#i already have bardugo's 'the familiar' on the list

[noblehcart]

SO, I am putting together a summer reading list bc i got an inflatable pool and plan to hole up there all summer. So PLEASE recommend me some books to add to my Summer Reads List!!

[writers-potion]

Hi! I would like to ask if you could possibly give any tips on how to properly manage to introduce characters ?

Techniques for Character Introduction

There are many things you can consider for an impactful character introduction:

The Point of View of your novel

Whether your character is a POV character or not

The tone of your novel

What your character is like

In-Medias-Res

Immediately show the character in the middle of action.

Character(s) come into the scene running, fighting, laughing - whatever it is.

Good for leaving an impression

Could be an in-medias-res hook in the very opening of your novel, to introduce the main character.

Choose an action that "defines" the character. Perhaps it's something they do repeatedly (going to the gym at 5am every morning) or that shows a key part of their personality (digging through a large pile of laundry because they cannot keep their room clean)

Dialogue - Voice First

The character makes a voice entrance before we "see" them physically appear.

It helps the readers define the relationship between the character being introduced and the character that we've been following.

From Dan Brown's <Digital Fortress>:

"David?" "It's Strathmore," the voice replied. Susan slumped. "Oh," She was unable to hide her disappointment. "Good afternoon, Commander." "Hoping for a younger man?" The voice chuckled. "No, sir," Susan said.

In these few lines, we already know (1) Strathmore is Susan's boss, (2) quite high-ranking in some military/governmental/secret agency (commander??) (3) is male (4) has a sense of humor (5) seems to be quite friendly with his employees, etc.

By using phone conversations, you can also show how the POV/main character truly feels about the character on the phone - there's no need to make appearances. Perhaps they frown, or attempt to throw their phone on the wall in frustration while the other talks.

Via Another Character

This is where characters in the story talk about the characters even before they are introduced.

Often used with villains/characters with popularity in the story world.

Example: "You've heard of Joe, of course."/ "I'm sorry, who?" /"The president of Book Club? Red hair, freckles?"

Simple Intro with direct characterization

Sometimes, just writing a brief description about the character can be effective, especially if you have some backstory that really, really need to be there before the readers start following the character.

Here's a passage from Leigh Bardugo's <The Familiar>:

"Dona Valentina had been raised by two cold, distracted parents who felt little towards her beyond a vague sense of disappointment in her tepid beauty and the unlikelihood that she would make a good match. She hadn't. Don Marius Ordono possessed a dwindling fortune..."

The key here: provide interesting detail. There's no fun in saying, "Dona Valentina wasn't too pretty, so she had to marry Don Marius Ordono with little wealth." An image of a girl neglected by her parents and bartered for wealth is much more captivating.

Slow & Mysterious Setup

This one is harder to execute than the others on this list, but when done properly, it can produce a beautiful effect where the readers know who you're talking about without you ever having to name them.

An excellent example of this is how Marcus Zusak introduces Death (with capital D, who's the narrator of the story):

"I could introduce myself properly, but it's not really necessary. You will know me well enough and soon enough, depending on a diverse range of variables."

"Your soul will be in my arms." "I will carry you gently away."

Death continues to talk about his "job" like the above until it becomes enough for the reader to catch on.

Drop enough hints for your readers to recognize the character

Works best with an archetypal character - devil, vampire, demon, angels...some figure with distinct features that even when described mysteriously, will be noticeable.

Showing Attitude - For POV characters

Present a peculiar line of thought or show some attitude that makes the character immediately interesting.

This works wonderfully with POV characters - by giving the reader a crucial piece of the POV character's mindset to set the overall tone of the novel.

From Rick Riordan's <Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief>:

"Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood. If you're reading this because you think you might be one, my advise is: close this book right now."

Percy (the POV character) goes on a bit like this before we get his name, etc. in the subsequent section.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* . ───

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💎Before you ask, check out my masterpost part 1 and part 2 

[allylikethecat]

my dear ally!!!!

friday’s ATKH update was so so wonderful & on a friday was equally as heartbreaking / exciting i must talk about it!!!!!

okay i am LIVING for hot & cocky fictional!george & his ability to make our sweet fictional!matty blush it is so cute and so fun lmao

the flowers???!! he brought him flowers??!!! and he was all flustered omg i could cry

also the Pop cameo??! super cute. I know absolutely nothing about horses but i love reading this fic so much bc your love and passion for horses comes through so beautifully especially with fictional!george and fictional!matty and it just makes the fic that much more genuine and enjoyable.

this chapter was so so adorable & i LOVE this insight into super cool fictional!george i just hope he keeps his romeo act up and doesn’t emotionally destroy our fictional!matty too much.

now i must dissect on a friday because OH MY GOD. I was so excited for this update it did NOT disappoint

the way you depict fictional!mattys discomfort and pain is so heartbreaking but so so good

the way this man only wants fictional!george like HELLO DUH he is the only one for you and we must make this happen!!

no but the way this genre is something i have avoided for many years & somehow i am so fully invested in this fic & this dynamic it is insane ally u are a genius and i am beyond obsessed

and fictional!george to the rescue!!!!!! i fear things r about to really kick off and i am very very excited.

you, my wonderful ally are a literary genius and you write gatty fic like no other & i thank u terribly for ur service.

also! to make this ask even more of an essay — I saw ur book discussion and just wanted to say i LOVE leigh bardugo & the ninth house/hell bent were so good - i haven’t got to the familiar yet but if you say its good i’ll have to bump it up my tbr list!!!

yours,

- 💌

AHH Hello My Dear Letter Anon! I hope you are well! I am about to write you an essay in return so buckle up!

I'm so happy that you enjoyed the new chapter of All the King's Horses! Writing a strictly happy / fluffy chapter was a new thing for me and I'm so glad you enjoyed it! The calm before the storm lol ATKH Fictional!George knows he is hot shit and has the advantage right now- plus making Fictional!Matty blush is so much fun! He's so cute all pink. Listen, no one has ever brought Fictional!Matty flowers before it was very unexpected and a lot for him to process lol Pop tried so hard to become the main character in this chapter lol I cut so much that was basically just him being cute, I was like sir this is not your story 😂 All I can say is... even if Fictional!George were to cause some hurt Fictional!Matty is tough, he's made it through worse already and unfortunately almost expects it at this point, things are starting to feel too good to be true to him at the moment...

YAY! Thank you so much for reading the new chapter of On a Friday as well! I know that ~things~ have happened and the ball is now ROLLING! Thank you so much I feel like that is the biggest compliment omg I am so happy that you're enjoying my writing style and the pain that Fictional!Matty is feeling, he wants Fictional!George SO MUCH and is so conflicted over this fact. Also thank you SO MUCH for giving it a chance, especially if it's not something that you usually read oh my gosh, I am even more honored that you're enjoying it! Hehe yes Fictional!George is on his way...

AHHH YES NINTH HOUSE FANS RISE UP I had the worst book hangover after I finished Hell Bent I was like WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE THIRD ONE ISNT OUT YET. I literally lay in bed at thinking about those books and I finished them in January lol SO GOOD Alex is like my current favorite book MC she is so fucked up and flawed but also so strong and badass? I love her and her gentleman demon. I'm about 100 pages into The Familiar so far- I'm doing a buddy read with my cousin which is fun! So far I think I am enjoying it, I'm not usually a huge Historical Fiction person but the fantasy aspect of it is interesting and I like Leigh Bardugo- I will report back once I have read more!

Thank you SO MUCH for sending me this wonderful multipart ask! I smiled so wide when I saw it! Also thank you so much for like reading my fics in the first place? You are incredible and I am so grateful! I hope your Tuesday was spectacular and that you have a wonderful rest of your week!

