#final bibliothon

[kappabooks]

July Wrap Up

Check out my July Wrap-Up!

Oh man, July was busy! Two read-a-thons, a summer course and work, a weekend trip, it was a packed month! And yet I read 13 books! I also didn’t finished 3 books, but I’m not going to be judged for that, I don’t want to read books I’m not enjoying.

Anyway, all the books I read, in order of when I read them!

Please Send Help – 3 stars

I got this book in a GoodReads giveaway and it…

[books-blankets-and-cookies]

An unconventional beach read!

[cassiejade]

I am so glad last week is over, there was so much going on and it was so draining. These next few weeks should be more easy-going and I am really looking forward to that. Despite the hecticness, I did manage to read a little bit so let’s get into it.

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words. Simply answer the following questions:

What did you recently finish reading?

What are you currently reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

What did you recently finish reading?

Meet Cute by Helena Hunting

I’m so disappointed with this. I really liked the beginning and started to lose interest around the middle of the book. I started off really liking Daxton but as the story progressed he became that douchey alpha male common in romance novels and I dont care for that. Also the behavior the characters had did not line up with the behavior you would expect from the top 2 students.

The Golem and The Jinni by Helen Wecker

This book had the opposite problem as Meet Cute, I went into this not really expecting much, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it because the only reason I even own it was due to Barnes and Nobles “Buy 2 get 1 free” sales. And then the audiobook was a daily deal on Audible and I finally decided to read it for the Biannual Bibliothon.

So, parts of this kind of dragged on, I would space out parts of the audiobook easily but for the most part I really loved this, I loved how everything came together in the end and the way the story was woven was really nice to read. Chava is such a unique character I kept finding myself wishing to get back to her storyline.

What are you currently reading?

Furyborn by Claire LeGrand

This is my current audiobook. I’m currently on page 50 and I’m still a little confused about the world and the storyline.

The Husbands Secret by Liane Moriarty

I’m currently borrowing this from the library and it’s due on the 26th so I need to get on it and read it within the next few days.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

I’ve put this on hold for now but I am halfway through and will finish it as soon as I finish the Husbands Secret.

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

I really want to get to this before the end of the Medieval-A-Thon so I need to start it about now. I’m hoping to read about 50 pages or so a night until I can binge it.

What are you reading this week?

WWW Wednesday 7/24 I am so glad last week is over, there was so much going on and it was so draining.

[heybibliolater]

☆Biannual Bibliothon Wrap-Up☆

The final Biannual Bibliothon has ended! This readathon ran from July 11, 2019 through July 19, 2019. I ended up changing some of the books from my TBR for the challenges. Also, I was not able to finish all the books I wanted so I had to double up twice but I still completed all the challenges. This was my first ever readathon and I had so much fun participating. Below is my completed list for the Biannual Bibliothon.♡

1. Read the group book that has been chosen - The group book was Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman. This book had so many mixed reviews so I didn’t know what to expect but I absolutely loved it. I gave this 5 out of 5 stars.

2. Read one of the host’s 5 star reads - I chose emmmabook’s 5 star read: Scythe by Neal Shusterman. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed it but I didn’t feel completely connected with the characters. Also, the romance just wasn’t needed. I think it could have very well been a good friendship.

3. Read a book based on the cover - I read Damsel by Elana K. Arnold for this one because the cover is stunning. I kind of knew what to expect reading this book but I was still surprised. There are a lot of trigger warnings for this book. I was fairly uncomfortable for most of it but the ending was very satisfying. I gave this 4 out of 5 stars.

4. Read an adult genre book - I read Nevernight by Jay Kristoff for this challenge (rather than challenge 5 like I planned). It was very hard to get into and ended up taking me longer than I had hoped to finish it. I feel like if I didn’t keep putting it down, I would have been able to read all nine books I planned to. However, after the first 100 or so pages, it started to pick up. I ended up loving this book and I gave it 5 out of 5 stars.

5. Read any book of your choice - I ended up reading To Best the Boys by Mary Weber. I chose this book to knock it off my TBR. I was hesitant about picking this book up because it just didn’t sound like it was for me. However, I am so glad I did. It was very empowering. I enjoyed every second of reading it and flew through the book. I gave this 5 out of 5 stars.

6. Read a book from an author you’ve never read before - Rather than the book I originally planned to read, I ended up reading Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan MgGuire. I listened to most of this on audiobook then finished it physically. It was a super quick read and I enjoyed the story.. 4 out of 5 stars.

7. Read a graphic novel - I read Nimona by Noelle Stevenson. This was my first ever graphic novel. I did end up liking it. I might start reading more graphic novels. I gave this 4 out of 5 stars.

