#5OnMyTBR – New (to you) Author

November 22, 2021 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!

It’s the start of American Thanksgiving week and time for another 5 On My TBR! This week’s theme is new to you authors and there are plenty books that fit this category on my Want to Read shelf. I’ve managed to pick five that I’m eager to read sooner rather than later. Though, with how slow I’ve been reading this month, it might be later 😅

Be that as it may, let’s see what I’ve picked for my list!

#1. Dear Martin by Nic Stone

I’ve wanted to read a Nic Stone book for quite some time. Where better to start than the book that first brought her name to my attention? This is a short book but I feel like it’s gonna pack a punch. And there’s a sequel out there for me to snag if I love this one! Fingers crossed that I do.

#2. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

This middle grade novel has been on my TBR for ages! It sounds so whimsical, which is what I love to find in my middle grade reads. I’m also being promised “mind-bending tests” which absolutely piques my interest. I can’t wait to get to this one!

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first lines friday

First Lines Friday #26

November 19, 2021 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
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re using Twitter, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

We’ve made it to the end of the week and I’m particularly excited because I don’t have to work this weekend! I’m planning a couple of days of rest, relaxation, and reading. Speaking of, one of the books on my potential weekend TBR is my feature for this First Lines Friday! This one might be fairly easy to guess as it’s the first book in a very popular series.

Let’s see if the first line is as compelling as the rest of the story!

The Line:

“The servants called them malenchki, little ghosts, because they were the smallest and the youngest, and because they haunted the Duke’s house like giggling phantoms, darting in and out of rooms, hiding in cupboards to eavesdrop, sneaking into the kitchen to steal the last of the summer peaches.”

The Hints:

This popular YA series was recently adapted for the screen.

It’s the beginning of a trilogy set in large universe.

The author has written a number of other books in this universe, as well.

The Reveal:

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down the tbr hole

Down the TBR Hole #18

November 18, 2021November 18, 2021 kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

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!

Let’s get the cat out of the bag before we even get into this Down the TBR Hole post. When I was looking for a book to feature yesterday for Can’t Wait Wednesday, I may have gone on a little book adding spree. Which means my Want to Read shelf on Goodreads that was at 640 books the last time I did this is now sitting at… 657 books 😬 Look, there’s a lot of incredible sounding books coming out in 2022!

That being said, let’s get into this round to see if I can at least trim a few off my newly inflated TBR.

Sinful Cinderella by Anita Valle

I remember adding this book because I wanted to read it for a challenge. Clearly, that never happened 😂 Now that it’s been so long I can’t even remember what challenge I added this for, I think it’s time to part ways. It sounds mildly interesting… evil Cinderella and all that. But there’s not enough in the synopsis to convince me to let it stay.

Verdict: Remove

Something Missing by Matthew Dicks

First of all, I’m a child and fully giggled when I read the author’s name. This is who I am as a person. Second of all, this book sounds so interesting. It follows a thief who meticulously plans his crimes and, also, the lives of his victims. I’m definitely intrigued by the premise, so I guess it gets to stay!

Verdict: Keep

The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza

For a thriller/crime drama, the synopsis made this sound aggressively boring. It also doesn’t seem like this book is doing anything new within the genre. Not that all books have to do that, but nothing about this synopsis is appealing to me in the slightest. And I love thrillers! Ah well… can’t read ’em all anyways.

Verdict: Remove

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cant wait wednesday

Can’t Wait Wednesday: Nov 17, 2021

November 17, 2021November 17, 2021 kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a meme where you get to flail about whatever upcoming book you’re excited to read. Though it is generally a new release, it certainly can be any book that’s on your TBR! This meme is currently hosted by Wishful Endings and it’s based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Hello, reader!

Welcome to the middle of the week and another Can’t Wait Wednesday post! It’s time to start looking forward to 2022. I honestly haven’t been delving too deeply into what will be releasing in the new year, but there are a couple that have found there way to my TBR. I’ll be featuring one of those today!

The book I’ve chosen is by one of my favorite authors. She has written the gambit of fantasy books, from middle grade to adult, and I’ve loved everything she’s ever written. I’m still working on reading books of her backlist, but that’s not what we’re here for! We’re here for her newest release, a fantasy novel that plays with other dimensions. In this book, there will be:

A shadow realm that closely mirrors ours
A young woman forced to make a choice
And, if the book comparisons are to be believed, all the gothic vibes!