❤️Ally

[meltotheany]

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018! hello, friends! this month i realized that i have not done a top ten tuesday since january 2021! yes, 2021 lmao! i truly didn’t think it had been that long! so i went on the prompt page and saw that this week was a freebie week, where you can pick any past prompt, and i thought that that was pretty perfect for me, because i had been craving to do a little spring tbr anyways! 🌸🐰 🌷 ARCS TO READ ☆ An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson – february 13th ⤷ this sapphic dark academia is on this list, because i still have not read it. truly, i was so excited for it, but then early reviews kind of made me apprehensive, and now i’m two months behind with reviewing it! so hopefully i get to this one very soon! ☆ The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields – may 14th ⤷ i mean, just look at this cover! this is sapphic witches and then add in a cottage, in the woods, on a tiny isle… and that is really all i need to hear, ever. ☆ The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark – august 6th ⤷ okay, i know this has a summer date, but i already have an arc and there is no way i am going to be able to wait until the summer! necromancers, assassins, and a vow our mc isn’t supposed to remember, but does. i just know i am going to love this one. 🌼 SPRING RELEASES ☆ Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez – april 2nd ⤷ after falling so head over heels in love with Part of Your World last year, now i just want to read everything by abby! i think this one is about two people who think after they break up with someone, that ex will find their true love, so they come together and try to date each other… so that they can break up and find their trues. but something tells me, it’s not going to work out that way lol. ☆ The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo – april 9th ⤷ as you are reading this post, i will be reading this book! all i really know is that this is about immortality and desire with a fairytale historical backdrop and i am so ready to crack open this book immediately! ☆ Wild Love by Elsie Silver – april 9th ⤷ country 2023, and now country 2024 – i can’t believe! but truly no one does small town like elsie silver, and this start of a new spin off series follows the brother of willa (my fave character in chestnut springs) so i am really predicting to love this one. ☆ The Brides of High Hill (The Singing Hills Cycle, #5) by Nghi Vo – may 7th ⤷ cleric chih and their stories are some of my favorites of all time. each one always feels so different, but the storytelling always feels like coming back home and i cannot wait for this sixth installment. 🌻 BACKLIST BOOKS ☆ The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton ⤷ i’ve actually never read anything but this author before, but this murder mystery, set on an isolated island in a dystopian world where everyone has lost their memories, and only have a little over 100 hours to figure out who did it, sounded so good that i actually preordered a signed special edition. ☆ ASAP by Axie Oh ⤷ i really adored xoxo when i read it a couple years ago and i have a feeling i am going to adore this one just as much, if not more. this is a kpop romance, where we follow another character that we meet in book one! ☆ Heartless Hunter (Crimson Moth, #1) by Kristen Ciccarelli ⤷ this one recently landed on my radar, because so many of my friends started raving about it. all i really know is that it is about a witch and a witch hunter, but truly the way everyone is five starring this just has me so curious that i know i need to pick it up this spring you know, it was actually harder than i thought to narrow it down to only ten, but i am truly so excited for all of these books! and it really felt really happy to do a top ten tuesday again, after so much time has passed without my realizing! and if you’re wondering why Funny Story by Emily Henry isn’t on this list, it is because i alread...

[jmtorres]

re all these recs-- I'm going thru them significantly for my own record-keeping. THANK YOU to everyone who made suggestions & if I marked yours "I already own it" please know that just means we share great taste

@mindyfromohio NK Jemisin, The City We Became (I own it), The World We Make (wishlisted on libro.fm)

@ravingrevolution: Martha Wells, the Murderbot Diaries series, yes I own all of these

@lnich: Inherit the Stars by James P Hogan --ooh, good call, there's some classic sf Audible carries (but hasn't stamped as audible original) that can't be found elsewhere. I already have the three of this series that have been recorded but this reminds me to check other classic sf authors like Pamela Sargent

@shhdontlook Bloody Summer by Carmen Maria Machado--ooh, it's in a short story collection called "Trespass" that features a lot of authors I like!

@steampotter tell me what you mean by "new" Discworld? I haven't read any, but I've been slowly collecting Pratchett titles whenever they're on sale on Libro.fm. ( @mosylu is this what you're referring to? it would appear that three of the 12 Pratchett I've picked up this way have Bill Nighy listed as an narrator.)( @shamelesslymkp also. can one of you tell me how I identify "new" Discworld? What year did they start rerecording?). i'm not familiar with Rob J Hayes, I have dropped Along the Razor's Edge into my cart to try him out. Leech by Hiron Ennes looks like it might be a bit much for me right now, but I have wishlisted it for later. (I already own Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi, Murderbot, Andy Weir's The Martian, and The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty)

@adventures-in-mangaland ooh, snagging Trevor Noah's Born A Crime. I think I've got enough recs in my chosen genres that I'm gonna skip Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid and What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo but those were very interesting recs, thank you. I already own the Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, and its sequel. Are you recommending Bleak Expectations the BBC Radio 4 series or Bleak Expectations the novel? they both list Mark Evans as the author so I suppose they're two different adaptations of the same? I have heard Cabin pressure on YouTube back in the early days of Sherlock.

@mari13606 yes I have Murderbot lol. i'm gonna need an author for Touchstone, that's a fairly common title, and I didn't find any audiobooks for Stained Glass Monsters.

@ladyegwene I think I own most of the expanse books though I'm trying to figure out how far I've gotten in the series, maybe three books in? I also nabbed Hugh Howie's silo books after the TV adaptation.

@renninflight I'm up on Katherine Addison and Martha Wells, but I apparently can't keep up with Leigh Bardugo's output so I've added the Familiar to my libro.fm wish list

@katofrafters Lindsay Ellis is already on my Libro.fm wishlist. I own Mira Grant's Newsflesh, Rolling in the Deep and Parasitology series, but let me just snag everything else. I've got Murderbot and Tamsyn Muir and Leigh Bardugo already, and the Expanse books. Let me look into this Stephen Graham Jones.

@drverstehen1 I have the Theodora Goss, Junkyard Cats, Hench, Son of Trickster, Dread Nation, Andrea Vernon and the very long title (which I didn't recognize, but is in fact in my library, it's narrated by Bahni Turpin and I tend to grab all her stuff). "Orconomics" sounds like either I would enjoy it very much or it would drive me crazy (I'm an accountant) so I'm marking that series down as a maybe. I don't know Drew Hayes or Secondhand Curses, I'll add that to my cart.

@katemonkeyville I feel like I know the name Barbara Hambley is she – ah, she wrote a couple of Star Wars books. The sci-fi nerd is strong in this one. OK, I'll give Benjamin January a try.

@arrows-for-pens I've got the Queen thief, the whole series went on sale when the last one came out, I've got Alexandra Rowland. (I follow her on the tumblrs lol). Garth Nix is on my wish list (they're just cheap enough. It's not worth using credits on). I don't know Rae Carson, I'll check her out. These Broken Stars is actually on Libro.fm as well. thank you for warning me about the sequel, I am usually quite a completionist.

@gaymergirl @bisexualbaker I own the first of Effie Calvin's books. I think I'll pick up a couple more, they seem to be an unmarked audible exclusive.

@bisexualbaker i not only own, but recently listened to When the angels left the old country! <3 And I've got Andy Weir too. and to my surprise How to Defeat the Demon King--I think Audible must have featured it for a couple of bucks at some point. I'll give Beware of Chicken a try, sounds wild.

@shamelesslymkp Second Hand Curses by Drew Hayes added, Sean Maguire have, Patricia C Wrede have (childhood fave), How to Defeat the Demon King have, Scalzi have, Andy Weir have. Murderbot have, Locked Tomb have, Mira Grant have, can you point me at a title for the villains code series? Drew Hayes has a lot of series. Naomi Novik, have, hadn't heard of Tess Sharpe wishlisting those.

@athenadark I have RF Kuang and Djeli P Clarke. Fall of the Gaslit Empire does not appear to have an audiobook version, do you recommend Rod Duncan's other books? there is so much Tad Williams that I am daunted by where to start, can you tell me a specific title?

(I don't know why everyone's names wouldn't link. Sorry if I fucked up your spelling.)

apparently Audible credits expire after a year?

so I have 21 to spend this month (and I'm considering reducing next year's subscription)

Please recommend me books to buy on Audible!

preferably: scifi/fantasy or like interesting histories (nonfiction), "audible original" aka not available elsewhere

(feel free to reblog)

[oliviermiraarmstrongs]

mid-year book freak out tag

thank you @bloody-wonder for giving me an excuse to share my book thoughts!

1. Best Book You’ve Read So Far in 2021?

It’s gotta be The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood; I hear “feminist period novel about mentally ill woman unable to cope in upper-class society” and I am THERE! It’s like [Stefon voice] This book has EVERYTHING: repressed women, a decaying old house, a complex relationship of two sisters, a pulpy sci-fi story-within-a-story-within-a-story, criticism of capitalism and reactionary attitudes and politics, commentary on how conservative society shuns those it perceives to be “other” and a threat to the social order (poor people, socialists, “unconventional” women). It is EXTREMELY my shit.

