#do what you enjoy. make your own rules. rebel against the formulas

[sanguith]

slapped this together today on this lazy sunday morning, just hearing music in my head and recording the lead choir "melody" as fast as possible on my computer before it disappeared, then added the accompanying chords, going a bit nuts with the reverb as always. (this is not the song i was talking about before btw lol). enjoy.

[kuwaiti-kid]

The 10 Best Star Wars Video Games (Ever!!!)

The Star Wars universe has always been more than the sum of its live-action films.

Novels, comic books, toys, TV shows, and ill-fated holiday specials have all helped build out the iconic science fiction universe that George Lucas first kicked off in 1977. One would be hard-pressed to find a larger and more enduring franchise than the Lucasfilm IP (now owned by Disney), which continues to enthrall multiple generations of fans.

Aside from the mediums mentioned above, video games have also played an integral part in the world-building of the Star Wars mythos. Indeed, it could be argued that they play the most important role, as gaming allows one to take up the persona of their favorite character and choose their destiny.

In a way, you get to become the director of your very own Star Wars adventure.

The 10 Best Star Wars Video Games

With that in mind, we present the ten best Star Wars video games ever released in no specific order. The titles presented below have not all been chosen for their critical acclaim or units sold in stores. Certain fans may not universally love some. Rather, they were selected based on the following criteria:

Significance to the overall IP

Creative use of people, places, or things seen in the films

Mythos construction

Fan service

The prescience of things to come

10. Star Wars Episode I: Racer

Release date: May 18, 1999

While many Star Wars fans had problems with the first prequel film, no one could deny the thrilling nature of the sequence where young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) wins his freedom from Watto in a pod racing tournament on Tatooine. It was a testament to just how far CGI technology had come in Hollywood, and how an intrepid filmmaker could use it to grand effect.

Moreover, the scene was a loving tribute to Lucas’s youth, a lot of which was spent drag racing in the writer/director’s hometown of Modesto, California—something Lucas also acknowledged in his second directorial feature, American Graffiti.

Hitting stands the same week Phantom Menace opened in U.S. theaters, Star Wars Episode I: Racer allowed players to live out one of the film’s most adrenaline-pumping segments. Moreover, it expanded on the central concept by offering different pod racer vehicles, as well as various tracks on eight distinct planets. While Mario Kart was already seven-years-old in ’99, this title provided a much welcome twist on the racing formula in video games.

In 2011, the Guinness Book of World Records, named Star Wars Episode I: Racer as the best-selling sci-fi racing game with 3.12 million copies sold all over the world.

9. Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic

Release date: July 15, 2003

This is perhaps the most famous title on our list. Set four millennia before the Galactic Empire set up tyrannical shop, Knights of the Old Republic follows the ancient battle between the noble Jedi Order and the evil Sith.

With options to customize your lightsaber and character, players must visit eight planets (including familiar ones like Tatooine and Kashyyyk) to defeat Darth Malak. Thanks to fantastic gameplay and a solid plot, the role-playing game serves as an excellent prequel to the prequel film trilogy. Moreover, fans have been clamoring for a movie version of it for years.

Who knows? If The Mandalorian, Cassian Andor, and Obi-Wan series all do well on Disney+, we could get a long-awaited KOTOR adaptation.

8. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Release date: September 16, 2008

Like some of the comics from Marvel, The Force Unleashed intriguingly pulls back on the curtain on what Darth Vader gets up to when he’s not antagonizing the Rebel Alliance and Luke Skywalker on the big screen.

Taking place between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, this title follows the adventures of Vader’s “secret apprentice,” Galen Marek, who is tasked with hunting down and killing the last-remaining Jedi in the galaxy. Marek (voiced by Sam Witwer, who also played Darth Maul in Clone Wars and Rebels) is convinced that he will one day kill Emperor Palpatine and rule the galaxy by Vader’s side.

As the game’s art director, Matt Omernick, told Vanity Fair, the entire project was meant “to convince players that, ‘Oh my God, I’m actually, finally, in a Star Wars movie.’”

