Tag: fantasy

September 2021 Wrap Up
wrap up

September 2021 Wrap Up

kerrimcbooknerd6 Comments

Hello, reader!

Welcome to another monthly wrap up! September was a fairly good month when it comes to reading, though there was definitely a stressful vibe for yours truly. I went into the month with a TBR for the Magical Readathon and thinking I would be okay if I didn’t actually read all the books on it. And then I got really wrapped up in the story that G @ Book Roast created and I needed to complete it! Seeming as I had stuck quite a few bigger books on the original TBR, there were some swaps as the month came to a close 😅 Still, in the end, I enjoyed what I read and I’m happy I completed my revised Magical Readathon TBR.

So, let’s talk about what I read in the month of September!

Books Read

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

Book: The Meeting Point by Olivia Lara

Rating: ★★★★

Thoughts: This was such a sweet, fun romance! I loved the beginning of the book, where we get to see the town of Carmel through the main character’s eyes. And I loved the eventual romance that occurred between her and our mysterious Lift driver. You can read my full review here.

Book: Rivers of London: Detective Stories by Ben Aaronovitch/Lee Sullivan (Illustrator)

Rating: ★★★

Thoughts: I jumped back on the ROL graphic novel train last month, starting with this one. Though I’ll forever love these graphic novels for the beautiful art, this one was just okay for me. I think it’s because it was a bunch of little stories about Peter’s work in the force as opposed to just focusing on one. Still, it was a fun and quick read.

Book: The Girls Are Never Gone by Sarah Glenn Marsh

Rating: ★★★★

Thoughts: I read this book for a blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours and I’m so glad I signed up! This was such a creepy, atmospheric read! I loved the writing, the characters, and the fact that this one actually gave me the shivers. You can read my full review here.

Continue reading “September 2021 Wrap Up” →
First Lines Friday #20
first lines friday

First Lines Friday #20

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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
  • Finally… reveal the book!

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

Hello, reader!

Welcome to October! And welcome to this week’s First Lines Friday post! In honor of us now being in the spookiest month of the year, I thought I would feature a book that’s more on the dark side. This is one I’m reading for a blog tour and, so far, it’s got the perfect vibes for this time of year. Let’s see if the first few lines can capture your interest as much as it did mine!

The Line(s):

“A pulsing entity.
It called out to him from within the torrents of rain, enticing with a promise of unimaginable power, demanding his full attention.
When Drayvex had first arrived and breathed the alien atmosphere, it had nudged against his senses. He’d almost dismissed it. But as he’d lingered at the point between worlds, he’d deduced that not only was the entity moving towards him, but its power was on a whole other level.”

The Hints:

This is a paranormal fantasy featuring a dark artifact.

To obtain this artifact, our main character has to work with the demon who stole it in the first place.

And, oh yeah, the fate of the world is kind of resting on their shoulders. No biggie.

The Reveal:

Click the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page

Goodreads Synopsis

“For her, it’s her late grandma’s legacy. For him, the mother of all black arts spoils, granting one demon the power of a God. Immortality.

When occult-magnet Ruby falls victim to Demon Lord Drayvex’s viperous allure, she loses a sentient dark relic to his light fingers and appetite for power. Like calls to like. But when Drayvex himself loses the relic to a traitor to the throne, Ruby coerces him – the tyrant king with a soft spot for humanity – into helping her save her pokey old world village from becoming a ground zero of mass demonic carnage.

Both invested in reclaiming the relic, the one thing Ruby and Drayvex agree on is that it’s in the wrong hands. Co-existing in a precarious arrangement between predator and prey, to save the planet they both love for different reasons, they must become a formidable double-team in the face of an apocalyptic takeover. Now, the fate of both human and demon alike rests with a killer that walks between worlds, and a woman with a curse in her bloodline.”

Did those first few lines capture your attention? Did they make you want to read the rest of the story? Let me know in the comments!

And, as always, happy reading!

Down the TBR Hole #11
down the tbr hole

Down the TBR Hole #11

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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!

It’s time for another round of Down the TBR Hole! I ended last week at a total of 660 books and, somehow, will be starting this round at… 658 books 🤔 I know one of the missing books is because I started reading A Deadly Education, but I have no idea where the other one disappeared, lol. Still, I’m already starting out lower than last week, so this round is off to a good start!

That being said, let’s get to round eleven!

All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker

We’re entering thriller territory! Which, though it is the perfect season for some thriller reads, I’m not sure I’ll be keeping this one on the TBR. The premise just isn’t my jam. A girl who has been sexually assaulted is given a drug so that she’ll forget everything. Like… what? No thank you.

Verdict: Remove

Hospital Hill by Katherine Anderson

This thriller, however, definitely has me intrigued! It’s a historical fiction and mystery all rolled up into one. A nurse at an asylum who is weeks away from retirement starts to believe that some of the female patients are being murdered. It sounds like it would be dark with lots of twists. I’m certainly still interested!

