Goodbye, for now.

Hello, my dear followers, 

That’s it. I am taking a break. 

I need to step away from this blog. I need time to take care of something personal, and I can’t do it while blogging. Blogging takes pretty much a big chunk of my day, every day. And I need to focus my mental energy and time on something else. I started noticing signs of burnout in April and now, I can’t ignore them anymore. 

Reading became less enjoyable, and as much as it pains me to admit it, this blog is the cause of it. It started as a hobby but it became a competition. Reading felt more like a task, a chore and I miss reading as escapism. Reading became an unpaid and unrewarded job. 

I often felt compelled to buy books I didn’t really need or read a book I was never interested in.

During this past year, I had to reduce the amount of news I watched/read because I wasn’t coping well. Now, the UK is slowly getting back to normal life, but I am personally still struggling to call this reality “normal”, while the rest of the world is so messed up. I thought the bookish community was going to be a small oasis, where I could take a break and stop thinking about the horrible things happening, where we could support each other. From what I saw during the last months, the book community (mostly on Twitter) is becoming toxic to an extent that I can’t understand, and it is such an unhealthy environment. There is so much hate, even among us readers, and I can’t take it anymore. I keep limiting my exposure to the news, and it’s time I limit my exposure to the bookish community. 

My mental health is struggling, I need to make some changes in my life and so, I need to step away from this blog. 

I want to sincerely thank you once again for all your visits, likes, comments, follow and support. It meant a lot to me. 

I have two book tours coming up, which I will still post next month. 

I thought about many ways to continue this blog, but I can’t. I need to take care of myself now. It feels like a goodbye, but I hope I will be back one day, stronger, more creative, and happier, and I hope to see you again soon.

I wish you all the best, take care of yourself and wherever you are, stay safe. 

And be kind, always. 

ARC Review: For The Wolf – Hannah Whitten

Synopsis:

The first daughter is for the Throne.
The second daughter is for the Wolf.

For fans of Uprooted and The Bear and the Nightingale comes a dark fantasy novel about a young woman who must be sacrificed to the legendary Wolf of the Wood to save her kingdom. But not all legends are true, and the Wolf isn’t the only danger lurking in the Wilderwood.

As the only Second Daughter born in centuries, Red has one purpose-to be sacrificed to the Wolf in the Wood in the hope he’ll return the world’s captured gods.

Red is almost relieved to go. Plagued by a dangerous power she can’t control, at least she knows that in the Wilderwood, she can’t hurt those she loves. Again.

But the legends lie. The Wolf is a man, not a monster. Her magic is a calling, not a curse. And if she doesn’t learn how to use it, the monsters the gods have become will swallow the Wilderwood-and her world-whole.

Review:

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an e-copy of this book.

This book is quite complex to review. 

First of all, if you are expecting a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, this is not it. The main character’s name is Red, she wears a red hood and she is promised to the Wolf – who is not a wolf. And that’s the extent the retelling will go. I was surprised to recognise elements from The Beauty and The Beast, which, for some reason, keeps being the favourite fairy tale of all the writers and an infinite source of inspiration (screams into the wild: that’s enough!). 

Well, bummer. This was a first point deduction to this story. 

Another point deduction was the rather confusing introduction and info dump in the beginning, mixed with a super detailed description of the Wilderwood. Further down in the story, I am sorry to say, it didn’t get easier to grasp. 

Red was a very weird character, who I couldn’t relate to. In the beginning of the story she has given up and accepted her destiny as a sacrifice for the Wolf. There are a series of quite dark chapters, including the creepy ceremony where she is prepared to be sent as an offer, and I was quite intrigued by the premises. I was able to turn a blind eye on the confusing settings, and I was ready for the ride but it didn’t get better. Once she finally enters the Wilderwoods and meets the Wolf she makes it quite clear she is there to stay and she doesn’t want to go. You are supposed to understand Red’s motivation to stay based on a short account of a very traumatic experience she and her sister Neve went through. One night they get drunk and enter the Wilderwood, you are given hints that something terrible happened, other than Red getting a spiritual and magical connection with the enchanted woods. The reader is given few details of that terrible event, chapter after chapter, after chapter… and then it’s the middle of the book and you still don’t know what the heck happened and why Red is so reluctant to go back. 