7. Star Wars: Battlefront

Release date: September 21, 2004

Long before controversies were surrounding pay-to-play and loot crates, the Star Wars gaming franchise was reaching new heights with the release of the first Battlefront. In a lot of ways, this game felt like a culmination of everything that had come before, opening up the universe in a way fans had never seen before.

Almost like the Super Smash Bros. of Star Wars video games, Battlefront was all about playing the greatest hits of the series. You weren’t limited to one character, droid, vehicle, planet, or battlefield. You could enjoy them all in any number of combinations, be it as a Stormtrooper or as a Droideka, in an X-wing or an AT-AT.

6. Star Wars: Battlefront II

Release date: November 1, 2005

If the first Battlefront changed the Star Wars game (pun intended), then its immediate sequel perfected it. Battlefront II didn’t need to get all fancy; it just had to give us one thing: the ability to play as a Jedi or as a Sith, hero, or villain. For the first time, you could run around a map, killing your enemies as Yoda, Darth Vader, Obi-Wan, Mace Windu, Boba Fett, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Emperor Palpatine, and even Darth freakin’ Maul!

And since Revenge of the Sith had finally debuted in theaters, you could also access new planets like Utapau and Mustafar. Whether you played Battlefront II on PlayStation, Xbox, or PlayStation Portable, it was one epic gaming experience.

5. LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga

Release date: November 6, 2007

Kids have always been a major part of the Star Wars fandom, so what better way to introduce a younger audience to the series (which can be dark and scary at times) than with a “LEGO-ized” version of it?

Adopting a more tongue-in-cheek approach to the six-film saga contained between Phantom Menace and Return of the Jedi, LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Sage is the video game equivalent of teaching your child to ride a bike with training wheels. Once they come to love the characters and universe, they should be able to graduate to the more mature elements of the movies in what should be a seamless transition.

And that’s not to say that the LEGO games are just for kids. Indeed, they’re packed with plenty of fun visual and audio gags that help paint the franchise in fun and often hilarious new light for longtime fans of the franchise who are looking for something a little off the beaten path.

4. Star Wars: Rogue Squadron

Release date: December 7, 1998

Influenced by the Dark Horse comics of the same name, Rogue Squadron may have been a response to the release of the first (and insanely popular) Star Fox game from Nintendo the previous year.

Even if it was, the title allowed players to become ace Rebel pilots in several different ships: X-wings, Y-wings, A-wings, V-wings, and even Snowspeeders. Like Episode I: Racer, Rogue Squadron was a chance to get into the thick of the aerial dogfights the original trilogy had become known for.

The game was so popular that it spawned two sequels, Rogue Leader (2001) and Rebel Strike (2003).

3. Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire

Release date: December 3, 1996

 This is a really cool entry on the list because Shadows of the Empire was a single part of a greater multimedia initiative from Lucasfilm.

Shadows of the Empire was an umbrella project that yielded a novel, comics, and toys. Unfurling between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, the SoTE game places you into the role of Dash Rendar, a member of the Rebel Alliance, who must protect Luke Skywalker from the deadly sights of Dark Prince Xizor, a galactic gangster looking to become Darth Vader’s second-in-command.

Similar to the events of Rogue One, this game shines an interesting light on the unsung heroes in the conflict against the Galactic Empire.

2. Star Wars: Obi-Wan

Release date: December 19, 2001

Released more than a year after Phantom Menace hit theaters, this game emphasized one of Episode I’s most beloved characters: young Obi-Wan Kenobi played by Ewan McGregor. Set before and during the events of that film, players can face off against a slew of enemies, both old and new, including an assassin droid, Tusken Raiders, and of course, Darth freakin’ Maul.

Despite mixed reviews, Star Wars: Obi-Wan was somewhat ahead of its time by acknowledging that McGregor’s character was one of the best parts of the prequels. Years later, he remains a fan favorite and is even receiving his live-action series on Disney+ that takes place between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.

1. Star Wars: TIE Fighter

Release date: July 1, 1994

It makes a lot of sense to consider TIE Fighter as a companion piece to Rogue Squadron. After all, both games are simply two sides of the same coin. In this case, you’re not fighting for the Rebel Alliance under Luke Skywalker, but for the Imperial Navy under his father, Darth Vader. The screeching TIE Fighters are just as iconic as the Rebel X-wings, so this title proved a real treat in allowing one to side with the bad guys for a change.