Verdict: Keep

Girl in the Red Hood by Brittany Fichter

Though this isn’t a thriller, we’re sticking with the darker vibes. It’s a fairytale retelling of Little Red Riding Hood that seems like it would have a touch of the creepy. Though it sounds interesting, I’ve just learned that it’s the fourth book in a series! So, perhaps if I read the other books, this one will find it’s way back on the list, but… for now…

Verdict: Remove

Continue reading “Down the TBR Hole #11” →
WWW Wednesday: Sep 29, 2021
www wednesday

WWW Wednesday: Sep 29, 2021

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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

  • A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik: This is the only book I’ve started since I’ve last updated y’all, though I don’t think I’ll be finishing it before the end of tomorrow. But it’s got the perfect vibes for going into October, so I guess it works! So far, I’m really enjoying the writing style and the world-building. It’s almost stream-of-consciousness, which I don’t usually enjoy, but I’m vibing with it right now. Hopefully I continue to enjoy it!
Continue reading “WWW Wednesday: Sep 29, 2021” →
ARC Review: The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
book reviews

ARC Review: The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

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Title: The Gilded Ones

Author: Namina Forna

Genre: Fantasy

Source: e-ARC (Netgalley)

Content/Trigger Warnings: For a list of content and trigger warnings, please check out BookTriggerWarnings.com

Rating: ★★★★★

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

One Sentence Synopsis

After her blood runs gold during a purity ceremony, Deka is labelled as an “impure demon” and sent to training camp where she will be taught to kill for the country that made her an outcast.

Favorite Quote

“We all have a choice right now. Are we girls or are we demons? Are we going to die or are we going to survive?”

Continue reading “ARC Review: The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna” →
Book Blogger Hop: Sep 24 – 30
book blogger hop

Book Blogger Hop: Sep 24 – 30

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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!

Hello, reader!

It’s been… a loooong time since I’ve done a Book Blogger Hop! I’ve always enjoyed the bookish discussions this prompts, so I thought I would jump back into it. And the first question back is a great one!

This Week’s Question

Image created by Coffee Addicted Writer

Are you more willing to read traditionally published books than self-published (Indie) books? Or do you not have a preference?

Submitted by Julie @ Stepping Stones Book Reviews.

The answer to this question is vastly different from what it would have been before I joined the online bookish community. Because, before that, I was woefully under-exposed to indie published books! I only knew about traditional publishing until embarrassingly recently, but I’m so happy that I’ve discovered the indie published crowd. Some of the best books I’ve read in the past few years have been indies!

But the way this question is worded made me pause. Am I more willing to pick up a traditionally published book? Yes and no. I feel like I’m exposed more to traditionally published books, especially outside the realm of book-Twitter and bookstagram. And that makes me more willing to pick them up because I will get carried away by the hype a traditional publisher can generate. But, at the same time, if an indie book finds it way onto my radar, I’m just as willing to give it a read if it captures my interest! I would never snub a book just because it’s not traditionally published.

As for having a preference or not, I do think that the vast majority of my reading is still traditionally published books, but I don’t have a real preference either way. Indie published books can be just as good (if not better) than traditionally published ones. I think there’s something for everyone in both categories! I’m so glad that I’ve gotten more exposure to indie books now that I’ve become of the bookish community. These authors work just as hard as trad published ones and I admire the hell out of all of them. I just think that the weird stigma around indie published books is unfounded and comes from people not willing to give a book a chance if it’s not from one of the Big Five (Big Four? Who knows these days.)

Might I suggest, if that is a stigma you struggle with yourself, that you do a search and find an indie published book that speaks to you. Give it a shot. You might be surprised how much you love it! And, if you’re a SFF lover, like myself, I have some suggestions for you!

And those are just SFF books! There are a ton of incredible stories in the entire gambit of genres that are waiting to be enjoyed by readers like you.

Do you prefer traditionally published books to self-published/indie published ones? Do you have no preference? Do you have any suggestions for more indie published books that you’ve personally loved? Let me know in the comments!

And, as always, happy reading!

Down the TBR Hole #10
down the tbr hole

Down the TBR Hole #10

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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!

Look at me knocking out another Down the TBR Hole in less than a week! You would think that would mean I haven’t had time to add any more books to my Want to Read shelf, right?

Hahahaha… ha… *sigh*

To be fair, the shelf was down to 664 books and I’ve only added two more! Yeah… there are currently 666 books on my Goodreads Want to Read shelf. So let’s adjust that before I mistakenly summon a demon or something 😂

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

This one is definitely staying. I’ve been wanting to give the Graceling Realm series a go for ages! Yet it keeps getting pushed to the back for other, newer series. I am going to read this one day, though, because the premise is so intriguing. A girl who has a unique ability to kill? Sounds incredible!

Verdict: Keep

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

I distinctly remember adding this book around the time I was trying to get myself to read more non-fiction. And, while I have heard great things about this book centered around a soldier’s experiences in WWII, it’s not something I’m going to read unless someone literally shoves it in my hands and takes all my other books. So, it’s time to part ways… for now.