2. Best Sequel You’ve Read So Far in 2021?

The only one I've read is Siege and Storm, so Siege and Storm! Shadow and Bone was captivating, if a little simplistic, but the sequel really fleshes out the characters, setting, and themes. It’s great to see Alina take a more active role, and I love the exploration of sainthood. 

3. New Release You Haven’t Read Yet, But Want To?

I’m really curious about Michelle Zauner’s memoir Crying in H Mart. Same with Axiom’s End, which I haven’t really been seeking out, but it’s been resting on my list since I like a lot of Lindsay Ellis’ stuff.

4. Most Anticipated Release For Second Half of 2021?

5. Biggest Disappointment?

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood. I’ve been getting into Atwood, and I have a soft spot for female-centric retellings of myths, so this was on my list for a long time. It’s not bad; it’s decent as a character study and offers some good perspective on the hanged slave women from The Odyssey, but overall it came off as...bitter? And not in a good way. It’s reasonable to include commentary on how bad things were for women in ancient times, but after a while I’m just like “But there had to be a time when Penelope was happy, right?” But the biggest failing has to be the treatment of Helen. Why a story focused on bringing literary justice to silenced women also characterizes Helen of Troy as a manipulative, arrogant bitch who single-handedly ignited the Trojan War because she enjoys fucking people over, I’ll never know. Ironic that in the opening chapter, Penelope bemoans being used as a yardstick with which to judge other women, and then the book proceeds to do exactly that with her and Helen. Can’t let Penelope have a positive relationship with another woman! There could be some form of unreliable narrator at play, but there’s not much indication that that’s the case here. Even Homer had a more nuanced portrayal of Helen than this!

6. Biggest Surprise?

I suppose The Red Tent. I picked it up at a Goodwill because of my aforementioned interest in female-centric retellings. It’s not amazing, but I wasn’t really expecting it to emotionally affect me like it did. You spend so much time setting up Dinah’s family and this supportive community of woman within a patriarchal society, only to have Dinah abandon it all after getting betrayed by her father and (most of) her brothers. Hearing about how her family fell apart after she left and she never got to see her mothers again really gets to me. The book has flaws for sure - neither of Dinah’s romances are developed very well, and some of its themes can come off as gender essentialist - but I think it’s a nice exploration of female labor and traditions that too often get ignored.

7. Favorite New Author?

The only relatively new author I’ve been reading is Leigh Bardugo, soooooo... honestly I don’t know what I can say that hasn’t already been said, I got into the series pretty late. Great world-building, witty dialogue, a familiar type of story with enough interesting ideas to make it feel fresh. Check out Shadow and Bone if you get the chance. Sound of the summer.

8. Newest Fictional Crush?

You would think it would be Nikolai Lantsov since I just finished reading Siege and Storm and he seems to be the fan favorite... but nah, not yet. He’s fun, but he doesn’t hit me in that way (Though very sexy of him to just casually proposition Alina and Mal for a royal polycule, a la Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot; would love an AU where they accept his offer). However, I would let Zoya murder me. Every time Zoya is not in a scene I am asking “Where’s Zoya?” Also shout out to Alina, just because I would treat her better than all the men in her life! 

9. Newest Favorite Character?

Gonna try to do this without spoiling too much, but Laura Chase in The Blind Assassin really resonated with me. Her personality reminds me a lot of myself, especially as an an autistic person, like the way she has her own way of thinking that makes perfect sense to her, but makes other people see her as odd and naive. I love how she’s set up in-universe as this Sylvia Plath-esque tragic heroine, with Iris spending the rest of the book interrogating and deconstructing, and in a way, reconstructing this image of her. Atwood you’re insane for this. I forgive you for the Helen thing now.

10. Book That Made You Cry?

I never got as far as crying, but the part in The Goldfinch where [spoilers incoming] the art heist goes wrong and Theo is alone in the hotel room and he’s spiraling and considering suicide and finally dreams of his mom… all that was too much for me and I had to put the book down for the night. This guy just can’t catch a fucking break.

11. Book That Made You Happy?

fucidjdjdj I didn’t read any happy books this year. Shadow and Bone and Siege and Storm because I read them really fast unlike my usual months-long reading schedule.

12. Favorite Book Adaptation You Saw?

Predictably, Shadow and Bone. I basically bought and read the book less than a week before the show came out because I thought it looked interesting and wanted in on the hype (mostly because Jessie is cute 🥰). Honestly, the show improves a lot on the first book; the multiple storylines make it more dynamic and complex, the actors really help to make the characters feel more fleshed out, and Alina and Inej interacted for like three scenes, introducing an unexpected but thematically rich ship.

13. Favorite Review You’ve Written This Year?

14. Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought So Far This Year?

I impulse-bought this book of Romantic poetry at Barnes and Noble just because it was pretty and I had a gift card

15. What Books Do You Need To Read By The End Of The Year?

Besides finishing The Grisha Trilogy/Six of Crows duology/Zoya’s duology that I forgot the name of….I don’t know. I’m not a reader that plans in advance. I acquire books, finish whatever I’m currently reading, look through my stacks deciding what to read next, spend an hour doing so because I can’t decide if I’m in the mood for any of them, and either force myself to read one or buy/borrow a new one.

I’m tagging @betweenironyandsilver, @illuminaticns, @borispavlikovskys, @chdarling, @sctine, @mightyaubs, @excuseforadrink, and @trckstergods, if you wanna! Or anyone who wants to yell about books.

[peachcitt]

Hi! You've mentioned on Discord that you read a lot of books, and I was wondering if you could rec some? Either your favourites, or ones that had a big impact on you/your writing 🥺

yes!!! all my favorite books generally affect my writing style, and often after ive finished reading a really good book, i'll write something and end up emulating that book's style (either on accident or on purpose haha). sometimes on my ao3 you'll find in my author's notes me saying what book i just finished, and if you read or know those books, you'll probably see me mimicking certain aspects of style

for other reccommendations/more in depth descriptions of book plots, i also have a reading list that i posted this past winter on my writing blog that you can check out, and im planning on posting another one at the end of the summer!! (in fact ive already started the list lmao)

the list will be structured as follows: book or series name, author, and a couple reasons why i like it. in addition to this, i will put stars by author's names if i have read other books by them and greatly enjoyed them.

without further ado:

The Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo*

this has got to be my favorite series of all time. i love bardugo's capability to write complex characters and complicated plots, and i really like the way she structures her books. the series is just so artfully done and when i finished it i was so perfectly satisfied and so perfectly sad because i mourned the fact that it was over

I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak*

literally my favorite book. this is the book i tell people is my favorite if anyone asks. i love zusak's casual humor alongside his ability to write such heartbreaking and heavy moments in just little scraps of images. it's a romantic book without being about romance - it's about love and kindness and how powerful those things can be be, and that shit gets me every time. i have reread this book so many times - yearly since i got it, i think, and i got in middle school, i think. im in college now. and every time i reread it, i get something different out of it

The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness*

i think about these books constantly. these were the first books i read by patrick ness, and, now that ive read some of his other books, i know in classic patrick ness fashion, these books haunt me. patrick ness has this uncanny ability to take genres you think you know and twist and warp them until you're on the edge of your seat trying to figure out what will happen next without the safety net of genre supporting the story. in addition to that, his characters are always wonderfully flawed - he puts real people into fantastical situations, and it's fascinating and always an emotional and satisfying read

The Alex Crow by Andrew Smith*

dude i think about the alex crow so much. i said i normally call i am in the messenger my favorite book, but every so often i'll say this one is because i just love it so much. the alex crow is just so bafflingly weird but the teenage boy main characters are so real and gross and hilarious. andrew smith has the amazing knack for writing weird as hell plot lines and telling stories that are about everything, all at once, while still making it about one thing. that doesn't make sense, but if you read the alex crow (or his other book i've read called Grasshopper Jungle that is actually on my summer list) then you will know what i mean. the alex crow is so many things, and i love all of them

