Tag: fantasy

#5OnMyTBR – Longest Books on TBR
5 on my tbr

#5OnMyTBR – Longest Books on TBR

kerrimcbooknerd6 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!

This week’s 5 On My TBR is focusing on all those books on my TBR that intimidate me. That’s right, I’m talking about the longest books that I still have yet to read! Now, I picked through the chunkier novels on the TBR to highlight a few I would like to get to sooner rather than later. I didn’t realize how many big books I had on there until I started getting ready for this post! I really need to stop letting all these chonky monsters intimidate me because I’m probably missing out on some great reads.

That being said, here are five that I would like to prioritize!

#1. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

Page count: 1463

This has the honor of not only being the biggest book on my TBR, but all the one that’s been there the longest! Probably because it’s so big. That and it’s a classic and y’all know I have a complicated relationship with classics. Still, I really want to give this one a chance this year, even if it takes me the entire year to read it! Wish me luck.

#2. It by Stephen King

Page count: 1169

There were so many Stephen King books that fit the chunky book category. The man does like to write a lengthy novel. I decided to only prioritize one, though, and It won out. Mostly because this was the first Stephen King book I wanted to read when I decided to give his books a try. Yet I still haven’t read it because it’s just so big 😅

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First Lines Friday #69
first lines friday

First Lines Friday #69

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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!

It’s time for another First Lines Friday! Today, I’m featuring a middle grade novel that I’ve already started reading. It’s been a fun and engaging read, so far, and it helps that there are beautiful illustrations peppered throughout the book. I’m excited to continue on with the story!

Before I do, though, let me share the first few lines and see if they entice you, as well.

The Line(s):

“It was a wild and lightning-struck night. The kind of night that changes everything.”

The Hints:

This middle grade fantasy is set in London.

It features clothes that are legitimately magic.

If you’re looking for a fantasy with a clever and crafty main character, this might be for you!

The Reveal:

Continue reading “First Lines Friday #69” →
New Year’s Book Tag
book tag

New Year’s Book Tag

kerrimcbooknerd10 Comments

Hello, reader!

It’s time for my first tag of the new year! I’m going to try to keep up with these in 2023 because I very much failed to do so in 2022 😅 This tag seems to be a perfect one for a fresh start. It’s the New Year’s Book Tag and I was tagged by the wonderful Ashlee @ Books Are 42. If you haven’t checked out her blog before, I highly suggest you do!

Alright, now let’s get to the tag!

How many books are you planning to read in 2023?

My goal for this year is my most ambitious yet. I’m hoping to read 100 books this year! I think it’s totally doable as I’ve read over 100 books the last two years. It’s still daunting to see that number sitting on my Goodreads homepage 😂

Name 5 books that you didn’t get to this past year but want to make a priority in 2023.

Hahaha, there are so many books that I wish I had gotten to last year. I had two whole TBRs that I left… quite a few books on. I would love to get to all of the books that were left behind, but these five are ones I am going to try and prioritize in 2023.

What genre do you want to read more of?

I’d like to continue my romance journey and delve more into the genre! I’ve really only been reading rom-coms, so far, and I wouldn’t mind dipping my toes into different romances. If I don’t like them, I can just retreat into my fluffy, rom-com world 😂 I’d also like to make a conscious effort to pick up more science fiction this year! I feel like I’ve been ignoring the SF side of my SFF roots, lately, and I want to get back into it.

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WWW Wednesday: Jan 11, 2022
www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: Jan 11, 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

  • Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney: I’m reading this with a group of bookish friends. I think the general consensus is that we don’t trust anyone and are loving it! I absolutely loved how much this feels like And Then There Were None. The atmosphere is top-notch, the writing has sucked me in, and I’m finding it hard to stick to the book club reading schedule 😂 It helps that I have so many other books on the go, at the moment. Still, I can’t wait to continue!
  • The Hatmakers by Tamzin Merchant: I’m reading this cute middle grade with the Middle Grade Marvels group and I’m having a blast. This is such a fun and unique story, so far. I love the Hatmakers, Cordelia most of all. She’s feisty and smart and ambitious. I’m also loving the illustrations inside the book. I think this will continue to be a great read!
Continue reading “WWW Wednesday: Jan 11, 2022” →
January 2023 TBR
monthly tbr

January 2023 TBR

kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

Hello, reader!

If you’ve been following my blog for awhile, you know that I don’t typically do TBRs. Mostly because I’m a mood reader and I had convinced myself that TBRs are not my thing. I discovered last year, though, that any month where I actually made a TBR (typically for a readathon) I not only read more, but I found it less daunting when deciding what to read next. So… dare I say that I might be jumping on the TBR train?

