was sent an e-ARC of this book through Netgalley because the publisher sent an email asking if I was interested and, after reading the synopsis, I couldn’t say no! It sounds epic in the best way, with lots of moving parts and intricate world-building. So far, it’s living up to what I was imagining. Of course, I’ve only just started it, so who knows if it’ll keep up, but right now, I’m really loving it! Let’s hope that continues.
  • Dread Wood by Jennifer Killick: I’m reading this book for a blog tour sponsored by The Write Reads. It’s a middle grade that promises creepy vibes and, so far, it is delivering! I’m having a great time with this story and am fully invested in what happens to these kids. Also, love the fact that there are pigs, though I am a little worried for their well-being…
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WWW Wednesday: Mar 23, 2022

kerrimcbooknerd9 Comments

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

  • Highway of Tears by Jessica McDiarmid: Yup, I’m still reading this non-fiction. Don’t worry, though… I’m not taking awhile with this one because I don’t like it. On the contrary, I’m finding it fascinating! Heartbreaking, yet fascinating. And I think that’s why I’m taking my time with it. I want to absorb all the information this book has to offer on the struggles First Nations women and girls have to deal with simply because of who they are. It’s a topic I know only a little about and I want to expand my knowledge. This book does it in a way that is both respectful to the victims and doesn’t feel like I’m sitting in a lecture. I’m really enjoying it, so far.
  • Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega: I finally started one of my most anticipated reads of the year and, so far, it’s just as magical as I was imagining! I’m only a few pages in, but there’s already a toad named Edgar Allan Toad and Seven is utterly endearing. I can’t wait to continue!
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WWW Wednesday: Jan 18, 2022

kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

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

  • False Value by Ben Aaronovitch: I started the eighth book of the Rivers of London series for an informal readalong and, y’all… I think this one might be my favorite in the series so far. I’m in the middle of Part Two, so it may be a little earlier to call it, but I am loving this addition to the world! It’s funny to think how much Peter has grown as a character since the first book. I think this one is showcasing it more than any of the previous installments. I’m eager to keep going!
  • The Thirteenth Hour by Trudie Skies: I started reading this yesterday as The Write Reads blog tour for it is coming up soon. Everyone. Listen. This book has absolutely captured my imagination! It’s a complex world filled with gods and different societies that are equal but not. It started off with a bang and I am hooked! It makes me even more excited to do my tour post 😄
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