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson*

i used to read a lot of ya romance and, to be honest, the stuff i used to read was not all great, but this book absolutely changed the game and probably made me raise my standards exponentially. the timeline of this book is so creative, and it's done in such a way that it leaves you wondering how the timelines will reconcile. in addition to this, both romances in the book are so interesting and loveable, and the relationship between the two main characters (who are twins) is an amazing thing to see unfold. this is a peak ya romance book, and i can't recommend it enough

Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven*

another ya romance, and i have to say the romance in this book is so beautifully done. generally, this is just a really sweet book that gave me butterflies, to be quite honest. i think niven has a really good knack for writing characters that are diverse and a little strange but all have their own distinct personalities that mingle really interestingly with each other.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe By Benjamin Alire Sáenz

this one is an obvious choice, and for good reason. aristotle and dante is just a classic queer novel, and it's earned its place as such. it's a poetic sort of book, and i love the voices of the characters, as well as the pictures of the world we get through ari's voice. this is a visual book written in text - i think a lot about the steady, careful romance of the book and the way sáenz makes ari an unreliable narrator by artfully excluding his feelings from scene descriptions and dialogue tags. it's such a creative and heartbreaking technique that i often find myself wanting to do

The Leviathan Trilogy by Scott Westerfeld

oooohh this trilogy changed me. for starters its such a weird, creative concept - alternate history steampunk and biopunk world war I. like doesn't that sound so interesting?? and this trilogy's main characters are so easy to love - and watching their relationship unfold and develop is so endearing. also, my copies include these wonderful illustrations (which i think might be in all copies?) that really let you put images to the weird fantastical things westerfeld included into the world.

The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

this book was actually on my winter book list, and i read it so fast and so obsessively because i wanted so badly to know what was going to happen. the plot absolutely pulled me in, and the first line - "I forgot everything between footsteps" - stuck with me because just look at the way that's written!! it's so artful and intriguing, i was just dying to know what would happen next. the timeline is this amazing maze that as i read i couldn't help but admire how long or how much turton had to plan in order to make everything line up in just the right way. it was a fascinating book with so much to say - im really looking forward to reading it again

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

this book was also on my winter book list, and it just absolutely enraptured me. its witty, quiet sort of voice was amazing to read, and the imagery instilled into every scene made it seem like everything was so real, just right there for me to touch or smell or taste. the plot of a secret huge magic library really roped me in, and i think this is a love story for people who read, people who love stories, people who love the magic of a library.

Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero*

cantero's works are just so creatively written - not just by plot or character standards, but by style standards, too. meddling kids is great not just for its complex, loveable characters or for its fantastical, dark, and mysterious plot, but also for the weird and intriguing liberties cantero makes with style. in his other books, too, is the switch between snarkily written prose to stage directions to video or audio transcripts, and it makes for such a visual sort of book - i mean, i could easily see any of cantero's books being made into a film or series because all the material is right there. cantero's creativity with style is so intriguing to me, and because of him, i've become more familiar with playing around in style in an attempt to create something as interesting as his novels

and that's all i'll put down here now!

i mentioned it a little, but probably my biggest style references are leigh bardugo, markus zusak, edgar cantero, and andrew smith for various reasons that i am more than willing to talk more in depth about if anyone is wondering<3

thank you for asking im always willing to talk books :')

[mum-hen]

Rule of Wolves Review (spoilers ahead!!!)

I’ve been let down by series finales in the past, but this book did not disappoint! I genuinely love this book. It’s definitely up there with Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom for me. Also, I should say that I cried at least 6 times while reading this book. Sad tears, of course, but also happy tears towards the end!

First off, plot. There was a lot going on in this book in terms of plot - you had things going on in Ravka, Fjerda, Shu Han, and Kerch - but it didn’t feel overwhelming. Each plot line was interconnected and I didn’t feel like they took away from one another. I really enjoyed each character’s point of view, and I feel like each was necessary to the story.

Segueing into worldbuilding, Bardugo just continued to expand the wonderful world of the Grishaverse. It was especially interesting to see more of Shu Han, which hasn’t been a major focus up until now. It was also cool that Fjerdan culture was expanded on more with the marriage rituals and intricacies of the throne. Travelling to Kerch was like returning home, and even though I was reading from the point of view of an outsider, I fell into the familiar streets and characters right away. And of course, we all know and love Ravka, our perpetually drowning man. 

Next, characters. I have gushed about Bardugo’s characterization in the past and I will shamelessly continue to do so. Nikolai continues to be incredibly charming, and I loved seeing his journey of acceptance - of himself, his (literal) demons, and his feelings. Zoya’s character arc throughout this series is probably my favorite character development ever. She starts out as the confident, ruthless Zoya we already know and love, but we get the sense that she’s a somewhat unreliable narrator when it comes to her own feelings. By the end of this book, she is still confident, ruthless Zoya, but she is unafraid to love and let herself be loved. I almost can’t describe it - it was so powerful to witness her grow into such an amazing leader. Because of this book, she is now on my list of my favorite characters of all time (right up there with my girl Inej).

I know not everybody is going to like the ending, but I thought it was just perfect. I have no complaints. Zoya becoming queen made perfect sense - we’d been building up to this since the first book, and she’s grown as a leader so much since then. Nikolai giving her the throne also made perfect sense because it was never about the throne for him - he just wanted what was best for Ravka, and what Ravka needed was a wonderful, Grisha, Suli dragon queen. I’m so happy they’re finally free to love each other and got the fairytale ending they deserved! Nina and Hanne were also super cute, and I’m so glad Hanne finally feels comfortable in their own body. Just like with Crooked Kingdom, this doesn’t feel like an ending. Instead, it feels like their story is just beginning.

[malyen0retsev]

So since I’m basically out of work for now I might as well make some use of it... could ya give a girl some book recs?? I’m literally so bored all day I will devour a trilogy in that time rn

You and me both pal, I’m literally in quarantine with suspected symptoms AIN’T IT FUN. So yes, of course! Burying myself in books as it is

His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust - Philip Pullman(Recommend reading HDM first, or if you start with BOD then only read La Belle Sauvage before reading HDM) Set in an alternate reality Oxford - and then further afield - where everybody has a familiar which is representative of their soul in the shape of an animal. Focussed around the character of Lyra and the way in which she is tied dramatically into the events of the world around her... easy to follow, good fantasy

The Shadowhunter Chronicles - Cassandra ClareLook, if you haven’t heard of this series you must be napping under a rock honestly... but an urban fantasy saga about a race of peoples called Shadowhunters who protect the earth from demons. Three completed series exist already - The Infernal Devices, The Mortal Instruments, and The Dark Artifices (and I’d recommend reading them in that order tbh, with the short story bindups The Bane Chronicles and Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy between TMI and TDA). Recently released was also the short story bindup Ghosts of the Shadow Market, and the two books The Red Scrolls of Magic and Chain of Gold, which I’d recommend reading in that order post TDA. It’s a wonderfully magic, genuinely hilarious series filled with unforgettable and wonderful characters. 

Gone Series - Michael GrantIs post apocalyptic what we want right now?? Idk... but this remains one of my favourite series of all time. A world where all adults suddenly vanish for -reasons- you slowly uncover... and kids start developing superpowers... with adults gone and all tiers of power broken down, what happens? CHAOS THAT’S WHAT. I basically ate these books whole so so fast. One thing I would say - they’re followed by the Monster trilogy, a follow on trilogy. Wouldn’t recommend. You don’t need it. You only need the original 6 books.

Grishaverse - Leigh BardugoThis series became my full blown obsession last year; another fantasy series, set in a world where some people are born with special magical abilities, known as Grisha. The Grisha Trilogy follows the typical chosen one path with Alina Starkov; the Six of Crows Duology chronologically follows it and remarks upon events from the trilogy, but is with a whole different set of characters and is sort of like a high fantasy Oceans 8 Heist; the King of Scars Duology focused around two of the Grisha Trilogy characters and one of the SoC squad. These are also mad addictive books, incredibly original (and I’d recommend reading them in the order I listed them)

The Nevernight Chronicle - Jay Kristoff16-year-old Mia Corvere is seeking revenge for her murdered family, so seeks the Red Church - a school of Assassins. That’s the set up. Add in a ton more excellent writing, political intrigue, fierce characters, animal familiars in the form of shadows, and legit good LGBTQ+ rep, and that’s this series for you.