The post The 10 Best Star Wars Video Games (Ever!!!) appeared first on Your Money Geek.

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[andrewdburton]

When to follow the rules — and when to break them

Last night's recipe from HelloFresh was Bulgogi Pork Tenderloin. As always, the instructions were clear and easy to follow. As always, it took me about twice as long to prep things as the recipe card said they would.

I chopped the vegetables, boiled the rice, seared the meat, made the sauce. But when I reached the final step — “finish and serve” — I hit a wall of sorts.

“Ugh,” I said to Kim, who was playing with our three cats and one dog simultaneously. “The recipe calls for a tablespoon of butter in the rice. I hate adding butter to rice. It makes it gummy and gross. But HelloFresh always wants me to do it.”

“I like butter in my rice,” Kim said, throwing a bacon ball for the dog while kicking a catnip toy for the cats. “But if you don't like it, don't add it.”

I sighed. Of course, she was right: Just don't add the butter! Such an obvious solution, right? Yes — and no.

You see, I am fundamentally a Rule Follower. When I'm cooking, I follow the recipe exactly. When I'm building an IKEA desk for my new office, I follow the instructions exactly. On the road, I generally stick to the speed limit (which sometimes drives Kim nuts). I used to take pride that never once did I cheat on my homework or tests in high school and college — and I never helped anyone else cheat either.

As I said: I am, fundamentally, a Rule Follower.

This has been true when it comes to managing my money too. Since beginning my quest to become the CFO of my own life fifteen years ago, I've surrendered to wiser minds than mine. I tend to heed the time-tested “rules of money”, rules like:

When average people like me are wondering how to invest, the best answer is usually “set up automatic contributions to an index fund”.

When setting up a budget, it's more important to pay attention to the Big Picture than it is to fret over details. Follow the balanced money formula and you should do okay.

When you want to get out of debt, use the debt snowball method. If possible, pay high-interest debts first. Many folks (including me) have more success, though, if they pay off low-balance debts first. And still others use a debt snowball approach in which they start by tackling the debts with the greatest emotional weight.

If you're going to use them, know how to use credit cards wisely. If you're unable to use credit without digging yourself into debt, then throw away the “shovel”.

And so on.

Following these rules has proved profitable. These “rules” are rules for a reason. Because they work. They allow folks to get out of debt and build wealth. Crazy, right?

Here's the thing, though. As effective as these financial rules have been for me, as much as I like strictly following a recipe, I've also come to realize that sometimes it makes sense to (gasp!) break the rules.

The challenge, then, is determining when to follow the rules — and when to break them.

Chesterton's Fence

Some people chafe at rules. They instinctively want to rebel against them. My old friend Sparky, for instance, never met a rule he didn't want to break. It was just part of who he was.

From my experience, though, rules generally exist for a reason. They're not arbitrary creations meant to frustrate and hamstring people. Rules are an attempt to create order and help life run more smoothly. Sometimes, though, people and institutions evolve. Old rules that once proved useful become outdated and ought to be discarded. But it's dangerous to mindlessly break rules (or to discard them).

G.K. Chesterton's 1929 book The Thing includes an essay entitled “The Drift from Domesticity”. While I haven't read the entire essay, I'm fond of the intro, which describes the danger of discarding rules without careful consideration:

In the matter of reforming things…there is one plain and simple principle; a principle which will probably be called a paradox.

There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, “I don't see the use of this; let us clear it away.”

To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: “If you don't see the use of it, I certainly won't let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.”

This paradox rests on the most elementary common sense.

The gate or fence did not grow there. It was not set up by somnambulists who built it in their sleep. It is highly improbable that it was put there by escaped lunatics who were for some reason loose in the street. Some person had some reason for thinking it would be a good thing for somebody. And until we know what the reason was, we really cannot judge whether the reason was reasonable.

It is extremely probable that we have overlooked some whole aspect of the question, if something set up by human beings like ourselves seems to be entirely meaningless and mysterious.

[…]

This principle applies to a thousand things, to trifles as well as true institutions, to convention as well as to conviction.