Verdict: Remove

Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire

One day, I’m going to finish this freakin’ series! I’ve enjoyed all the other books, so far, though Son of the Witch is clearly the best book of the bunch. I’m just nervous that I won’t remember a thing from the previous three and I don’t have the time to reread them. But it still gets to stay because I will read it! Someday…

Verdict: Keep

Continue reading “Down the TBR Hole #10” →
First Lines Friday #19
first lines friday

First Lines Friday #19

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!

After a brief hiatus, First Lines Friday on the blog is back! Today, in anticipation of the spookiest time of the year, I’ve picked a book that gives proper, creepy vibes. It also happens to be a book I’m planning on reading in the next week or so. Let’s see if the first few lines can make you want to read it, as well!

The Line(s):

“Sweltering heat hit me like the sudden leap of a bonfire when I traded the protection of the mule-drawn cart’s tarp for burning sand. I clutched my satchel, squinting against the dying sun. Heat waves created illusions of life out on the sand.”

The Hints:

This is an Ethiopian-inspired tale…

… featuring a young woman who is an exorcist…

… and is a debut fantasy retelling of Jane Eyre!

The Reveal:

Click the cover to be taken to the Goodreads page

Goodreads Synopsis

“What the heart desires, the house destroys…

Andromeda is a debtera—an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye. When a handsome young heir named Magnus Rochester reaches out to hire her, Andromeda quickly realizes this is a job like no other, with horrifying manifestations at every turn, and that Magnus is hiding far more than she has been trained for. Death is the most likely outcome if she stays, but leaving Magnus to live out his curse alone isn’t an option. Evil may roam the castle’s halls, but so does a burning desire.

Kiersten White meets Tomi Adeyemi in this Ethiopian-inspired debut fantasy retelling of Jane Eyre.“

Did those first few lines capture your attention? Did they make you want to read the rest of the story? Let me know in the comments!

And, as always, happy reading!

#5OnMyTBR – Magical School
5 on my tbr

#5OnMyTBR – Magical School

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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!

Another Monday has arrived, which means that’s time for 5 On My TBR! And there was no way I was missing this one. Why? Because our theme today is all about magical schools! This is one of my favorite bookish tropes, though I haven’t read a ton lately. That just means there is plenty on my TBR from which to choose.

That being said, let’s get to the post!

#1. Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

I can’t talk about books with magical schools (or Wundrous Societies) and not include this book. I fell in love with this series when the Middle Grade Marvels group read as one of our monthly books. I’ve been meaning to continue the story for quite some time, but I just haven’t gotten around to it. I need more Morrigan, Jupiter, and Fenestra!

#2. The Black Witch by Laurie Forest

This book has been on my TBR for quite some time, so I honestly forgot that it was set at a school! The premise captured my interest, but I recall there was some controversy about it that made me put it on the back-burner TBR. Still, a book about a young woman who is trying to get from under the shadow of her famous, witchy grandmother sounds intriguing.

Continue reading “#5OnMyTBR – Magical School” →
Down the TBR Hole #9
down the tbr hole

Down the TBR Hole #9

kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

Hello, reader!

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.

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve done a Down the TBR Hole post, hasn’t it? And you know what that means. My Goodreads Want to Read shelf has gotten quite a few additions 😅 I ended my last post with 625 books on the TBR. Where am I currently sitting? *cough668bookscough* I mean… I’m proud of myself for not breaking into the 700s! There’s that 😂 But I’m still in the part of my Want to Read shelf that I added when I first joined Goodreads, so there’s a fair chance I’ll be able to pare this down a bit this round.

With that being said, let’s jump in to round nine!

Woman with a Blue Pencil by Gordon McAlpine

Starting off with a tricky one! The premise of this one sounds intriguing, if potentially confusing. We are following a Japanese character who has been written out of a story but is still trying to finish it! We also get snippets of the editor’s letters to the author, who is a Japanese-American imprisoned at an internment camp during WWII, urging him to make his story more “patriotic”. And that’s where my hesitation lies because this was written by a white, contemporary author. I’m not saying he can’t do a wonderful, nuanced job of capturing the emotions surrounding the circumstances. But it’s just not the same as someone of actual Japanese or Japanese-American descent telling this story, in my opinion. Perhaps future-me will change her mind, but, for now, it’s off the TBR.

Verdict: Remove

Hellraisers by Alexander Gordon Smith

This is a YA paranormal dystopian/horror and I haven’t been a fan of YA dystopian books in ages. Not saying that this couldn’t pull me back into the fray, but it was published around the time when I fell out of love with dystopian novels in general. Beyond that, the premise doesn’t sound like anything spectacular. It’s about a teen gaining massive demonic powers to help save the world at great peril to himself and probably those closest to him. It just doesn’t capture my interest anymore, so off it goes!

Verdict: Remove

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

For someone who claims that her favorite bookish trope is “books about books”. this one has been on my TBR for an embarrassingly long amount of time 😅 I mean, it’s set in a potentially magical bookstore! It sounds like something I would genuinely love, so of course it gets to stay. Now I just need to make time to read it!

Verdict: Keep

Continue reading “Down the TBR Hole #9” →