8. Read a book you were originally really excited for but never got the chance to read - This is one of the challenges I didn’t really get to. However, Damsel can also fit into this category. I had been looking forward to this book since I first found out about it but I just never got around to reading it. 

9. Read a book that is a predicted 5 star read - This was another challenge that I didn’t get to read a separate book for but Nevenight can also fit for this one. After hearing some of my favorite booktubers review this book I knew I would end up loving it. Even though I wasn’t sure that was the case anymore after I started it, I ended up being right. 

[boneless-mika]

What do you mean the final bibliothon??

[stringbeanreads-blog]

stringbeanreads monthly wrap up: july!

Hi all!

In the month of July, I read a total of 10 books! That’s the most I’ve read in a month in all of 2017! I’m extremely pleased with where I am, and I’m here to share my thoughts on what I enjoyed this month! So without further ado, please enjoy my monthly wrap up for July!

The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma- 5/5 stars

I picked this book up on a whim at the bookstore when I was trying to find a different one in the same section. For the most part, this was a cover buy, I mean, just look at how gorgeous it is. Wow. The synopsis on the back intrigued me as well, and had me asking questions from the very start. When reading, I never wanted to put it down. The narrative was beautifully written, with complex and well developed characters and storylines. I was constantly wondering what would happen next and was left hanging on the edge of my seat through the whole read. I enjoyed the mix of realism and mystery/paranormal that wove itself through this book. It was a disturbing read, but in the best dose and the best way possible. Nearly a month later, I am still extremely confused by the ending, but in a satisfying way. Overall, I absolutely loved this book, and will continue to recommend it to others! A great way to start off the month of July.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas- 5/5 stars

Wow. Just, wow. What a powerful and important book. I know you’ve probably heard everyone and their grandmother say this, but if you read just ONE book this year, make it The Hate U Give. It is heartbreaking, it is uncomfortable, and it is sadly a reality. This book made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me angry. Angry at the world and at the system we find ourselves face with day in and day out. The characters were real and truthful and flawed, the story was human and an incredible learning experience for me as a white reader. THUG was an incredibly informative read, and I was learning things alongside Starr and her family with every page turned. This book is important. This book is human. Angie Thomas has crafted a novel that will stick with readers until the day they cease to exist. I’m excited to see the movie adaptation with Amandla Stenberg when it comes out, and cannot wait to revisit Starr’s story in the near future. Thank you, Angie Thomas, for bringing Starr and Khalil’s story to light.

Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh- 2.5/5 stars

Truthfully, I had a very hard time getting through this book, which makes me sad considering how excited I was to pick it up! I think the main reason I had a difficult time with it was the fact that it was constantly pitched to me as a Mulan retelling, when that isn’t what it was. In fact, I think the only similarity between Mulan and this story is the fact that the main character dresses as a boy. While Ahdieh has an incredibly beautiful writing style, it is not at all the writing style I am drawn to, which I believe made it even harder for me to enjoy. This book certainly did have its pros- I enjoyed Mariko’s character and her story (but I was confused by it in many points- i think I just wasn’t paying attention while reading), I enjoyed the characters of the Black Clan, and I enjoyed the badass female empowerment. The book definitely picked up in pace and interest for me past the halfway mark, which made me very glad. I enjoyed the ending, but couldn’t wait for it to be done. Unfortunately, I don’t see myself continuing on with the series, but hope to pick up Ahdieh’s other works in the future.

A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab- 5/5 stars

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. WOW OH WOW. There was not a single moment in any of the 624 pages where I was bored or even slightly uninterested. The last time I liked the 3rd book in a series this much was when I read Mockingjay 6 years ago, that’s how rare it is for me to enjoy trilogies. When I picked up A Darker Shade of Magic back in March, I had a hard time getting through it simply because of my own personal distractions, but enjoyed the characters and the world enough for me to continue onto A Gathering of Shadows. I enjoyed the plot of AGoS much more than I did ADSoM, but with ACoL, I enjoyed every single aspect of it. It made me cry tears of sadness, laughter, and happiness. The character development and the journey that Kell, Lila, and Rhy went through over the course of this book was absolutely beautiful and truthful. I was so sad when I had to close the book and accept the fact that it was done. I love the world building and the overall magic system of ADSoM so much that part of me wishes the series was continuing. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the ending to this series and my time reading it, and hope to pick up Victoria Schwab’s other works in the near future.

The Search for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi- 4/5 stars

Overall, I enjoyed reading The Search for WondLa! I thought that the story was intriguing and it kept me wondering what would happen next. The visuals alongside the story helped to enhance the reading journey and made for a unique experience. I did find myself skimming every so often due to the middle grade writing style, but that won't stop me from continuing with the series!