The Priory of the Orange Tree - Samantha ShannonIn some ways a retelling of the mythological folk tale of St George and the Dragon; seeks inspiration from both Western and Eastern mythological representations of dragons... where dragons are monsters in one side of the world, and allies in another. This is a story which throws you in the deep end immediately and just sort of expects you to grab hold, but hang in there. The initial hundred pages are a mindfuck, and then it is impossible to put down.

Throne of Glass series - Sarah J MaasA world of humans and fae, magic and mortal; stories filled with assassins, swords, political intrigue, alliances, heartbreak, love, pirates, adventure, and dragons. Look, people shit on Sarah J Maas and some of that is totally valid but I won’t apologise for how invested I am in these books. And I really really need to finish this series and now I have the time to YAY

The Poppy War and The Dragon Republic - R F KuangInspired by real Chinese history, this series (final book in the trilogy publishing this year, so this is the perfect time to binge these ready for that) is a military high fantasy inspired by events in China, Japan, and Taiwan, and underpinned by both Chinese history and mythology. Also opium. And gods (quote Rebecca Kuang) dropping acid. These books have you practically ripping the pages to get to the next bit they’re so well written and did I mention the author is 23

Books I’m reading at the moment/getting to ASAP while in quarantine so can’t say what they’re about but just a taste anyway: The Mistborn Trilogy - Brandon SandersonNinth House - Leigh BardugoThe Farseer Trilogy - Robin HobbRed Rising Trilogy - Pierce BrownA Discovery of Witches Trilogy - Deborah HarknessThe Dark Vault - V E SchwabPlus continuing my re-read of The Shadowhunter Chronicles because I am trash for that series always

HOPE THAT HELPED ANON

[thebestoftimes]

50 QUESTION BOOK TAG FOR WORLD BOOK DAY

By me, Jess. I made this for world book day but then got depressed and didn’t post it on time lmao but here ya go kids be warned though it’s a long one. Also the numbers thing got fucked up and I couldn’t fix it.  I got a lot of these questions from other tags I’ve seen and google so if something sounds familiar... that’s why.

Who or what sparked your love of literature?

Aw my parents fueled my book habit when I was a kid and took me to the bookstore all the time and since then all my teachers have always encouraged me and made me love books even more than I thought possible.

Do you have an ‘odd��� book habit? (page sniffing/never leaving the house with a book)

It’s true that I never go anywhere without a book. I got one in my backpack or purse or reading on my phone but it’s always there.

Do you have a book that you think has changed your life? How?

A lot of books and series have made significant impacts on my life (like I can’t picture elementary school without Percy Jackson being in my life) but like as a person I can’t think of any one book that has changed who I am. It’s been a team effort.

Which book have you reread most frequently?

I think I reread Hush Hush every year lmao idk why

You can meet any author and ask one question. What author would you chose and what question would you ask?

I’d want to meet Shakespeare and ask him if all his characters really were just that gay or if we’re all reading too much into it.

Best book published this year so far?

It’s only March but The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

Imagine you’ve started a book and don’t like it. Do you see the experience through to the bitter end, or are you able to talk away from it mid story?

I used to always finish what I started but now that I’m in college and have a mountain of a TBR I’ll just stop.

What book is top of your wish list/TBR pile?

Uhh A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos  is on top rn

Favourite place to read?

My bed. Boring but a classic.

If you buy books, do you lend them out? Ever had a bad experience?

Of course. No all my friends respect my stuff and return them promptly.

What fictional character do you ship yourself with?

So many but I think Gansey and I from The Raven Cycle would make the best couple.

Weirdest thing you’ve used as a bookmark

I use whatever near me so I might have done something weirder but lately I’ve been using tissues because I have a tissue box by my bed and never real bookmarks. But I’ve used graded homework, a toy car, a crayon, earbuds, etc.

Favorite quality/qualities in a protagonist and antagonist

Wow this is s hard okay for protag I am a sucker for like stubborn, smartass with a martyr complex. Sad but true. Antags I love a good morally grey character or anti-villain. Tragic backstory but smart as hell. The worst (the best). Characters like the Darkling from The Grisha Trilogy, and Warner from the first Shatter Me book (I know he’s a good guy NOW but back then we all thought he was a sadistic and sexy villain).

Favorite genre and favorite book from that genre.

YA Urban Fantasy babyyy and that’d be City of Bones by Cassandra Clare or Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare:)

  Best/worst movie adaptation in your eyes

Best: Harry Potter and The Hunger Games | Worst: Percy Jackson

Do you prefer reading your own books, or library books?

My own.

How do you choose your next book to read?

Literally whatever I’m feeling like at the moment.

Your favorite word.

I love many words but I have a soft spot for “lively” and “lilt”.

Book that got you hooked on reading/how you got hooked.

I’ve always been obsessed with reading but The Peter and the Starcatchers Series was like my shift from nicotine to heroine.

Opinion on dog-earing, margin writing, ect.

I only write in the margins of books I have to read for class/textbooks. And that’s for studying and active reading purposes. For any other situation: no.

Top 5 immediate to read in no order

A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

The Wicker King by K. Ancrum

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E Schwab

Most underrated book you’ve read

Definitely The Foxhole Court/ All for the Game series. Fairly small fanbase for some of THE most amazing books I’ve ever read. And the memes will have you in stitches.

What is the first book that catches your eye when you look at your bookshelf?

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell because of the exceedingly bright cover/spine haha

How do you arrange your books on your shelves?

LOL I do not have a system at all. I keep series and authors together and that’s it. Everything is placed where there is room.

You have the power to change a book’s ending. Which ending would you change and what would you make happen instead?

I’d change the end to Allegiant and SPOILERS SPOILERS not make Tris fucking die over her shitty ass brother. I know why she did it but like Veronica girl wyd with that. And I’d want the entirety of Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins to be rewritten into a book that just focused on the domestic life of Finnick and Annie and no one dies.

Favourite book cover?

This is SO HARD. Either The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin or Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Which book from your childhood has had the most impact on you?

My entire personality was shaped by the Maxmimum Ride series by James Patterson. For better and worse.

When reading, what do you value most: writing style, characters, plot, world building, pacing, etc?

Characters. I think all of those things are essential and as I read more and more, the pickier I get, but I find myself leaning towards being a fan of a book when I become obsessed with the characters. Like hey!! New friends!!! For my brain!!!

Do you prefer buying books or borrowing them from a library/friend?

Buying them even though I shouldn’t. It’s a real problem.

What books/sequels that are being published this year are you most excited for?

SO MANY OH MY GOD

Okay some of these already came out because it’s March right now but I’ll include them anyways.

SEQUELS/ SPIN-OFFS AND SHIT

The Wicked King by Holly Black; King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo; Dream by Natalia Jaster; Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare; The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare; Capturing the Devil by Kerri Maniscalco, Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater; Defy Me by Tahereh Mafi; The Shaw Confessions #3 by Michelle Hodkin

FIRST BOOKS

The Binding by Bridget Collins; Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan; The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi; A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer; Romanov by Nadine Brandes; The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen; The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh

Which fictional character would you want as a sidekick?

Percy Jackson because he’s my firstborn son and one of my favourite characters of all time. He is talented, smart, hilarious, an amazing friend, and the sweetest of boys (when he isn’t the sassiest of boys).

How many books have you read so far this year?

Only 15 I am so behind :(

What’s been your favourite read so far this year?

Oh man. Gotta be Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo :)

You’re stuck on an island with a suitcase big enough to hold five books. What books are they?

I probably shouldn’t cheat and say How to Build a Boat huh

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

The King’s Men by Nora Sakovic

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

If you had to go out to dinner with any character who would it be and why? What would you talk about?

Will Herondale and we’d talk about books

Is there a book you have such a hatred for that you would throw it off of the highest tower knowing that the last copy of it will be destroyed so that not another living soul can read it or would you rather keep it and give it to someone else who might actually enjoy it?

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne or After by Anna Todd

Do you believe books make nice decoration?

I mean. I think they should be read before used as decor but I love showing off my books so I guess both. But I don’t believe in buying books for the purpose of decoration instead of reference or reading lol

Do you listen to music when you read? Or do you need complete silence? 

I need silence or low amount of white noise. I used to read and listen to Taylor Swift when I was a kid but I can’t do it anymore.

Do you have a favorite book? If not are you in the group that believes there are too many great books out there to just choose one?