I learned about this concept — colloquially referred to as “Chesterton's Fence” — last March from a GRS reader named Marc. “With an old house,” he wrote, “I have found the principle of Chesterton’s Fence to be invaluable. When renovating or repairing never rip something out if you don’t understand why it is there.”

In the nine months since I first heard about this idea, I've thought about it often. I think it's important. It applies to many aspects of our lives. And it's directly applicable to the question of when to follow rules and when to ignore them.

From Amateur Spectator to Expert Producer

Earlier this week, David Wells (who runs the excellent Fifteen on Friday email newsletter) published an article on the four steps to expertise and meaningful contribution. These steps seem like a natural fit for a discussion of knowing when to follow (and when to break) rules.

According to Wells, there are four steps to moving from a “spectator” to a “producer”.

The first step is becoming an “amateur spectator”. At this stage, you're new to whatever it is you're experiencing. You don't know the rules, but you're able to enjoy the process. This is me when watching cricket. I have zero clue what is going on, but I'm entertained by the sport.

The second step is becoming an “expert spectator”. Here, you do understand the rules. More than that, you know why the rules exist and how they influence whatever it is you're experiencing. I'd say I'm close to being an expert spectator when it comes to film. I have an appreciation for film history, and I've read a lot (and watched a lot) about how films are made. This helps me appreciate the movies I see, but I couldn't make one of my own.

The third step is becoming an “amateur producer”. (Wells calls this an “amateur professional”, but I think he actually means producer.) At this level, you have enough knowledge of your subject, of its rules and conventions, that you can participate and create. An amateur producer, Wells writes, “is not someone who just undersands that something happened, but can explain to you why it did.” I'm an amateur producer when it comes to photography. I know the hows and whys of writing with light, and have even sold a few photos.

The final step is becoming an “expert producer” (or “expert professional”). Wells writes, “At this level, you not only understand why something works, but you are able to deploy various tools to accomplish a desired end.” I like to believe — although you might argue the point — that I am an expert writer. (Or, at any rate, an expert blogger.)

Here's the thing to note about these four stages of expertise. Folks at lower levels ought not break the rules. Hell, folks at the first level don't even know the rules. As you become more aware of the rules (and the reasons for them), you're able to actually create within this set of guidelines. At the very highest level — as an expert producer — you can, at times, break the rules.

And I'd argue that those at the very top can sometimes write their own rules. To wit:

LeBron got away with one ? pic.twitter.com/Uv4uMKKcDi

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 5, 2019

Let's return to Chesterton's fence for a moment. I believe that Chesterton is arguing that if you're an amateur spectator, you have no right to ask for the metaphorical fence to be removed. As an expert spectator, you at least appreciate why the fence exists, but you probably shouldn't be the one to remove it. Only if you're a producer — and preferably an expert producer — should you actually remove the fence.

Once, about 25 years ago, I decided to bake some brownies. Although my wife was an expert baker (and a chemistry teacher to boot!), I was not. As I mixed the ingredients, I realized that we were out of baking soda. “No worries,” I thought. “We have baking powder. I'll just use that.”

My brownies were a disaster. They didn't rise. Turns out you can sub one for the other, but you have to know what you're doing. It's not a one for one equation. I didn't have a clue why this “fence” existed — I was an amateur spectator in the kitchen — and I paid the price with bad brownies.

Obviously, some “fences” (and some rules) are more important than others. When I don't follow a brownie recipe correctly, there are no real consequences other than losing a small amount of time and money. But if you were to, say, disregard the rules for operating a nuclear power plant, you could end up with the Chernobyl disaster.

When you're dealing with trivial matters, it's less important that you follow the rules. When you're dealing with larger issues — marriage, firearms, vehicles, politics — knowing the rules and adhering to them becomes more critical.

Learning to Break the Rules

Now, there's no doubt that sometimes a fence — or a rule or a guideline — outlives its usefulness. Sometimes when a person complains that a fence serves no purpose, she's right. And sometimes, as in the case of recipes or financial rules of thumb, it's okay to stray from the path — if you know why you're straying.