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket- 3/5 stars

I am reading this series for the first time, and truly wish that I had picked it up as a kid first. I love the stories, the characters, and the writing style, but I know that I would’ve loved it even more as a child. I very much enjoyed the plot of this book, and enjoyed the darker turn that this story took compared to the first book.

A Library of Lemons by Jo Cotterill- 4/5 stars

This was the first book that I read for the Summer Biannual Bibliothon to fulfill the “Book found other than Booktube” challenge, and loved it! Initially, I was enticed by the adorable cover and the unique title (lemons and libraries? who wouldn't be intrigued!) After reading the synopsis, I knew that this for sure had to be a book that I picked up soon! I read the whole thing in about 3 hours from start to finish, never wanting to set the book down. The story was heartfelt, heartbreaking, and heartwarming. The narrative is naive, yet strong, and is extremely genuine and honest. The newfound best friends, Mae and Calypso, really remind me of myself at their age and my strong reliance on fiction to get me through everyday life. I adored the way Calypso was able to teach herself a valuable lesson, while also sharing her wisdom with those around her. I loved the writing style and the imagery that wove its way through the story. The underlying theme of learning to ask for help and to lend a help to others who are unable to ask for help was poignant and truthful and a wonderful lesson to be absorbed through such a beautiful story. I am confident in saying that Calypso's story will resonate and stick with many readers, myself included, for years to come.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer- 5/5 stars

This was the second book that I read for the Biannual Bibliothon, which crossed off the challenges for “Read a banned book” and “read a book to movie adaptation.” This book was so interesting. The non-traditional storytelling intrigued me from the very first sentence. The story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, but kept me wanting more. I loved the fact that certain aspects of Oskar’s life were not explained, they just were. This wasn’t a case of sloppy writing, but instead was an obvious choice by the author. I loved how unique this book was, and I enjoyed the fact that the movie was very different to the book! I would definitely recommend this book to others!

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan- 4/5 stars

This qualified for the Throwback challenge for the Biannual Bibliothon, for which I chose “reread a book from your childhood.” The last time I read a Rick Riordan book was 6 years ago, and after graduating high school just recently, I realized how much I needed to return to my roots and reread something that made me feel completely happy and totally alive. Percy Jackson was one of the first book series that I ever truly fell in love with, and that still holds true to this day. I adore the characters, I adore the world and the plot, and I adore the writing style. I found myself laughing at the same quips that I did 6 years ago, and feeling my heart swell with the same joy as Percy began to discover himself. I cannot wait to continue rereading this series and hope to feel the same nostalgia I did with The Lightning Thief!

Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Ormsbee- 5/5 stars

The final book on my Biannual Bibliothon TBR, finishing up the challenges with “read a host’s favourite genre (emma; diverse books)” and “read an LGBTQ+ book.” I absolutely adored this book! The writing style was fun and fresh, yet still real and truthful. I was a bit hesitant to pick it up when I heard that the plot centered around Youtube and internet fame, but was pleasantly surprised to find that the writing was really good! I loved watching Tash change and develop as a person through the course of this book as she was faced with multiple ups and downs both in her personal and professional life. I loved the asexual representation and the honesty that came along with it! I enjoyed that it wasn’t just a small thing that was mentioned to get LGBTQ+ brownie points, but instead was a large part of Tash’s journey to discovering who she is. All in all, this was a lovely and fun summer read!

Well that wraps it up! July was a really good month for me, full of books that I really enjoyed. Let me know what you read in the month of July! Did you read any of the same books I did? What were your thoughts? Let’s chat! 

[retreating-and-reading]

Biannual Bibliothon Day 6

I wasn't able to do much reading today but I started The Pianist and Persepolis. Persepolis I think is going to be a fast read so I'm pretty sure I'll be able to finish it tomorrow. I probably won't be able to finish The Pianist though. But we'll see! I give my final update tomorrow!!!

[thesffcorner]

January Wrap Up

January was a great reading month for me; I read 12 books and 2 comics. Weirdly it was also a month of me reading out of my usual zone: I read 3 fantasy books, 1 sci-fi book, 3 urban fantasies, 1 poetry book, 1 contemporary romance, 1 mystery, 1 thriller, and 1 erotic thriller. So without further ado, let’s go from lowest rated to highest:

Corrupt by Penelope Douglas (2 stars):

Corrupt was a book I started in 2018 and finished in 2019. It’s not a book I liked, but I was committed to finishing it (even though it’s 500 pages) for 2 reasons: 1, I wanted to get to the ‘scene’, and 2, I had read 200 pages already and I was too stubborn to quit.