Well, clearly I am, else this post wouldn’t exist 😂

I’m excited to give TBRs a go in 2023 and see if it helps me to reach my bookish goals for the year. Now, I’m gonna say right now that there may be more books on this TBR than I’ll actually be able to get to in January, but I’m going to give it my best shot! And if I don’t manage to read them all, I’m not going to beat myself up about it.

All that being said, let’s get to what I’m hoping to read in January!

  • Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake
  • What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
  • Slappy, Beware! by R.L. Stine (my 12 friends, 12 recommendations book of the month)
Continue reading “January 2023 TBR” →
#5OnMyTBR – Something New
5 on my tbr

#5OnMyTBR – Something New

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#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 my first 5 on My TBR post of 2023! This week, the theme is picking something new, which, honestly, could mean a lot of things. I’ve decided to interpret it as books that I have newly arrived in my house and tell you all about my recent library haul 😁 Playing fast and loose with the prompt, but I think it works!

That being said, let’s jump into the list.

#1. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

I’m so excited I spotted this at my library when I was going to pick up some holds! The librarian said it had just come in and I’m glad I snagged it. This book has been all over the book community and it sounds like something I would love. Cosy fantasy is truly calling my name in 2023 and I’m quite happy to go along for the ride. Excited to give this one a go!

#2. Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse

Rebecca Roanhorse has swiftly become one of my favorite authors. I wanted to read Tread of Angels last year, but that clearly didn’t happen 😅 I was glad I spotted it when I was poking through the new books at the library. It’s a lot shorter than I was imagining, so I’m hoping I can squeeze it into my reads for January.

Continue reading “#5OnMyTBR – Something New” →
December 2022 Wrap Up
wrap up

December 2022 Wrap Up

kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

Hello, reader!

As we start to settle the new year, I figured I would wrap my last month of reading in 2022. Honestly, December was a bit of a blur for me. Mostly because of the holidays but also because I was trying to squeeze in books that I needed to read! This is why I need to stop procrastinating on my BBNYA reads… I love being a panelist but I really need to plan better 😂

Either way, I think that’s why my December reading felt a little all over the place and frazzled. I didn’t read nearly as much I did for most of the year and the ratings fluctuated a bit more, but I still had a good time. And I will say that I closed out the year with an absolute winner!

That being said, let’s jump into the wrap up.

Books Reads

  • The Reaper’s Quota by Sarah McKnight: This was my first BBNYA read for the final round. I don’t want to talk too much about it because there will be tours coming up for all our finalists, but I found myself really enjoying this book! It was interesting, dark, and humorous in the best way. It didn’t blow me away or anything but it was definitely a solid read. Stay tuned for my more in-depth thoughts once the tours begin! ★★★
  • Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead: I’m not a big historical fiction reader, but I continue to enjoy pretty much any historical fiction that Colson Whitehead writes. This book is no different! It focuses on a Black furniture salesman in Harlem during the 1960s and his fall into (and rise from) a life of crime. I loved following Carney on his journey and getting to know the varied personalities he runs into throughout this book. And I didn’t realize this was the first in a series, but I’m excited to give the next one a read! ★★★★
  • Lesser Known Monsters by Rory Michaelson: This was my second BBNYA read for the final round and I loved it! Again, I don’t want to talk too much about it because I want to save it for the tour, but this book totally sucked me in. I have so many angry notes about people being mean to Oscar, so you know I was invested in his story 😂 He is such a compelling character with flaws and nuances that makes him feel so real. I’ll tell y’all more once the tours start, but I highly recommend this one if you enjoy horror and would love to read one with strong LGBTQIA+ representation. ★★★★
  • Inheriting Her Ghosts by S.H. Cooper: And then I read my final BBNYA read for 2022 and it smashed it out of the park! I adored this gothic book so much! First of all, the main character is a middle aged woman and I’m here. for. IT. Second, she has two huge dogs that are her constant companions and I would die for them 😭 You know I’m going to be gushing about this book when the tours swing around, so stay tuned! ★★★★★
Continue reading “December 2022 Wrap Up” →
Blog Tour Spotlight: Malibu Burns by Mark Richardson
blog tour · book spotlight

Blog Tour Spotlight: Malibu Burns by Mark Richardson

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Hello, reader!

Today on the blog, I have a blog tour spotlight for y’all! This tour is hosted by The Write Reads which is 100% my favorite blog tour company with which to work. If you’re a book blogger and interested in getting in on blog tours, you should definitely check them out! Now, though, let me tell you more about a dystopian fantasy that sounds like it would be an intense read: Malibu Burns by Mark Richardson.