I mean, you get to understand the full picture only when you are too far into the story, so it is difficult to fully get Red’s actions or stubborn behaviour. Instead, she just comes across as an immature and petulant child. And on top of that, you have a repetitive plot – so much blood spilt – and a magic system more and more puzzling. 

Another thing that made me cringe was the swearing. I have no problems with swearing in general, but an s-word here and there further prevented me from taking the dramatic tones of the story seriously – or whatever these characters were saying. 

The romance was bemusing. How the writer managed to do insta-love and slow-burn at the same time is a mystery. Anyway, it wasn’t even justifiable, because falling in love with someone just because he is broody (or because he constantly smells of coffee) is not enough for me (also he is not a wolf as promised). 

I don’t think this book should be categorised as YA but it’s not even adult, probably something in the middle. I have to admit, it was a bit of a struggle to finish it, I almost DNF’ed at 40%. The pace of the story was too repetitive, the characters not fully developed and it just didn’t work for me. It saddens to say this – sigh. This was another highly awaited release of the summer, which didn’t live up to the hype.

WWW Wednesday – 19 May 2021

Hello Fellow Readers,

I decided to trial this meme on a weekly basis, as many of you do. I thought it would be a great way for me to provide more contents on my blog and also, I wanted to join the fun. I love reading your WWW posts and I wanted to give it a try as well.

How it works:

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words, and the purpose is to share what I have been reading recently.

Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently reading:

In the Ravenous Dark – A.M. Strickland

A pansexual bloodmage reluctantly teams up with an undead spirit to start a rebellion among the living and the dead.

In Thanopolis, those gifted with magic are assigned undead spirits to guard them—and control them. Ever since Rovan’s father died trying to keep her from this fate, she’s hidden her magic. But when she accidentally reveals her powers, she’s bound to a spirit and thrust into a world of palace intrigue and deception.

Desperate to escape, Rovan finds herself falling for two people she can’t fully trust: Lydea, a beguiling, rebellious princess; and Ivrilos, the handsome spirit with the ability to control Rovan, body and soul.

Together, they uncover a secret that will destroy Thanopolis. To save them all, Rovan will have to start a rebellion in both the mortal world and the underworld, and find a way to trust the princess and spirit battling for her heart—if she doesn’t betray them first. 

Recently finished:

Dark Stars – Danielle Rollins

Dorothy finds herself completely alone.

Roman is dead. The Chronology Protection Agency wants nothing to do with her. The Black Cirkus no longer trusts her. And Ash… Ash is gone.

Dorothy has seen the evidence with her own eyes—she knows that she was the one who killed Ash. But she still has no idea how, when, or—most important—why. But the discovery of several missing pages from the Professor’s journal drives a narrow sliver of hope into her heart.

Without a ship, it should be impossible for Dorothy to travel through time. But for Ash, Dorothy will do anything to not only create the present that will protect Ash—but also to save what’s left of their ruined world.

The satisfying conclusion to Danielle Rollins’s Dark Stars series brings new meaning to the idea that “love is timeless.”

Next Read:

The Jasmine Throne – Tasha Suri

Author of Empire of Sand and Realm of Ash Tasha Suri’s The Jasmine Throne, beginning a new trilogy set in a world inspired by the history and epics of India, in which a captive princess and a maidservant in possession of forbidden magic become unlikely allies on a dark journey to save their empire from the princess’s traitor brother.

Imprisoned by her dictator brother, Malini spends her days in isolation in the Hirana: an ancient temple that was once the source of the powerful, magical deathless waters — but is now little more than a decaying ruin.

Priya is a maidservant, one among several who make the treacherous journey to the top of the Hirana every night to clean Malini’s chambers. She is happy to be an anonymous drudge, so long as it keeps anyone from guessing the dangerous secret she hides.

But when Malini accidentally bears witness to Priya’s true nature, their destinies become irrevocably tangled. One is a vengeful princess seeking to depose her brother from his throne. The other is a priestess seeking to find her family. Together, they will change the fate of an empire.

Last Saturday I read in one day the epic conclusion of the Dark Stars trilogy. I am still heartbroken and I can’t believe it’s over. Also, I will never get tired of saying, this trilogy is so underrated! I am currently reading In the Ravenous Dark, which I didn’t expect to love so much. It’s such a weird story about bloodmages and death magic, and the main character, Rovan, is just one of the craziest and coolest female character ever. Hopefully, I get to finish it today. My next read will be The Jasmine Throne, which has been in my TBR for ages!