The book I’ve chosen for Can’t Wait Wednesday is…

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book tag

Quick Fire Fantasy Book Tag

November 16, 2021November 15, 2021 kerrimcbooknerd6 Comments

Hello, reader!

Welcome to another Tuesday! Today, I thought it would be fun to do another book tag. And I figured it would especially fun to do one that focuses on my favorite genre. It’s the Quick Fire Fantasy Book Tag and I’m excited to participate! This was created by The Bookworm Dreamer and it looks like a lot of fun.

Before I jump in, I wanted to thank Dini @ Dini Panda Reads for tagging me! I love her blog and she has one of the cutest headers I’ve ever seen ❤ If you’re looking for a new, fun book blog to follow, I highly recommend checking her out.

Alright, let’s get into this tag!

The Rules:

Thank the person who tagged you and link back to their post
Link to the creator’s blog (thebookwormdreamer.wordpress.com) in your post
Answer the prompts below – all fantasy books!
Tag 5 others to take part
Enjoy!

The Prompts:

5 STAR BOOK

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

I have so many 5 star fantasy books, so I thought I’d go with a more recent one. I feel like I don’t talk about it nearly enough because I absolutely adored this book! It was a cinematic masterpiece in book form and I loved every second of it. The world-building was lush and vivid, the characters were compelling, and the plot was perfectly paced. I’m super eager to get my hands on the sequel coming out next year!

ALWAYS GOING TO RECOMMEND

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

And here we have the reason why I never talk about other fantasy books. It’s because I’m always talking about this one 😂 What can I say? The Raybearer duology is just stunning. I wish I could meet Tarisai, that’s how much I love her character. I loved the world of Aritsar. And I loved the found family aspect and discussions of how emotional abuse can affect someone. It’s a beautiful book and I will recommend it until everyone has read it.

OWN IT BUT HAVEN’T READ IT YET

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

Hahaha, THERE ARE SO MANY! But one I recently required and am desperate to read is The Jasmine Throne. I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews from reviewers I trust. And my Illumicrate edition is extra pretty. I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by it’s cover buuuut… a pretty cover does get me 😂 I’m hoping to pick this one up soon!

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down the tbr hole

Down the TBR Hole #17

November 14, 2021 kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

Hello, reader!

It’s been an eventful weekend, so this post is coming to you a little later in the day. My best friend took me to see Hadestown and now I’m kind of obsessed 👀 It was incredible! And then I had to go into work today and I am a tired bean. But not too tired to do another round of Down the TBR Hole!

Let’s see… last round, we ended with 643 books on my Want to Read shelf. Currently, I’m sitting at… the exact same number! How am I accomplishing this feat of self-restraint?! And can I apply this to other aspects of my life? That aside, let’s see if I can pare down this number even more.

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

Even though I’ve yet to read any Sherlock Holmes, this reimagining sounds like something I could love. We’re following the great-great-granddaughter of Holmes himself as she does some detective work of her own. It sounds intriguing, and I actually own a copy, so it definitely gets to stay.

Verdict: Keep

Hanover House by Brenda Novak

I’m fairly certain this isn’t the only Brenda Novak novel on my Want to Read shelf. Having read the synopsis, let’s hope the other one can capture my interest more. I mean, this sounds like a decent thriller, but it doesn’t sound like my cup of tea. Better luck next time!

Verdict: Remove

The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

I remember adding this book because it was a friend’s favorite childhood book series. And then I found out there was a magical pig involved. It’s frankly shocking that I haven’t already read this! This is an older fantasy series, so who knows how it’s held up to time, but I’m certainly still intrigued.

Verdict: Keep

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book tag

The Greek Gods Book Tag

November 11, 2021November 10, 2021 kerrimcbooknerd4 Comments

Hello, reader!

Today, I’m bringing you a book tag that I’m so excited to do! I’m a big fan of Greek mythology (any mythology, really) and a big fan of book tags, so the Greek Gods Book Tag is the perfect combination for me. I’m hoping you have as much fun reading it as I do writing it!

First, I want to thank the lovely Erika @ And On She Reads for the tag ❤ Erika is an incredible blogger who writes fabulous bookish posts. You should definitely go check out her blog when you get the chance.

Alright, let’s get to the post!

The Rules:

Pingback to Zuky here so she can read all your posts!
You can use her graphics if you like, but you don’t have to if you don’t want to.
Tag as many people as you want, but please share the love.