This book is a dual perspective: it follows Erica, a college student who has been in love with her best friend/boyfriend Travis’ older brother her whole life, and Michael, said brother who is a professional basketball player. When Erica was 16 something happened, which sent Michael’s 3 best friends to jail for 3 years; now they are out and plan on exacting their revenge on her, and destroying her life.

Do NOT let the synopsis fool you; this book is not nearly as suspenseful or interesting as it sounds. I have a long-ass rant review on this book, if you want more of my thoughts, but essentially it boils down to this: the characters aren’t actually developed or morally corrupt enough, for the thriller parts to work, and the sex scenes are badly paced and start too far into the book for those who are into this just for the erotica. Throw is some casual homophobia, alpha-male, casually sexist behavior, a passive main character and a basketball player who never plays basketball, and this was the definition of a wasted premise.     

You by Caroline Kepnes (2 stars):

I read You as part of the Biannual bibliothon, but also because I saw that the Netflix show had come out. The first 50 or so pages of this book were very interesting; I really liked the premise and enjoyed Joe’s misanthropic grumpiness. But soon afterwards I found myself mostly bored, and annoyed by all the characters, and like Corrupt before, I thought it was too long, and not thrilling enough for a thriller.

We follow Jo, a man with some trouble with social interaction, who works at a bookstore. When Beck, a pretty young masters student, walks into the bookstore and flirts with him, he begins stalking her in an attempt to become her boyfriend, and we follow his increasingly delusional and even life-threatening attempts to win Beck over.

The main issue I has with this book were the characters; I didn’t like Jo, I didn’t like Peach and I just wanted all of them to choke. I also didn’t find the second person narrative the book dipped into particularly compelling, because I didn’t like or relate to Beck at all; the only thing I enjoyed was NYC, and that one scene on the subway.

Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean (2 stars):

Empress of All Seasons was the first proper fantasy I read this year, and it was a disappointment. I really wanted to love it, and like many of the books in this group it started well enough; it was just too short and unfocused to deliver on its premise.

We follow three characters: Mari, a yokai animal wife, whose only goal in life is to go to the royal palace, defeat the four seasonal rooms and marry the prince, then steal his fortune and escape; Akira, the son of nightmares, Mari’s best friend and a half-human, half-yokai boy who gets involved in a yokai rebellion; and Taro, the prince, who has a strained relationship with his father the emperor, and prefers inventing metal companions, rather than spending time with people.

I think even just saying this synopsis, you will probably realize what the main issue with this book is; there is just too much going on and not enough time for any of it. In comparison with the other fantasy I read this month, this book tried to do too much and failed to deliver on most things, with underdeveloped characters, and a plot that felt like you were sitting on the fast forward button.

Binti: Home by Nnedi Okorafor (2 stars):

Binti: Home is the second of the novellas in this series, and it also got 2 stars. It suffers from all the same issues as Empress; too many plot threads, not enough time to develop any of it, with the additional issues of having plot threads left from the previous novella that are left hanging, and a much more confused main character.

We follow Binti as she travels back to Earth, so she can complete a pilgrimage that would make her a full Himba woman, as she’s having visions and experiencing bursts of unfounded rage after the events of her arrival at the university. She takes Okwu with her, as an emissary for the Meduse, but very quickly things start going wrong, when she comes into conflict with both the Khoush, her own family and the Desert people and their most sacred god.

My criticism stands; there is just not enough time to properly develop this plot, so things feel rushed and unmotivated. Binti is a character who doesn’t seem to progress; she’s constantly caught in a loop of self-doubt and self-loathing, which isn’t congruent with both her abilities as master harmonizer and her rebellious streak. Okwu gets no development, and the cliffhanger at the end is the only thing keeping me invested in this series.

Emergency Contact by Mary H K Choi (3 stars):

Emergency Contact was a book that I expected I probably won’t like, and I ended up liking, but only parts of. All the issues I had a feeling I would have I did have, and it was only really the humor and the sheer curiosity to see how the book would end was what kept me reading.

We follow a dual perspective between Penelope, a freshman in college who wants to be a writer, and Sam, a boy who wants to be a documentarian. The two meet in the coffee shop where Sam works, and after Sam has a panic attack which he confuses for a heart attack, Penelope helps him and they become each other's emergency contacts.

The parts I liked from this book were mostly to do with the side characters, Penny’s writing class and story, some of the jokes and writing, but what I ended up disliking were the weird passes Penny gets for her horrible behavior, the fact that Sam doesn’t get a conclusion, his entire subplot with his film and his ex, just… a lot of things. I have a more detailed review of this book, which you can read if you want more of my specific thoughts.