What are you reading this week? I can’t wait to read your WWW Wednesday posts!

Review: Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite – Zoraida Córdova & Natalie C. Parker

Synopsis:

Eleven fresh vampire stories from young adult fiction’s leading voices!

In this delicious new collection, you’ll find stories about lurking vampires of social media, rebellious vampires hungry for more than just blood, eager vampires coming out―and going out for their first kill―and other bold, breathtaking, dangerous, dreamy, eerie, iconic, powerful creatures of the night.

Welcome to the evolution of the vampire―and a revolution on the page.

Vampires Never Get Old includes stories by authors both bestselling and acclaimed, including Samira Ahmed, Dhonielle Clayton, Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker, Tessa Gratton, Heidi Heilig, Julie Murphy, Mark Oshiro, Rebecca Roanhorse, Laura Ruby, Victoria “V. E.” Schwab, and Kayla Whaley.

Review:

Thank you Titan Books & NetGalley for an e-arc copy of this book.

The main reason I wanted to read this book was the fantastic array of writers who collaborated and were involved in this anthology. 

I don’t usually read a collection of stories. I knew though what I was getting into and this book was just that, short stories about vampires from different perspectives and flavours. But even if I knew these were going to be short stories, I still felt like almost every single one of them lacked sturdy conclusions or resolutions. The majority of these stories really left me dry, underwhelmed and often seeking a second chapter. 

Each story tries to focus on a specific thematic around vampires, such as how you become a vampire, the first kill, the blood lust and so on. Despite talking about one of the most fascinating creatures of the night, I can’t say those stories gave me the chills. Not that I was expecting a horror book, but they were all bland. 

My favourite story was definitely Samira Ahmed’s one – A Guidebook For The Newly Sired Desi Vampire. It was hilarious, it really made me laugh out loud. I loved how she managed to connect being a vampire with colonialism, integrating various elements of the Hindu culture. 

Another story that stands out is In Kind by Kayla Whaley, probably because it was the only story that gave me some creeps and maintained a good consistency within its nature of being a short story. 

I still appreciated the original idea behind this project, of exploring vampire stories from an OwnVoices rep’s perspective. However, if I have to provide a review of all the stories together, they generally felt inconclusive. I liked that between chapters you get an interesting discussion about a specific theme of the story and offers an open dialogue. In general, it is a fast read but some stories didn’t keep my attention.

ARC Review: These Hollow Vows – Lexi Ryan

Synopsis:

From New York Times best-selling author Lexi Ryan, Cruel Prince meets A Court of Thorns and Roses in this sexy, action-packed fantasy about a girl who is caught between two treacherous faerie courts and their dangerously seductive princes.

Brie hates the Fae and refuses to have anything to do with them, even if that means starving on the street. But when her sister is sold to the sadistic king of the Unseelie court to pay a debt, she’ll do whatever it takes to get her back—including making a deal with the king himself to steal three magical relics from the Seelie court.

Gaining unfettered access to the Seelie court is easier said than done. Brie’s only choice is to pose as a potential bride for Prince Ronan, and she soon finds herself falling for him. Unwilling to let her heart distract her, she accepts help from a band of Unseelie misfits with their own secret agenda. As Brie spends time with their mysterious leader, Finn, she struggles to resist his seductive charm.

Caught between two dangerous courts, Brie must decide who to trust with her loyalty. And with her heart.

Review:

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.

This book was a massive surprise, I really didn’t expect to love it so much.

These Hollow Vows tell you the story of Brie. Brie has no means to survive, other than stealing here and there for her and for her sister, to try to make their way out of debts. But when her sister is sold to the evil Fae of the Unseelie court, she will do everything to save her. Even if she has to pretend she wants to get married to the prince of the Seelie Fae, even if she is forced to make a deal with the evil King of the Unseelie court. Brie finds herself caught up with the politics between these two courts and working side by side with a group of rebels.  

For the first time, I found myself agreeing with the synopsis, this story is perfect for ACOTAR and The Cruel Prince fans. Dare I say, it has the potential to become ACOTAR readers’ next obsession. The only difference is that it has a few Cinderella influences and then there is a love triangle, which is exquisitely executed. The plot per se is already fast-paced and intriguing, but I have to admit, the love triangle made this book really difficult to put down because you keep wondering who Brie should trust, who is lying and who is just another Tamlin-tool. The writing is brilliant and the plot doesn’t give you a moment of break. 