The Prompts:

Zeus, King of the Gods: Your favorite book

This is an unfair question! How am I supposed to just pick one?! To play along, I’ve decided to pick one of my favorite books that I’ve re-read the most: Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko. It’s a beautiful story with lush world-building and a main character you can’t help but love. The fact that the main character is an idealistic Black young woman certainly helps! I love this story and am always eager to fall back into the world of Aritsar, so this gets the top spot for now!

Hera, Queen of the Gods: A badass female character

The main character from Little Thieves by Margaret Owen immediately came to mind! Vanja is the goddaughter of Death and Fortune, a unrepentant thief, and a young woman bent on living her own life. She’s such an incredible character and I loved watching her work! Her growth throughout the story was wonderful to see, as well.

Janus, Good of Beginnings: Your favorite debut(s)

I’ve read a lot of fantastic debuts lately. I decided to go with one that I just read this year: The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna. This book blew. my. MIND! It was a stunning novel that felt like I was reading a movie. It’s vibrant, action-packed, and features a strong, Black character growing into her own. I absolutely loved this book and I can’t wait for the sequel!

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www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: Nov 10, 2021

November 10, 2021November 9, 2021 kerrimcbooknerd2 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:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
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

You’ll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus: When The Write Reads sent out tour sign-ups for the newest McManus book, you know I jumped all over that! I’ve loved every thriller she’s ever written and, so far, I’m loving this one, as well. She has a way of building her characters where I connect with them almost immediately, even if I don’t particularly like them. And I’m already curious about what is going on in this more murder-y take of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: I’m re-reading this for the book-club-that-isn’t-a-book club and, y’all, I forgot how much I love this book. I mean, I knew it’s one of my favorites. It was so good that I added Erin Morgenstern to my “favorite authors” list on the strength of this book alone. But I forgot just how incredible and immersive this story is! I’m falling in love all over again and I ain’t mad about it.

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wrap up

October 2021 Wrap Up

November 9, 2021 kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

Hello, reader!

Now that we are solidly into November, I figured it was time to do my October wrap up. October was a pretty decent reading month, though my lack of horror reads is truly disappointing! Still, there were quite a few books I read that had proper spooky vibes, so I’m not too mad about it. I also picked up and finished a duology that I has been on my radar for awhile and I loved it. And I read a new favorite that will most likely end up in my top ten books of the year, so bonus!

That being said, why don’t we dive into my wrap up.

Books Read

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

Book: Shadow-Stained by Rachel Hobbs

Rating: ★★★

Thoughts: I read this book for a The Write Reads blog tour. I enjoyed my time with it, though it didn’t blow my mind. It was a paranormal romance that did slow burn in the best way. I also loved Drayvex, the main male character who was a sarcastic legend. You can read my full review here.

Book: Lord Edgware Dies by Agatha Christie

Rating: ★★★

Thoughts: Slowly catching up with an Agatha Christie readalong I’m participating in with some bookish friends! I do enjoy her Hercule Poirot stories, though I always have to remind myself of the time period they were written in. Especially when two separate racial slurs are dropped on one page. Still, this was an interesting mystery and I loved the twist.

Book: The Light at the Bottom of the World by London Shah

Rating: ★★★★

Thoughts: I read this book because I was on a blog tour for the sequel. It had also been on my TBR for a minute since watching a rave review about it. I think this is an underrated YA gem! I had such fun reading this exciting and beautiful book. And I enjoyed the sequel just as much!

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5 on my tbr

#5OnMyTBR – Grey Cover

November 8, 2021 kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

Hello, reader!

It’s the beginning of another week and time for another 5 On My TBR! The theme this week is books with grey covers. I honestly can’t think of many books I own with grey covers, but there were certainly plenty on my Want to Read shelf. So here are five that I’m super excited to get to. Eventually 😅

#1. Deity by Matt Wesolowski

I’ve really been enjoying the Six Stories series. This is the fifth book and, if it’s anything like the others, I’m sure it’ll be a twisty ride. I really want to listen to at least one of this books as an audiobook because I’ve heard great things about them! Perhaps I’ll try it with this one. I’m so glad this series was picked for a book club because I probably would never have read it otherwise.

#2. Shiver by Allie Reynolds

This cover is probably more white in person… but it looks grey on Goodreads, so I’m counting it! I received this thriller in an Once Upon a Book Club box. I still haven’t read it, but I’m eager to get into not only the story, but the goodies included in the box! This is the perfect time of year to read this one, too, since it’s set in the French Alps.

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