Fierce Fairytales by Nikita Gill (3 stars):

This is a poetry collection, that also includes some shorts stories, most if not all based around re-imaginings of fairy tales. There were some poems I liked, some I didn’t care for and some which I disliked. There was one poem and one short story I really loved too. For the most part, a rather average collection.

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (3 stars):

This is the first book is a series, which I originally wasn’t going to read, but I kept hearing about how good these books are, and with the fourth coming out and having to do with the Goblin Market, I figured I’d give it a try.

We follow Nancy, a girl who has just returned from a portal word, and arrives at Eleanor West’s home for Wayward Children, to learn how to cope with being back in the real world. In this school she meets others like her, but when her roommate gets killed and her hands stolen, things start going really wrong at this supposed sanctuary.

This got 3 stars, purely because of the characters. I loved most, if not all of them, and I wanted to learn more about the different worlds, though not necessarily go to the worlds. The mystery of the murderer mostly reminded me of the plot with the basilisk in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and as such I had a lot of issues with the decisions the adults in this book made. Can’t say I liked this book too much, but I am curious to see if maybe I’ll like the series when it focuses on the portal worlds a bit more.

Red Glove by Holly Black (4 stars):

Breaking in form a bit, so I can talk about this series in order. Red Glove is the second in the Curse Workers trilogy, and I really enjoyed it. I’m weird in that I tend to like middle books in a lot of series, and this was no exception.

In this book we follow Cassel trying to cope with the events from the previous book, when the FBI approaches him, after his older brother Phillip has been killed, to tell him that Phillip had become an informant.  This leads Cassel into making a complex web of deceit and cons so he can protect himself and the rest of his family from the feds and the Zacharovs, while also trying not to fail school.

I enjoyed this book more than the first in some aspects, mostly in how much it expands the world and the politics. I continued to love Cassel as a character, and I even cared about his romance with Lila. Solid second book, and probably my favorite in the series.

Black Heart by Holly Black (3 stars):

This was the third and final book, and unfortunately it wasn't as good as the rest. The ending itself was fine, and there were some very interesting plot points and twists I didn’t see coming. But the middle of the book dragged a lot, and what was up until that point a nuanced view of morality, personal responsibility and adulthood, felt a lot more simplified and black or white in this book.

We follow Cassel, who while stalking Lila with Baron, encounters a death worker who performs a hit for Lila, and pulls Cassel in a complicated plot to transform the Governor of New Jersey. There are a lot of threads in this final book, and Cassel has to pull the biggest con of his life if he wants to survive.

The issue, was mostly with the pacing; there is a whole section in the middle where absolutely nothing happens, and we spend so much time on a B plot that serves only to distract Cassel from the Governor Patton business and to get Sam and Daneca out of the ending. This part dragged the book down for me, even though the ending parts were great. I still recommend the series as a whole, and I’m sad there hasn’t been some kind of spin-off with Gage or even Baron’s FBI adventures.

This is Our Story by Ashley Elston (4 stars):

This was the first proper book I read in 2019 and I loved it. It’s a solid mystery with a great atmosphere and a pretty cool twist and a main character I really enjoyed.

We follow Kate, a senior in high school who interns for the DA in a small town in Louisiana. After a rich, private school student named Grant dies in what appears to be a hunting accident, Kate gets sucked into a mystery of who’d done it, because the DA doesn’t seem to think it was an accident.

I really liked this book; apart from the ending which was a bit over-dramatic, everything was well paced, well written and believable. Kate as a protagonist was great, I liked the love interest, the twists that happen and in general I am excited to see what else this author comes out with.

Check, please! Year 1 and Check, please! Year 2 by Ngozi Ukazu (4 stars):

I have read Check, Please! Before, while it was still coming out as a web-comic; I got to the winter break of year 4 and then stopped. I decided to reread the series and catch up, when I saw that the collected volumes of year 1 and 2 were on goodreads. And it was great decision.

This is just such a heartwarming and entertaining series. It follows Bittie, who at the start is a freshman in Samwell College, a Canadian university which is famous for its hockey team. Despite being more of a figure skater, Bittie gets an athletic scholarship to play hockey, and the the comic follows his 4 years on the team, as well as the many adventures of school, competition, love and adulthood.

Year 1 focuses mostly on the team, and Bittie’s struggle with checking; he has a tendency to freeze and even faint as a response to contact. We also see him develop friendships with other teammates, most notably the captain Jack, who has his own host of issues and baggage, being the son of an incredibly famous and well respected hockey player who won the Stanley cup twice.