I tell people it’s City of Bones by Cassandra Clare but in all honesty no I don’t have a favourite.

Do you sleep with books under your pillow.

Nope

Do you go to the library or do you have a book buying addiction or are you one of those lucky people who is able to do both?

I do both. Mostly bookstore though.

Own any book inspired clothing?

Yes. Several items :)

Have you ever read a book in another language?

I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Tristan and Isolde, and Beauty and the Beast in French. And parts of Les Mis.

Strangest book you’ve ever read?

John Dies at the End by David Wong. Still not sure exactly what was going on. 

Favourite type of non-fiction?

Memoirs babey

Favourite non-fiction?

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Favourite subject to read about?

History

Favourite book you’ve read in school?

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Favourite work of Shakespeare?

Hamlet

Character you’d love as a mom or dad or guardian?

Hmm Sally Jackson, The Women of 300 Fox Way, or Tessa and Will (they totally count because The Last Hours Series)

I tag literally whoever wants to do this and @fangirl-daydreamer97 @acleeds12 @iviisastrawberry @221bdoom @bicycles-bees-bisexuals @betterthanapit @dippindots126 @vlctorvale

[analeoftwocities]

Book Read: Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo @lbardugo

Beer Paired: Bound By Time, Enchantment Under the Sea, and Viridi Rex by Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company 

What We Love Abut the Book 

This trilogy was has been waiting on my TBR list for a long time. It’s the type of series that is right up my alley, and sometimes those books sit on my shelf the longest. I say that because, especially Leigh Bardugo’s books are so highly praised that I’m afraid they won’t live up to my expectations. So, by sitting on my shelf they can stay highly praised and highly anticipated. (I learned this when I read the Hunger Games Series and was thoroughly disappointed…sorry!)

But, I bit the bullet. I couldn’t let The Grisha Trilogy stare at me from my shelf any longer. So, down the rabbit hole I jumped, and I was not disappointed. I really enjoy these books. I won’t say they are my favorite series or even that they are flawless, but I did love being able to jump into a world and follow it through all three books.

There is something so wonderful about a fantasy series that opens a new world to you and engulfs you in it. I love when I am able to binge read a series and totally immerse myself in the world and atmosphere of the book. And, that is exactly what happened in The Grisha Trilogy. It was a lovely escape into an awesome world. It was not a perfect series. The plot has holes, the characters are interesting but somewhat predictable, and the story itself is very troupe-like in the fantasy genre. However, even with all this Leigh Bardugo has created one of those marvelous universes that wraps you up like a cozy blanket on a cold day.

I don’t think these books stand among the fantasy greats like Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, Lord of the Rings, and the Shades of Magic Trilogy , but it is only a step down from those. Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising are great reads. The series is easy to read, engaging, unique, and thoughtful. Although they may not the best, The Grisha Trilogy is totally worth the read. Not every book should sit amongst the greats, because then, what makes them great? But, this trilogy by Leigh Bardugo has certainly earned its place on our shelf!

Quick side note: I wasn’t aware before that Bardugo’s other books (Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom, and Language of Thorns) are connected or continue in the same world! Any many readers speak highest of the Six of Crows duology, so I am now super excited to continue reading within the Grishaverse.

Anyway, what I loved the most about these books was the setting. Leigh Bardugo has taken the familiar fantasy story and set it in a world inspired by 1800 Tsarist Russian instead of the usual medieval (or really anytime) Western Europe. This was so refreshing and interesting. I’ll admit I LOVE, I repeat, I LOVE Russian folklore and fairytales. Anything based in that world, immediately has my heart. But, Bardugo was also able to make it her own, and use the 1800 Russia to inform her world, her story, and her characters. I though she was so successful and effective! This aspect of the trilogy was glorious.

Another aspect of the books that I thought was really interesting were the conflicts that Bardugo wrote in. Of course, there’s the usual love triangle story, the story of the ordinary becoming extraordinary, there are quests and fellowships, but there is also class and race conflicts, and even religion plays a role in this book. Bardugo is able to layer many dynamic aspects into the plot, which only makes her books more interesting. On the other hand, I didn’t find her characters to be so dynamic. Most were pretty average, and although relatable, not super interesting. However a few did stand out – Nikolai (Bardugo is writing a book about him as well – King of Scars) and Baghra. Both of these characters felt dynamic and unique beyond the normal.

Like I said before, I really enjoyed this series. It was everything I want in a fantasy series – an amazing world, an interesting, fantastic story, and characters that are easy to fall in love with. And, for those of you not so fond of fantasy, don’t fret! This is not a series about dragons and elves and elves and magic spells (although there is nothing wrong with that). It is a political fantasy about power and social division, about good intentions gone wrong, and what it means to do the right thing. It is the story a meek, overlooked girl, who finds within herself the power to change her war-torn world, for the good or the bad. If you haven’t already read this, check it out! The Grisha Trilogy is an easy-to-read, enjoyable romp in a marvelous fantasy world. Enjoy!

What We Love About the Beer 

Okay, first of all, these beers by Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company are awesome. We have been saving them for a long time, looking for the perfect book to pair each of them with, and when we read Leigh Bardugo’s trilogy Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising, was the perfect opportunity. They fit so perfectly because both are out-of-this world, inventive, a worth a try.

The art alone on these beer works perfectly with The Grisha Trilogy. The artwork on these cans is something straight out of a fairytale with a little something sinister, just like within the Girshaverse. The art evokes Alina, the main character of the series, and her struggle with her new place in the world. Her whole life changes and she must come to understand a new relationship with time and power. It also connects to the quests she goes on to master her power. She ventures into frozen forests, onto a cursed ocean, and a waterfall made of fire. And finally, the artwork used in Viridi Rex reminds us of the dark, evil creatures called Volcra that live with in The Fold, and were created by an immoral mutation of science and magic.

Beyond their outward image, these beers were also an awesome pair for the books based on the beer itself. Bound By Time is Edmund’s Oast’s take on a classic IPA, and it is an absolute success. It is full to the brim with awesome, fruity, hop-flavor. Just like Shadow and Bone, this beer is an awesome start. Enchantment Under the Sea is another awesome IPA, but it takes it to another level. It has an amazing mango and pineapple flavor, and a nice creamy, lactose texture. Although it has a delicious complexity, it also has a great light feel. It’s a totally special, and will hopelessly hook you, just like Siege and Storm. Finally, Viridi Rex, like Ruin and Rising, was so good; I had to go out get another one. It is a great dry hopped double IPA that brings a refreshing warmness to your soul. It is well balanced, has tons of lacing, and the perfect mouth-feel for this style. The coloration is an amazing deep gold (like Alina’s kefta?!) with vibrant papaya and orange. This beer is so good, you can’t have just one!

These beers prove that South Carolina and Edmund’s Oast Brewing Company know what they are doing, just like Leigh Bardugo! These three beers and this Trilogy are awesome. They are the reason we love beer and books. They are enjoyable, thoughtful, masterful, and so darn good! No, neither are the next holy grail of books or beer, but boy are they worth a try! So, check them out! We certainly will keep reading Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse books, and can’t wait to try more Edmund’s Oast beers… once we can get our hands on them, or even better, visit the brewery! Enjoy!

THANKS AS ALWAYS FOR STOPPING BY, FELLOW BOOKWORM AND BEER LOVER! THIS WAS A SUPER FUN PAIRING FOR US TO WRITE, DID YOU ENJOY IT? HAVE YOU READ ANY OF LEIGH BARDUGO’S BOOK’S? DRANK ANY OF EDMUND’S OAST BREWING COMPANY’S BEERS? WANT TO TRY THIS PARING? WE CAN’T WAIT TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK! REMEMBER TO SUBSCRIBE HERE, AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM, TUMBLR, AND FACEBOOK! HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!                        