Before I jump into my spotlight, I want to thank Dave @ The Write Reads and all the lovely people behind the scenes for allowing me to participate in this tour! It is, as always, very much appreciated.

Alright, now let’s get to it!

  • Title: Malibu Burns
  • Author: Mark Richardson
  • Publication date: September 29th, 2022
  • Genre: Dystopian Urban Fantasy
  • Age group: Adult
  • Content/Trigger Warnings: For a list of potential content and trigger warnings, check out this book’s page on BookTriggerWarnings.com

Book Links

Amazon::Goodreads

Continue reading “Blog Tour Spotlight: Malibu Burns by Mark Richardson” →
Top Ten Reads of 2022
book discussion

Top Ten Reads of 2022

kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

Hello, reader!

Happy New Year! I always enjoy looking back on a year of reading and looking forward to a brand new one. Part of looking back, of course, is thinking about all the books I adored this year.

I had 24 five star reads in 2022 which is just wild to me. I think my most common rating was four stars, but I’m excited that I found so many books this year that just blew me away. That being said, there were definitely some stand outs, even among my five stars. That’s why I decided to narrow it down to my top ten books that I read this year! I’m sharing these in no particular order because I think I loved them all equally, if for differing reasons.

Now, let’s jump into the list!

The Thirteenth Hour by Trudie Skies

The Basics: Adult gaslamp fantasy featuring gods and twelve dazzling realms and CHAOS.

What I Loved: I could just say ‘everything’ for all of these books, but I’m gonna try to be more specific 😂 The characters in this book are what captured my heart. Kayl and Quen live in my head rent-free and it’s weird but I love them so much. I do have a full review that you can find here.

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

The Basics: A woman finds out that a mysterious map that caused her to have a falling out with her dad may also be the reason he died. Hijinks ensue.

What I Loved: This was compulsively readable! I’m not a fast reader and this book is around 400 pages, but I read it in a day. I enjoyed this mixture of mystery and fantasy. You can read my full review here.

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

The Basics: A group of morally grey characters plan a heist in 1889 Paris. You like found family? *slaps the cover* The beauty has so much found family!

What I Loved: I discovered in 2022 that I really love the found family trope and this book absolutely delivers in that realm. The characters wormed their ways into my heart. I also really loved the writing in this book.

Continue reading “Top Ten Reads of 2022” →
ARC Review: Hollow by Shannon Watters, Branden Boyer-White, and Berenice Nelle
book reviews

ARC Review: Hollow by Shannon Watters, Branden Boyer-White, and Berenice Nelle

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Title: Hollow

Author: Shannon Watters, Branden Boyer-White

Illustrator: Berenice Nelle

Publisher: BOOM! Box

Genre: Fantasy

Age Group: Young Adult

Rating: ★★★★

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

Goodreads Synopsis

Sleepy Hollow and queer romance meet in this coming-of-age tale from the co-creator of Lumberjanes!

Isabel “Izzy” Crane and her family have just relocated to Sleepy Hollow, the town made famous by–and obsessed with–Washington Irving’s legend of the Headless Horseman. But city slicker-skeptic Izzy has no time for superstition as she navigates life at a new address, a new school, and, with any luck, with new friends. Ghost stories aren’t real, after all…. Then Izzy is pulled into the orbit of the town’s teen royalty, Vicky Van Tassel (yes, that Van Tassel) and loveable varsity-level prankster Croc Byun. Vicky’s weariness with her family connection to the legend turns to terror when the trio begins to be haunted by the Horseman himself, uncovering a curse set on destroying the Van Tassel line. Now, they have only until Halloween night to break it–meaning it’s a totally inconvenient time for Izzy to develop a massive crush on the enigmatic Vicky. Can Izzy’s practical nature help her face the unknown–or only trip her up? As the calendar runs down to the 31st, Izzy will have to use all of her wits and work with her new friends to save Vicky and uncover the mystery of the legendary Horseman of Sleepy Hollow–before it’s too late. New York Times-bestselling writer Shannon Watters (Lumberjanes) and debut author Branden Boyer-White are joined by artist Berenice Nelle (Wanderlicht) in a coming of age tale that’s at once a faithful homage and a free-wheeling spin-off of the classic Legend of Sleepy Hollow and everyone’s favorite headless specter.

Continue reading “ARC Review: Hollow by Shannon Watters, Branden Boyer-White, and Berenice Nelle” →