Year 2 follows Bittie’s love life, as he develops a crush on someone from the team, and all the heartbreak and joy that come from it. It also sees Shitty and Jack graduate and play their very last college hockey season.

If I have to pick, I’d say I like year 2 a bit more than year 1, mostly because it seems both me and Ukazu got a better grasp on the characters and the style of the comic. The art likewise improved immensely, especially in the facial expression department. It’s a great series and I recommend you read it; even if you don’t want to/can’t support the e-book/physical bindup of this series, it’s all available for free on the website.

Small Spaces by Katherine Arden (4 stars):

I had no intention of reading this book, but I saw it was available, and read it. It was a great decision, because this is a fast paced, entertaining horror middle-grade, with some great characters and an excellent atmosphere.

Olivia, or Olie is a 6th grader, who used to be a great student, well loved on the softball and chess team, and well liked by her classmates, but after a traumatic event, she locks in on herself, and spends most of her time alone, reading books. When she sees a woman, trying to throw a book into a creek, she steals the book, and strange and creepy things start happening as she reads; and they all seem to be connected to the book.

This was just a lot of fun. I loved the characters, I really liked the atmosphere and the horror elements; there were some genuinely creepy scenes involving scarecrows, ghosts, haunted houses and corn mazes. The main villain, the Smiling Man was also creepy and clever, even though it was pretty predictable as to who it was, and I enjoyed the way Olie beat him. I’m so glad this will be a series because I can’t wait to read the rest.

The Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke (5 stars):

The last book I read in January, and it was my favorite and the only 5 star read.

The Boneless Mercies follows Frey, the leader of a group of 4 girls and one boy who roam the land and perform mercy killings in exchange for money. After being hired to kill a sick child, Frey decides that she can’t go on with the job, and suggests that her group go and kill the Blue Vee Beast; a mysterious monster terrorizing that part of the land. On their journey, the girls encounter witches, magic and death, and Frey comes to realize that a quest for glory may cost more than she’s willing to pay.

I absolutely loved this book. It ticks all of my boxes; a group of competent and interesting female characters; a melancholic tone; a beautiful, gloomy atmosphere; a sense of a land lost to time, a world after the age of heroes has passed; explorations of death, grief, womanhood; romantic subplots. It’s a book told like an epic tale which makes sense since it’s based on Beowulf, and it doesn’t hold any punches; it’s relentless in the tone and the things the girls have to do to survive, things that haunt them even after the end. If you love these types of books, I highly, highly recommend it.

[tatithetinybooktuber]

My challenge videos for the final round of the biannual bibliothon. 😊

Challenge 1: Stuff Readers Say

Challenge 2: PrimeTime TV

Challenge 3: Recreate a Cover

Challenge 4: Music Video

Challenge 5: DIY

Challenge 6: Change a Scene

Challenge 7: Makeup

Challenge 8: Throwback

Challenge 9: Vlog

[zoematherswrites]

Happy Monday!

July is coming to a close and we are about to walk into August full swing. While July was a fantastic reading month, I am hoping August will be just as good. I doubt it will be BETTER because I am doing some traveling this month, but hopefully, still successful.

Anyways, here are some of the books I plan on reading!

City of Bones + City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

I was supposed to read City of Bones during the Reading Rush, but yeah, clearly that did not happen. However, I really want to re-read it this summer as well as the second book, City of Ashes. My goal is to read as many in the series as possible before school starts (for me, September 4th), all while still reading other books. These books just hold a special place in my heart and I like to give them a re-read every so often.

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee

Once again, this is another book I planned on reading during not only the Reading Rush, but the Biannual Bibliothon as well…again, none of this happened! I really want to finally settle down and give it a read because I have heard so many amazing things about it. Hopefully, it will be worth the hype but I have a feeling it will.

The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman

AGAIN, I had plans to read this book during the Biannual Bibliothon in July and for whatever reason, I never got to it. It is a thicker book so that is probably why, but I am in the mood for a book set in London during the Victorian era, which is exactly what this book is about. Fingers crossed I actually get it read!

Just One Day by Gayle Forman

I read this book a few years ago and I remember really enjoying it so I thought, why not pick it up again? I am starting university this fall and the book follows a girl entering her first year as well, so I think it will be really fun to read a book where I’m at the same point as the main character. She does end up going to Europe later on in the book, which I’m not sure is the best concept in a book for me to read because without a doubt, it will make me want to plan a Europe trip for the next year.