Overall the story has similarities with ACOTAR, and some parts were easy to predict and I knew that person was a jerk and he couldn’t be trusted. Still, the plot never failed to surprise me. There are a lot of things happening towards the end I couldn’t see it coming at all. In a few chapters, the writer manages to put all the pieces together, make your jaw drop with all the secrets and revelations, and stab you in the back and leave you dry…  I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.

The world building and the magic system are flawless. Everything is explored and explained well enough to give the reader a clear idea of how diverse the Fae courts are compared to the human world, together with their history and relationships. On top of that, the writer created a great range of characters, fully developed, with all their backstories and complex personalities. The main character as well, Brie, is strong and determined, you root for her every step and turn. It has been a while since I last had the pleasure of following a character growth that actually makes sense, according to the events of the plot.

While it is marked as YA, I wouldn’t be too shocked if it moves into the NA genre for certain thematic of slavery and human sacrifices, the politics of the Unseelie court are dark and brutal, but also because of a specific scene in the story, which was quite “steamy”, and for what will happen to Brie in the second book. Anyway, this was absolutely perfect, haha, which is why this review is short. I am a massive fan of Sarah J. Maas and this book is worth the comparison and the hype. The last time I had such a that-was-a-great-book vibe was for ACOMAF. 

Gosh, it’s so difficult to write a review without spoilers, and I can’t wait for this book to be officially out so I can fangirl about it with the book community. 

WWW Wednesday – 12 May 2021

Hello Fellow Readers,

I decided to trial this meme on a weekly basis, as many of you do. I thought it would be a great way for me to provide more contents on my blog and also, I wanted to join the fun. I love reading your WWW posts and I wanted to give it a try as well.

How it works:

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words, and the purpose is to share what I have been reading recently.

Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently reading:

Nothing!

Recently finished:

Dark Skies (Dark Shores #2) – Danielle L. Jensen

A RUNAWAY WITH A HIDDEN PAST

Lydia is a scholar, but books are her downfall when she meddles in the plots of the most powerful man in the Celendor Empire. Her life in danger, she flees west to the far side of the Endless Seas and finds herself entangled in a foreign war where her burgeoning powers are sought by both sides.

A COMMANDER IN DISGRACE

Killian is Marked by the God of War, but his gifts fail him when the realm under the dominion of the Corrupter invades Mudamora. Disgraced, he swears his sword to the kingdom’s only hope: the crown princess. But the choice sees him caught up in a web of political intrigue that will put his oath–and his heart–to the test.

A KINGDOM UNDER SIEGE

With Mudamora falling beneath the armies of the Corrupter, Lydia and Killian strike a bargain to save those they love most–but it is a bargain with unintended and disastrous consequences. Truths are revealed, birthrights claimed, and loyalties questioned–all while a menace deadlier and more far-reaching than they realize sweeps across the world.

Readers may read either Dark Shores or Dark Skies first!

Unwanted betrothals, assassination attempts, and a battle for the crown converge in Danielle L. Jensen’s Dark Skies, a new series starter set in the universe of the YA fantasy Sarah J. Maas called everything I look for in a fantasy novel. 

Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite – Various Authors

Eleven fresh vampire stories from young adult fiction’s leading voices!

In this delicious new collection, you’ll find stories about lurking vampires of social media, rebellious vampires hungry for more than just blood, eager vampires coming out―and going out for their first kill―and other bold, breathtaking, dangerous, dreamy, eerie, iconic, powerful creatures of the night.

Welcome to the evolution of the vampire―and a revolution on the page.

Vampires Never Get Old includes stories by authors both bestselling and acclaimed, including Samira Ahmed, Dhonielle Clayton, Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker, Tessa Gratton, Heidi Heilig, Julie Murphy, Mark Oshiro, Rebecca Roanhorse, Laura Ruby, Victoria “V. E.” Schwab, and Kayla Whaley.

Next Read:

I don’t know yet… any suggestions?

I recently finished two books – Dark Skies, which I loved, and Vampires Never Get Old, which I didn’t love so much. It was a quick read and I thought it was going to take me longer to finish it, but I finished it yesterday night, and here I am stuck in limbo. I haven’t pick my next read yet and I will probably do it later after work. For now, please enjoy my short WWWWednesday.