Let's use that Chesterton passage above as an example. The quote I published in this article has been altered. The original was a wall of text, two ginormous paragraphs with odd punctuation. This worked fine in 1929 when Chesterton published the piece. It does not work so well in 2019 when people are reading on computer screens.

So, I took the liberty of re-formatting the quote to make it more readable for modern eyes. A minor thing, perhaps, but it's still a case of me altering Chesterton's Fence. (Literally!)

Actually, I can think of many examples of how I break the rules of writing. I didn't always do this. In fact, I used to be a strict prescriptive grammarian. I believed that the rules of writing were immutable and ought to be learned and followed.

Today, I don't see grammar rules as black and white. After decades as a writer, and after working with professional editors for the past ten years, I've come to understand that the purpose of writing is effective communication. Our grammar rules are useful guidelines because they tend to promote effective communication, but once you know them (and know why they exist), it's okay to break them.

Last night's dinner is another great example. Over the year that I've been using HelloFresh, I've followed their directions for rice many times. I know how they want me to make it — and why. In that time, I've learned one very important thing: I don't like the tablespoon of butter they ask me to add at the end. It serves no functional purpose. Kim likes the taste; I don't. (And I hate the texture.) Because I understand how the rice is prepared, it's okay for me to omit the butter.

My clam chowder is an even better example. My source was a recipe published in the November 2000 issue of Bon Appétit magazine. I've probably made this chowder fifty times since I first discovered it. At first, I was slavish to the recipe. (I'm a Rule Follower!) In time, I began to experiment.

What happens if I add more bacon? (Deliciousness!)

What happens if I add more garlic? (Deliciousness! But too much garlic makes things worse…)

What about more onions or clams or potatoes? (More onions are good, but the potato ratio depends on the amount of liquid I use.)

What if I use Yukon Gold potatoes instead of russets? (Gross! Yukon Gold potatoes are awful in chowder.)

Today, nearly twenty years since I first made the chowder, the recipe I use is mostly my own. I started by following the instructions exactly. At the time, I was a clam chowder “spectator”. Eventually, I gained the confidence to “break the rules”, to adapt things to my own preferences. As I gained competence, as I became an “expert producer” of clam chowder, I could play with the recipe.

When to Break the Rules

Breaking the rules can lead to innovation. Breaking the rules can let you build a life that is truly your own. Breaking the rules can produce better clam chowder. But in order to break the rules, you have to understand them. More than that, you have to know why the rules exist.

“Learn the rules like a pro,” painter Pablo Picasso is reported to have said, “so you can break them like an artist.”

I think it's also vital to ask yourself a few questions, such as:

Why do you want to break this rule? What purpose does it serve? Is it simply out of laziness? Or will breaking the rule potentially lead to some useful reward? Driving on the shoulder because you're inconvenienced by slow traffic is not a valid reason to break the law. But adding bacon to clam chowder because it's delicious is a good reason to change things up.

What are the consequences of breaking the rule? Will it harm anyone else? Will it harm you? Take the Balanced Money Forumla, which says that you shouldn't spend more than half of your take-home pay on Needs. If you do, you put yourself in a precarious financial position. You could really hurt yourself (and your family) if something goes wrong. On the other hand, you're not going to hurt anyone by jaywalking on an empty street at midnight.

For some rules — office rules, personal rules, family rules — it's useful to ask what the new rule will be if you break (or change) the old one. If you decide to withdraw from your retirement accounts to fund a purchase — a financial rule I don't suggest breaking — is this a one-time thing? When will you allow yourself to do the same thing in the future? How will you replace those funds?

It's not bad to follow the rules. In fact, as a Rule Follower, I think it's generally a smart thing to do. When you follow the rules, you usually get good results.

Twenty years ago, I didn't understand the rules of money. I was violating the rules without even realizing it. As a result, I was deep in debt and living paycheck to paycheck.

In 2004, I surrendered to the idea that what I was doing wasn't working. I was playing the game without understanding the rules. As a result, I was losing and I knew it. So, I decided to teach myself how money works. I learned the rules. More to the point, I started following the rules. Surprise! My financial life improved. (In a way, this is what's happening with my friends Wally and Jodie. It's fun to watch them learn the rules of money — and to start winning the game.)