  Those are some of the main books I plan on reading during August, the last month I will get to completely focus time on reading whatever I want (which is kind of depressing). Hopefully it is as successful as I hope, but we will see! Anyways, don’t forget to check out my last blog post as well as my social media which is all linked down below. Thanks for reading 🙂

Last Blog Post: Again, But Better by Christine Riccio – Spoiler-Filled Book Review

  @zoermathers

    @zoeiswriting

August 2019 TBR Happy Monday! July is coming to a close and we are about to walk into August full swing.

[dontstopreadin]

Enjoy this list of books I want to read in the month of July that does not include: 1. the book I am currently reading, oops 2. the books I'm planning on reading for the FINAL BIBLIOTHON read-a-thon 3. the books I'm planning on reading for the Reading Rush (formerly Booktube-a-thon). ENJOY! --------------------------------------- Support my channel: ☆ SUBSCRIBE: http://www.youtube.com/c/dontstopreadin ☆ Buy me a coffee: Ko-fi.com/dontstopreadin ⊠ Amazon affiliate shop: amazon.com/shop/dontstopreadin --------------------------------------- Music Used: ✖ Birdy by KV https://ift.tt/2HQkipU Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International — CC BY 4.0 https://ift.tt/1bFo3O7 --------------------------------------- Contact me: 📚 Goodreads: https://ift.tt/2j0oFT7 📷 Instagram: https://ift.tt/2iEcGy8 🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/dontstopreadin Business inquiries & review requests: 📧: dontstopreadin@gmail.com --------------------------------------- FTC Disclaimers: ✖ Some books in this video may have been sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This will in no way affect my review or feelings toward a book. If a book was sent to me by the publisher, it will be denoted with the symbol ⋙. ✖ Links denoted with the symbol ⊠ are affiliate links. This means I will receive a small commission if you decide to purchase something using that link. by Don't Stop Readin'

[kappabooks]

July TBR | Biannual Bibliothon & Reading Rush

The Final Biannual Bibliothon AND Reading Rush? This month is going to be INTERESTING!

This is going to be a long, overly ambitious TBR involving TWO readathons, the Final Bibliothon and Reading Rush! This used to be the Bibliothon and a challenge I made myself, but then I realized I was more in the mood for mood reading (kinda), so I’m gonna do this instead.

Now let’s get to part 1, the final Biannual Bibliothon. More information can be found on their YouTube channel. It’s…

[cassiejade]

I’ve been trying to read a lot this past week since I have a mountainous tbr for July and I’m doing alright but I’m getting easily distracted by a desire to play Assassins Creed Odyssey. I think it might be one of my favorite video games ever and I just want to spend all my free time playing it. Unfortunately, that’s not a good attitude to have during a readathon.

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World Of Words. Simply answer the following questions:

What did you recently finish reading?

What are you currently reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

What did you recently finish reading?

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

I was a bit disappointed with most of the story, I did like how the story sort of poked fun at itself at one point and that saved it a bit for me but for the most part, I was a little bored.

The Falconer by Elizabeth May

Im happy that I finally got to reading this, I wish that there had more worldbuilding because 1844 steampunk Edinburgh was so much fun and I wanted more. The main plot was a little basic but I still enjoyed it none the less.

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

Memoirs of a Geisha is one of my favorite movies of all time and I was happy to read this. As I was reading I had the impression that it was a reread for me because I could remember little details that aren’t in the movie, but it had been so long since reading that it felt like reading it for the first time.

Charlottes Web by E.B. White

I had a hold on this at the library and it finally came in, I read this for one of my Goodreads Summer Challenges: rereading a favorite children’s book.

What are you currently reading?

European Travel for the Monsterous Gentlewoman by Theodora Goss

I’m really enjoying this so far, The Strange Case of the Alchemists Daughter was one of my favorite books of the year so far and I am beyond excited to get to the sequel.

Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte

I’m having a little bit of a hard time getting into this, I’m currently 30 pages in and trying to get to at least page 100 tonight, but since the Biannual Bibliothon starts tomorrow I may put this on hold until it’s over.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Red Sister by Mark Lawrence

This is going to be my next audiobook and I can’t wait to get into a Mark Lawrence story.

As for my next physical books, I can’t decide between The Thousandth Floor and Furyborn so I think I’m going to try to read the first two chapters of each one and stick with the one that pulls me in.

What are you reading this week?

WWW Wednesday 7/10 I've been trying to read a lot this past week since I have a mountainous tbr for July and I'm doing alright but I'm getting easily distracted by a desire to play Assassins Creed Odyssey.