                           CHEERS, ALEXANDRA & CHRIS

[haleylebaron]

Save this post for your next read! My to-be-read pile is already a mile long, so obviously I went to Barnes and Noble today and got five new books. I’m still working my way through the Throne of Glass series at the moment, but these are some of the ones that are waiting once I finish that series. They’re all of the sci-fi/fantasy genre, obviously. 🪐The Rush’s Edge by Ginger Smith 🦴The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco 🪵The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert 🪄A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab 🧙🏻‍♀️The Near Witch by VE Schwab 🦅Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo 🕊Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin ❄️A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos (I actually have this one in French, so I’ll have to be super ambitious to read it) 🕰Chain of Gold by Cassandra Clare 🕹Ready Player One by Ernest Cline 🩸From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout 🗝The Ten Thousands Doors of January by Alice E. Harrow 🌳Uprooted by Naomi Novik 🐈‍⬛The Familiars by Stacey Halls 👑Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake 🔪The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton Any books on this list that are particular faves of yours? Or any you think missed? #midsizemagic #fantasybooks #fantasybookseries #fantasybookstagram #fantasybooklover #academiaaesthetic #darkacademia #darkacademiaaesthetic #darkacademiafashion #darkacademiastyle #youngadultfantasy #fantasyphotography (at Barnes & Noble) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRZ74atA40t/?utm_medium=tumblr

[asreadbydana]

January 2018

The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney ★ 2

This book was okay. The plot fell a bit flat for me and I didn't really like any of the characters. My main problem was that it was a very slow read and since the plot and characters didn't interest me much it was more of a chore to read than an enjoyment. I have since unhauled it.

Firelight by Sophie Jordan ★ 2.5

This book was fun. It's a story about a girl who can turn into a dragon. Cool premise right? Well it is also about a girl in high school who meets a boy, so you can guess how the story went. Overall, I enjoyed reading this, but it was definitely predictable. I'm still unsure if I'll continue on with the trilogy, but if I do I'll pick up the sequel at the library.

The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo ★ 5

I loved this! The stories were a fun, yet dark take on familiar fairy tales. I loved that I couldn't predict where each story was going to go. The best part of this book is definitely the illustrations. Each story has an accompanying illustration that starts off on the first page of the story and steadily grows with each page of the story until the final image at the end of the tale. I loved reading the stories and seeing what had been added to the illustration after every page.

Renegades by Marissa Meyer ★ 4.5

Marissa Meyer did not disappoint. This book was one of my most anticipated releases of last year and I'm so glad I finally got around to reading it. This book is about superheroes, although not your typical superheroes. The main character, Nova, is actually a member of the "villians" in this world. I loved learning about the world and seeing the distinctions characters made between good and bad. I also appreciated that there wasn't a huge focus on the romance subplot. This was a great first book and I can't wait for the sequel!

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke ★ 4.5 (🎧 audiobook) ✽

A book about a book, I loved Inkheart just as much the second time around. I first read this book back in 6th grade when my teacher lent it to me (he was reading it at the time) because there weren't any books in his classroom library I was interested in (Add that to the list of reasons why he was my favorite elementary school teacher.) This book is about a man and his daughter who have the ability to read characters and things out of stories. It is also a book about loving books and as a reader I found great comfort in the passages discussing how the stories we read affect us. My goal this year is to finally finish this trilogy and with one book down I can't wait to start the next one!

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas ★ 5

This book was originally supposed to be a novella, but I'm so happy it got fleshed out into a full novel. While Sarah J. Maas has her faults, her stories are still very enjoyable for me. In this one we follow Chaol attempting to fulfill the task that Aelin set out for him. I loved seeing how Chaol delt with being away from his friends and coping with his new disability. The new characters we meet were also wonderful and I can't wait to see how they interact with the rest of the gang. I was already anxiously awaiting the next book after the end of Empire of Storms and thanks to this book, I. NEED. BOOK. 7. NOW.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black ★ 4

Full disclaimer: I picked this book up because of all the hype surrounding it. While I enjoyed it, I don't think it is as great as every one as been claiming. I love Fae stories and I had previously read Holly Black's Tithe trilogy, but I wasn't the biggest fan of it. I'm happy to say I liked this fairy story much better. There was a good balance between the magical and cruel qualities of fairies and I thought the politics were interesting. However, even with the intense first scene I found the beginning to be a bit slow. It definitely picks up towards the middle and by the end I was much more invested in both the story and the characters. I'm excited to see where the next book goes.

✽ = reread

[lovedbooksnmore]

LGBT+ Recommendations | 100 Days of Booklr Day 44

It’s pride this month! So of course I wanted to give some recommendations for books with lgbt+ characters. I know there are loads more books with lgbt+ characters in them, but these are the books I have read and finished. I know there are a few series that I have yet to finish (like The Raven Cycle and All for the Game) which reveal that characters are lgbt+, but since I haven’t read up to when that happens I’m not going to recommend them. But as soon as I do I will gladly add them to the list! Here are my recommendations for lgbt+ reads, in no particular order!

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller: This book is amazing. It tells the life of Achilles (you know the ancient demigod???) through the eyes of Patroclus, his best friend and his true love. It’s such a great story because you get the story you’re already familiar with from The Iliad, but this story humanizes them. We see that Achilles is a lover, not a fighter, and has a sense of humor. And we get to see this beautiful romance between Patroclus and Achilles that is so sweet and pure. If you haven’t read this book yet, please check it out! It’s one of my favorites and I can’t recommend it enough. 

The Color Purple by Alice Walker: This book is a modern classic, and for good reason, because it is a great read. This book shows what life was like for African-American women during the 1930s and how difficult life was for those women back then. During the story the main character, Celie, also begins a relationship with a woman. It’s been a few years since I’ve read this book, and I’ll probably pick it up again soon, but I remember how much I loved Celie as a character. This story has a way of sticking with you, no matter how much time has passed since you last read it. This book is an amazng read but it does feature some triggering stuff like rape and domestic violence, so don’t pick this book up if you are uncomfortable with reading that.

Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli: This is my most recent read and I loved it so much! I can’t believe it took me so long to read this book! The main character, Simon, is gay, but not out yet. He starts talking with this guy from his school who is also gay online (he doesn’t know his name or anything, he knows him as Blue) One day Simon forgets to log of his school email and someone reads the emails and starts blackmailing Simon. This was such a great read. I loved Simon as a character and it was such fin trying to figure out who Blue was. And Simon and Blue might be the cutest couple I’ve read about in a long time. Every time they talked and when they finally met face to face I was smiling so much because they were so damn cute! If you are looking for a cute lighthearted read definitely pick up Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda!

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli: So this is the only book on this list where the main character isn’t lgbt+ but I felt like I should add this to the list. Molly, who is the main character, has a lesbian sister who is dating a pansexual girl, and both Molly and her sister are donor babies because their moms are lesbians who have been together for 20+ years. Also the best part of the story, in my opinion, is that it takes place right after the Supreme Court made same sex marriage legal so her mom’s are getting married to celebrate! I know I probably wasn’t meant to love Molly’s mom’s romance than Molly’s but I couldn’t help it. Seeing two women in a loving relationship and raising kids is something you never get to see in YA books. Don’t get me wrong Molly has a great story too but her mom’s are the highlight for me. Pick up the book at least for them!

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire: This is a fantasy story about a house for kids to come back to once they have gone to places like Narnia or Wonderland. It has such an interesting premise. Also the main character identifies as asexual and one of the side characters is a trans boy. As someone who is ace it was great to see an ace character, since it’s really hard to find any in not just YA but any books. And I’ve heard the second book has more representation for other sexualities. I can’t remember at the moment what the other sexualities are, but I think it might be bisexuality. So definitely check out this series for the representation! It definitely helps that it has a cool concept too.

Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo: Six of Crows is one of my favorite book series, and part of that is because of how diverse it’s characters are. And it’s a heist story where all of the main characters are thugs and gangsters. It’s great. There are PoC characters and four of the seven main characters are confirmed to be not straight: Jesper, Nina, Wylan, and Kuwei. It’s an action packed story with amazing characters that you end up loving, even if they’re morally gray. If you haven’t read Six of Crows WHAT ARE YOU DOING GO PICK IT UP!

The Love Interest by Cale Deitrich: This is another recent read that I found myself loving. The Love Interest follows these two spies who are competing to get this girl to fall in love with them, because whoever loses ends up dying. Kind of boring sounding right? NOPE! PLOT TWIST the guys end up falling in love with each other! It pretty much turns those boring overused YA tropes on their heads. It made me think of those tumblr posts where they say something like “make it gay you cowards!” because it did just that. And there were spies so it’s extra cool.

So those are some of the lgbt+ reads that I’ve read! I have plans to read loads more this Pride and if you have any suggestions for books please send them my way! I’m always looking for more lgbt+ reads!