All the same, sometimes it pays to break the rules — if you do so wisely.

Credit cards are dangerous, yes, and ought to be avoided if they're going to lead you into debt. That's a solid rule. But if you're disciplined and sophisticated, you can use credit cards as tools to unlock all sorts of rewards.

And in a way, the modern FIRE movement — that group of folks who wants to achieve financial independence and retire early — is built on “breaking” the rules of retirement. The folks who pursue FIRE not only understand the “rules” of money, but understand why those rules exist. And because of this, they're able to re-write the rules to achieve something truly remarkable.

The post When to follow the rules — and when to break them appeared first on Get Rich Slowly.

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[afoolsingenuity]

Looking Forward // May 2017

Welcome to another dose of torture where I reveal all the books I’m excited to be released this month and try and not preorder them all (seriously, it’s a lesson in self-restraint) this month you may think I’m missing a couple of glaringly obvious new releases I should be making grabby hands at but I want to remind you all I go by UK release date whenever possible because those are the copies I want to get my hands on (no offense, US, but your editions are too expensive for my tastes). So, that means I’m not including Emery Lord’s new book or When Dimple Met Rishi as they are released on 1st June here. I just feel a need to put that disclaimer in now.

Always and Forever, Lara Jean – Jenny Han

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Release Date: 2nd May 2017

Ramona Blue – Julie Murphy

Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQ, Young Adult

Release Date: 9th May 2017

Lara Jean’s letter-writing days aren’t over in this surprise follow-up to the New York Times bestselling To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You.

Lara Jean is having the best senior year a girl could ever hope for. She is head over heels in love with her boyfriend, Peter; her dad’s finally getting remarried to their next door neighbor, Ms. Rothschild; and Margot’s coming home for the summer just in time for the wedding.

But change is looming on the horizon. And while Lara Jean is having fun and keeping busy helping plan her father’s wedding, she can’t ignore the big life decisions she has to make. Most pressingly, where she wants to go to college and what that means for her relationship with Peter. She watched her sister Margot go through these growing pains. Now Lara Jean’s the one who’ll be graduating high school and leaving for college and leaving her family—and possibly the boy she loves—behind.

When your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?

Ramona was only five years old when Hurricane Katrina changed her life forever.

Since then, it’s been Ramona and her family against the world. Standing over six feet tall with unmistakable blue hair, Ramona is sure of three things: she likes girls, she’s fiercely devoted to her family, and she knows she’s destined for something bigger than the trailer she calls home in Eulogy, Mississippi. But juggling multiple jobs, her flaky mom, and her well-meaning but ineffectual dad forces her to be the adult of the family. Now, with her sister, Hattie, pregnant, responsibility weighs more heavily than ever.

The return of her childhood friend Freddie brings a welcome distraction. Ramona’s friendship with the former competitive swimmer picks up exactly where it left off, and soon he’s talked her into joining him for laps at the pool. But as Ramona falls in love with swimming, her feelings for Freddie begin to shift too, which is the last thing she expected. With her growing affection for Freddie making her question her sexual identity, Ramona begins to wonder if perhaps she likes girls and guys or if this new attraction is just a fluke. Either way, Ramona will discover that, for her, life and love are more fluid than they seem.

Why Am I Excited?

I began reading this series because it was about a girl accidentally having love letters sent out and a fake relationship. I kept reading because of the cliffhanger. And now? Now, I’m just really in love with Peter and Lara Jean. They are the cutest couple and the covers on these books are stunning. Like, so stunning they are amazing. I would love to see all the outtakes of the photo shoots because they are amazing.

Why Am I Excited?

I mean, I’ve not read any of Julie Murphy’s books but I have heard good things and this one sounds like it will be good and great exploration of a character discovering her own sexuality. It’s too easy to think you know exactly what your sexuality is at a young age when really being a teenager is the time for self-discovery. It’ll be interesting to see how this is all explored in the book.

Flame in the Mist – Renee Ahdieh

Genre: Fantasy, Historical, Young Adult

Release Date: 16th May 2017

In A Perfect World – Trish Doller

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

Release Date: 23rd May 2017

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Wrath and the Dawn, comes a sweeping, action-packed YA adventure set against the backdrop of Feudal Japan.