[ladyroseofshallott]

Went to the mall looking for a desk but ended up with three new books! I finally bought myself a Korean phrase book to help with my Korean studies. I also got The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw because I first saw the cover on @emmmabooks TBR for the Summer Biannual Bibliothon and fell in love with the cover and the summary so I had to have it. And when I was about to check out I saw this novelization of the Hocus Pocus movie with a SEQUEL!!! I couldn’t resist because Hocus Pocus is one of my favorite movies of all time. Good day for book buying. #bookhaul #EssentialKorean #Koreanphrasebook #TheWickedDeep #SheaErnshaw #HocusPocus #books #bookdragon #bookworm #booklion #bookaddict #booknerd #booklover #bibliophile #reader #reading #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookblogger #bookreviewer #booklr (at Lima, Ohio)

[theperksofbeingabookfreak]

July / Summer Biannual Bibliothon Wrap Up!

July / Summer Biannual Bibliothon Wrap Up!

Hey, guys! I am super excited to talk about the books I read this month because I finally kicked this stupid reading slump that I’ve been suffering from since March. Not only that, but if you remember me talking about being around nine (going on ten) books behind schedule on my Goodreads Reading Goal, then you should know that I actually caught up and am on track, all because of the Summer…

[daniellethamasa]

Hey all, Dani here.

Wow. Seriously, I cannot believe that July is over already. This year is just flying by. Also, fun fact, today is my birthday! Yay…so I guess you all know that my August book haul is probably going to be a decent sized one, because I get a lot of books and such basically with any event where gifts are expected. Actually, at the time of this post’s release I’m probably sitting in the apartment my boyfriend and I share just reading. I took today off work so I can relax and just enjoy the day.

Anyway, July was a pretty good month of reading, so let’s just jump into the wrap up portion of this post. As per usual, I will link to my reviews where applicable. Oh, and I started my month by reading a handful of book samplers so you can check out that mini review here.

Midnight Jewel by Richelle Mead (5 stars)

Lucky in Love by Kasie West (4.5 stars)

First Watch by Dale Lucas (5 stars)

Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody (5 stars)

Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw (4.5 stars)

Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor (4.5 stars)

No Good Deed by Kara Connolly (5 stars)

Genius: The Game by Leopoldo Gout (3.5 or 4 stars…still deciding on this one)

Alex & Eliza by Melissa de la Cruz (5 stars)

No Second Chances by Kate Evangelista (5 stars)

Critical Role: Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting by Matthew Mercer (5 stars)

Sandman, Vol 6: Fables and Reflections by Neil Gaiman (5 stars)

Ms. Marvel, Vol 6: Civil War II by G. Willow Wilson (5 stars)

The Wicked + The Divine, Vol 5: Imperial Phase I by Kieron Gillen (5 stars)

Dead Poets Society by N.H. Kleinbaum (5 stars)

Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge by Paul Krueger (5 stars)

Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh (4.5 stars) – review coming soon

Sovereign by April Daniels (5 stars) – review coming soon

Whew…see, that’s a pretty hefty list of books read in one month. This high total is partly thanks to participating in two different readathons in July: the 24 Hourathon and the Biannual Bibliothon.

Moving on to my book haul portion, which I like to do in photos. Here’s where I should also toss in a photo of my July OwlCrate unboxing. And I thought I was just going to have the one photo of books (top left), but my birthday book haul arrived a couple days earlier than I expected so the photo on the right is my birthday present to myself. I have finally completed my Sandman collection and I look forward to reading it, plus my boyfriend got me to watch Scott Pilgrim vs the World the other day so now I really want to read the whole series of that as well. Oh, and since The Blood Mirror by Brent Weeks is finally out in paperback, I have the whole series and hope to maybe marathon them by the end of the year.

Finally, it’s time to introduce my August TBR list. Again, I have a pretty packed reading schedule for the month. I like knowing what all books I need to read and everything, but I kind of miss selecting books based on what I’m in the mood for. But I put myself in this position by accepting so many ARCs and e-galleys.

Then again, a few of these books are Middle Grade, which tend to be a bit faster reads for me so I may be able to squeeze in some bonus fun reads this month. We’ll see what happens. With signing up for the Make Me Read It Readathon and wanting to read a number of the books I just hauled, I’m thinking August will be a jam packed month. Speaking of that readathon, do me a favor and check out that post here and vote on what books you think I really need to read for it–because, yes, you can vote for more than one option.

That’s all for now. I’ll be back again soon with more reviews, tags, and perhaps some other random posts. If you feel like commenting below, let me know what books you read in July, or what books you’re looking forward to reading in August.

July Wrap Up and August TBR Hey all, Dani here. Wow. Seriously, I cannot believe that July is over already. This year is just flying by.