[sahibookworm]

Hello my dear friends.. !!! You are probably surprised to see this post today because I never blog over the weekend. But today is my birthday, so I just wanted to say hi to everyone and thank you all for being such an amazing and important part of my life, particularly for the past couple of years. I saw this post first on Steff’s blog @ Little Book Nook and thought it would be a good one to do on this special day of my life. Don’t forget to checkout their blog for more fun bookish content. And now let’s get started with this post.

1. What was the last book you read?

It’s just the first week of the New Year and I was already overthinking what to read. So, I decided to pick up my go to escapist read, The Warsaw Protocol by Steve Berry.

2. Was it a good one?

It definitely was a lot of fun and I just love the familiarity of reading about characters whom I’ve known for so long.

3. What made it good?

The same factors that have made me continue with this series for almost a decade – lots of history, descriptions of beautiful places across the globe which I would love to visit, and some thrilling action and adventure.

4. Would you recommend it to other people?

I definitely would, especially when anyone needs a little pick me up or to readers who love books like Da Vinci Code and movies like National Treasure.

5. How often do you read?

I try to read pretty much everyday because it’s such an important part of my life.

6. Do you like to read?

Is this question valid???

7. What was the last bad book you read?

I really wanted to like Blitzed but I just couldn’t.

8. What made you dislike it?

I had too many expectations because the main character Brynne was a favorite from the previous books. The book had a lot going for it but some of the actions of Brynne felt very unlike her and downright awful, and the conflict at the end so unreasonable that it just soured my whole experience.

9. Do you wish to be a writer?

I mean, I think I want to be but I’m not sure I can. I’m not a very creative person, so I don’t think writing my own stories is gonna be my thing. But I love blogging about books.

10. Has any book ever influenced you greatly?

I did a whole post last year about books that have impacted me over the years and the first one that I always talk about is the Mahabharata. I have read many versions of the epic and I can still find something to learn from it.

11. Do you read fan-fiction?

I haven’t read much recently but there was a long period of time in 2018 when I was pretty obsessed with fanfics. And I still like them, I guess I just don’t have the time.

12. Do you write fan-fiction?

Nah.. As I said, I’m not a very creative person.

13. What is your favourite book?

Ain’t that the toughest question you can ask any reader..!!! But one of my last year’s absolute favorites is Red, White and Royal Blue.

14. What is your least favourite book?

This is actually even more tougher to answer, because why would I want to remember books I hated. So, I’ll pass.

15. Do you prefer physical books or reading on a device (like Kindle)?

Kindle, any time. I’ve gotten used to reading ebooks on devices and now I find it actually tough to read physical copies.

16. When did you learn to read?

I don’t know, must have been 3 or 4.

17. What is your favourite book you had to read in school?

I didn’t have a lot of assigned reading in school but one my favorites was a Sherlock Holmes short story, The Speckled Band which started my obsession with him.

18. What is your favourite book series?

Throne of Glass… Always !!!!!

19. Who is your favourite author?

Wow there are so many..!!!! Rin Chupeco, Nisha Sharma, Sandhya Menon, Leigh Bardugo, SJM, Robert Jackson Bennett etc etc.

20. What is your favourite genre?

Fantasy… duh!!!!

21. Who is your favourite character from a series?

Credit: Phantom Rin

Again… it’s obviously Aelin. I don’t know why I love her so much, I just do.

22. Has a book ever transported you somewhere else?

I have really felt transported by the Grisha trilogy, particularly Ravka is written very vividly and makes me wanna go there.

23. Which book do you wish had a sequel?

From my last year’s reads, it has to be Descendant of the Crane. I can’t believe there might not be a sequel.

24. Which book do you wish DIDN’T have a sequel?

I’m not exactly sure because I usually love getting more books with the same characters. But I definitely wish Cursed Child wasn’t canon.

25. How long does it take you to read a book?

If the book is good, just a day. If anything goes beyond 2-3 days, then I’m either gonna hate it or DNF it.

26. Do you like when books become movies?

I’m very bad at visualizing what I read, so I love movie adaptations. They just need to be good.

27. Which book was ruined by its movie adaptation?

Allegiant maybe. I loved that series (till that dreadful ending) but the movie was so dull and boring.

28. Which movie has done the book justice?

Lord of the Rings… !!!! I know hardcore book fans might not think so, but I adore the movies.

29. Do you read newspapers?

In childhood yes. Now I get my news from twitter.

30. Do you read magazines?

I might turn the pages of a magazine if I’m in a bookstore but I’m not that much into them. Sometimes, I might buy an Indian one if it has my favorite celebs on the cover or any special interviews.

31. Do you prefer newspapers or magazines?

None.

32. Do you read while in bed?

I actually put on an audiobook and go to sleep while listening to it. It has become a daily ritual now.

33. Do you read while on the toilet?

Well I usually have my phone or iPad with me, so sometimes yes.

34. Do you read while in the car?

I don’t know how to drive and I have a tendency to panic even when I’m a passenger, so reading while in the car is very good for curbing my anxiety.

35. Do you read while in the bath?

Nah.. not my thing.

36. Are you a fast reader?

Yup.

37. Are you a slow reader?

Nope.

38. Where is your favourite place to read?

My couch.

39. Is it hard for you to concentrate when you read?

I don’t think so. I put on tv or music while reading and I can concentrate just fine.

40. Do you need a room to be silent when you read?

No way. I’m not good with silences.

41. Who gave you your love for reading?

My parents were apparently avid readers before I was born and my name literally means “Literature”, so I always say I was destined to be a reader. And books were always what I got as gifts right from when I was around 6 years old, so I think it would be my parents who gave me my love for reading.

42. What book is next on your list to read?

I have no idea. Maybe Trick Mirror or Of Curses and Kisses.

43. When did you start to read chapter books?

I don’t think chapter books were really a thing in my childhood.

44. Who is your favourite children’s author?

Enid Blyton.

45. Which author would you most want to interview?

I met Nisha Sharma once during the Baltimore Book Festival and had a lovely chat with her, but I would love to do a more indepth interview with her for my blog.

46. Which author do you think you would be friends with?

I would love to be friends with Leigh Bardugo and Sandhya Menon.

47. What book have you reread the most?

Review: QoS

Throne of Glass, Queen of Shadows, Crooked Kingdom and Red, White and Royal Blue.

48. Which books do you consider ‘classics’?

I don’t think I like the label classic. It sounds a bit pretentious.

49. Which books do you think should be taught in every school?

Among the books I read last year, I would choose Kindred, How to Hide and Empire,  Between the World and Me, and Good Talk.

50. Which books should be banned from all schools?

I don’t think banning books serves any purpose, other than driving up the interest for them. But maybe we can tell students about the problematic content in certain books and then let them decide if they still want to read them.

I hope you got to know me a little better today through this post and liked reading my answers…!!! If you wanna know something else about me, feel free to ask me in the comments below 🙂

50 Bookish Questions Hello my dear friends.. !!! You are probably surprised to see this post today because I never blog over the weekend.

[madmaxxieslibrary-blog]

Hi Maxxie, these are some of my favorite books and series! Kiesha'ra series by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones Necrotech series by K C Alexander Kushiel's Legacy series by Jacqueline Carey Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger Newsflesh trilogy by Mira Grant InCryptid series by Seanan McGuire Gentlemen Bastards series by Scott Lynch Shades of Magic trilogy by V E Schwab And undoubtedly tons of others I'm forgettinga

Hi!!!! Oh man what a list! Haha. I haven’t heard of most of these, but Six of Crows and Shades of Magic are on my tbr list, along with Parasol Protectorate. I read Howl’s Moving Castle forever ago and I remember liking it and that it was super different from the movie, but that’s about it. So I’ll definitely have to check that one out again! 

YAAAAAAAAAS GENTLEMEN BASTARDS. I NEED TO FINISH THAT SERIES, THE FIRST BOOK WAS SOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOD IT BROKE MY HEART A THOUSAND TIMES OVER. 

Update: I just looked up the ones I wasn’t familiar with on Goodreads and they all sound really interesting, especially Necrotech!!!! If you haven’t read it already, I think you’d really enjoy The Naming by Alison Croggon! I wrote a review of it if you’re interested!

Send me your favourite book!