Mariko has always known that being a woman means she's not in control of her own fate. But Mariko is the daughter of a prominent samurai and a cunning alchemist in her own right, and she refuses to be ignored. When she is ambushed by a group of bandits known as the Black Clan enroute to a political marriage to Minamoto Raiden - the emperor's son - Mariko realises she has two choices: she can wait to be rescued... or she can take matters into her own hands, hunt down the clan and find the person who wants her dead.

Disguising herself as a peasant boy, Mariko infiltrates the Black Clan's hideout and befriends their leader, the rebel ronin Ranmaru, and his second-in-command, Okami. Ranmaru and Okami warm to Mariko, impressed by her intellect and ingenuity. But as Mariko gets closer to the Black Clan, she uncovers a dark history of secrets that will force her to question everything she's ever known.

Caroline Kelly is excited to be spending her summer vacation working at the local amusement park with her best friend, exploring weird Ohio with her boyfriend, and attending soccer camp with the hope she’ll be her team’s captain in the fall.

But when Caroline’s mother is hired to open an eye clinic in Cairo, Egypt, Caroline’s plans are upended. Caroline is now expected to spend her summer and her senior year in a foreign country, away from her friends, her home, and everything she’s ever known.

With this move, Caroline predicts she’ll spend her time navigating crowded streets, eating unfamiliar food, and having terrible bouts of homesickness. But when she finds instead is a culture that surprises her, a city that astounds her, and a charming, unpredictable boy who challenges everything she thought she knew about life, love, and privilege.

Why Am I Excited?

I really enjoyed The Wrath and the Dawn so I am excited to see more writing from Ahdieh. I am always hesitant over books set in different cultures, like this one being set in Feudal Japan but I’m confident it will be written well with good research (please don’t disappoint).

Why Am I Excited?

Okay, Egypt is a country which has never held much interest for me. I’ve never had a strong urge to visit and so I can totally relate to the MCs unhappiness at going so I am really interested in the idea of her warming to the country upon moving and discovering things she didn’t expect.

Also, I really love Trish Doller’s writing. I still haven’t read her last book (oops) but I am totally there for all she writes because she writes it well whatever she does!

White Hot (Hidden Legacy #2) – Ilona Andrews

Genre: Romance, Urban Fantasy

Release Date: 30th May 2017

I Believe In A Thing Called Love – Maurene Goo

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult

Release Date: 30th May 2017

Nevada Baylor has a unique and secret skill—she knows when people are lying—and she's used that magic (along with plain, hard work) to keep her colorful and close-knit family's detective agency afloat. But her new case pits her against the shadowy forces that almost destroyed the city of Houston once before, bringing Nevada back into contact with Connor "Mad" Rogan.

Rogan is a billionaire Prime—the highest rank of magic user—and as unreadable as ever, despite Nevada's "talent." But there's no hiding the sparks between them. Now that the stakes are even higher, both professionally and personally, and their foes are unimaginably powerful, Rogan and Nevada will find that nothing burns like ice . . .

Desi Lee knows how carburetors work. She learned CPR at the age of five. As a high school senior, she has never missed a day of school and has never had a B in her entire life. She's for sure going to Stanford. But—she’s never had a boyfriend. In fact, she’s a disaster in romance, a clumsy, stammering humiliation-magnet whose botched attempts at flirting have become legendary with her friends. So when the hottest human specimen to have ever lived walks into her life one day, Desi decides to tackle her flirting failures with the same zest she’s applied to everything else in her life. She finds her answer in the Korean dramas her father has been obsessively watching for years—where the hapless heroine always seems to end up in the arms of her true love by episode ten. It's a simple formula, and Desi is a quick study. Armed with her “K Drama Rules for True Love,” Desi goes after the moody, elusive artist Luca Drakos—and boat rescues, love triangles, and fake car crashes ensue. But when the fun and games turn to true feels, Desi finds out that real love is about way more than just drama.

Why Am I Excited?

I have been excited for this book since 2015! 2015!

That was back when I thought this book was going to be released not long after and I would get to read and then it was delayed. You would not believe how long I’ve been waiting for this book. I am going to devour it when it’s released. I am tempted to book a day off work to do just that but people would think it was weird.

Look, Burn For Me and White Hot and the next book, Wildfire, have terrible covers but they are so, so, sooooo good that you really need to read the first one if you haven’t already. I read it because of Danya (see, you’re recs often do work out but I didn’t expect this 10000 years of waiting business) and I have no regrets about reading. It is the best.

Why Am I Excited?

I am a girl who loves me a good K-drama. I mean, they are seriously addictive with their crazy OTT storylines and swoony romances that get dragged out for more episodes than necessary but you can’t stop watching. You have the ridiculous storylines which would never work in real life but are crazy addictive to watch on TV and they would never be made into UK shows (or US ones really) but you wouldn’t want them to because they would lose all their charm and they wouldn’t work in the same way.

As such, when I saw there was a book about a Korean American who decides to follow the rules of K-drama in her love life I knew I had to read. I am so crazy excited I’m currently contemplating pre-ordering because I want to read this that bad.

The Girl With The Make-Believe Husband (Rokesbys #2) – Julia Quinn

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: 30th May 2017

Come Sundown – Nora Roberts

Genre: Contemorary, Romance, Romantic Suspense

Release Date: 30th May 2017

While you were sleeping...

With her brother Thomas injured on the battlefront in the Colonies, orphaned Cecilia Harcourt has two unbearable choices: move in with a maiden aunt or marry a scheming cousin. Instead, she chooses option three and travels across the Atlantic, determined to nurse her brother back to health. But after a week of searching, she finds not her brother but his best friend, the handsome officer Edward Rokesby. He's unconscious and in desperate need of her care, and Cecilia vows that she will save this soldier's life, even if staying by his side means telling one little lie...

I told everyone I was your wife

When Edward comes to, he's more than a little confused. The blow to his head knocked out six months of his memory, but surely he would recall getting married. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is—even if he does not recall her face—and with everyone calling her his wife, he decides it must be true, even though he'd always assumed he'd marry his neighbor back in England.

If only it were true...

Cecilia risks her entire future by giving herself—completely—to the man she loves. But when the truth comes out, Edward may have a few surprises of his own for the new Mrs. Rokesby.

Love. Lies. Murder. A lot can happen... COME SUNDOWN

Bodine Longbow loves to rise with the dawn. As the manager of her family's resort in Western Montana, there just aren't enough hours in the day - for life, for work, for loved ones. She certainly doesn't have time for love, not even in the gorgeous shape of her childhood crush Callen Skinner, all grown up and returned to the ranch. Then again, maybe Callen can change her mind, given time...

But when a young woman's body is discovered on resort land, everything changes. Callen falls under the suspicion of a deputy sheriff with a grudge. And for Bodine's family, the murder is a shocking reminder of an old loss. Twenty-five years ago, Bodine's Aunt Alice vanished, never to be heard of again. Could this new tragedy be connected to Alice's mysterious disappearance?

As events take a dramatic and deadly turn, Bodine and Callen must race to uncover the truth - before the sun sets on their future together.

Why Am I Excited?

I feel like the name Julia Quinn should be enough to be excited about this book. But if it’s not then it’s also for the whole fake married thing as well. I have been excited about this book ever since the buddy read I did with Danya and Kaja and hot damn I need to get on reading this (also, guys, we need another buddy read, they make even the worst book good).

Why Am I Excited?

I have only ever read one Nora Roberts and it was fantastic. I got emailed about this book a while back and missed out on a physical ARC (damn my need to work stopping me from replying to emails) and I’ve been excited ever since. Luckily, I got approved on Netgalley for it and plan to read sharpish so either way, I get to enjoy.

I’ve not read much romantic suspense but it’s definitely one of those genres I know I’ll love because it’s my kind of genre. I like the mystery to go with my romance and it gives a bit more depth for when you’re fatigued by contemporary.

Wow, there really are a lot of books coming out on the end of the month, aren’t there? It will be a busy day for me, I was joking but maybe I really should take a day off and read.

Anyway, have a missed off any important releases? Which books are you excited to get started with in May?

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