What are you reading this week? I can’t wait to read your WWW Wednesday posts!

My April Wrap-Up

Hello Fellow Readers,

How are you? How is your life going? I hope you are doing well and you are surrounded by lots of good books.

Personal Updates:

April was tough. Haha. I think I entered the pandemic fatigue mode. Restrictions have been eased in the UK. I went out to shops, I met my friends, I took time off work but… I don’t feel like much changed. I feel exhausted all the time. Work kept me busier last month, but it still doesn’t feel right. I am pretty much a workaholic, but I am struggling to find motivation. To be honest, I am very close to abandoning my diet plans. It’s too much for me, thinking about meal prep, when both me and my hubby are busy with work and other life stuff, is not feasible for me. It’s more stress added.

So yeah… this too shall pass, right?

On a positive note…

I am fully vaccinated – YAY!

I am still fully operating on my blog – YAY!

I put myself on a book ban, as I said in my latest Book Haul & TBR Check In post. It sucks, because nothing gives me more joy than buying me a new book at the end of tough week. But I need to get through my pile of books. I also thought I need to make more “responsible” purchases and research more a book and read the reviews before just buying for the pretty cover.

And finally…

Last month I was interviewed by Bex @Bookaholic Bex, and if you haven’t already, follow her blog, it’s amazing!! I had so much fun doing the interview.

I also took part in the Kate In Waiting tour in collaboration with #TheWriteReads, and Kriti @Armed With A Book compiled this lovely spotlight of the best reviews for Becky Albertalli’s book and she included mine.

What I read last month:

• Mortal Heart – Robin LaFever (5/5 stars)
• Kate in Waiting – Becky Albertalli (5/5 stars)
• Rule of Wolves – Leigh Bardugo (2/5 stars)
• A Deal with the Elf King – Elisa Kova (3/stars)
• Bluemantle – Karen Langston (4/5 stars)
• Shadow and Bone – Leigh Bardugo (5/5 stars)
• A Sky Beyond the Storm – Sabaa Tahir (5/5 stars)
• Knight’s Ransom – Jeff Wheeler (3/5 stars)

It was a good reading month, I managed to read 8 books – and for me it’s a good amount. My favourite read of April was definitely Mortal Heart, the last book of His Fair Assassin series and I can’t wait to read the following duology. I managed to read A Sky Beyond the Storm – also well done to me for avoiding spoilers! It was *sigh* disappointing, not as much as Rule of Wolves but very close. I realised I didn’t write many reviews last month, I needed to read just for the sake of reading. I will try to write more this month.

What I watched:

Of course I watched it!! Of course I watched Shadow and Bone! and I loooooooved it! I need to find time to re-watch it. It wasn’t super perfect, but I still loved it. In the beginning, it was hard to digest how they merged the Shadow and Bone & Six of Crows stories, but the quality of every single episode was so high that I soon forgot about it. We all dream of seeing our beloved book series on screen, and this was a great adaptation so I feel we should be grateful at least we got a good one. A part of me died when they said “No mourners. No Funerals.” I think the only complaint I have is, I wanted more Nina and Matthias. As I told my husband “They are the ultimate ship” and I felt in general the media and the overall promotion process didn’t give enough credit to the actress. Nina is my favourite and I hope she will get more scenes in the next season.

What I listened to:

I am not listening to much K-pop – lately there are not many groups/songs that I am like “WOW”, and also because I feel like lately the general quality of K-pop fell. Sorry, I know you probably don’t care about my K-pop taste…. but anyway, last month’s Monogamist Reader’s OST was this old song by SHINee:

That’s it from me.

How was your last reading month?

Review: Of Beast and Beauty – Chanda Hahn

Synopsis:

Something evil this way comes.
7 Vengeful Sisters
7 Fairytale Kingdoms
7 Daughters of Eville

Everyone dreams of marrying a prince—except for me. I am nothing more than a pawn in my adoptive mother’s diabolical plot against the seven kingdoms.I was the chosen tool, her sharpened blade that would cut the deepest into the heart of the Kingdom of Baist. But like all deadly weapons, my wedding is two-edged sword that could cost me my soul.

For I am Rosalie, one of the adopted daughters of Lady Eville, and it is my duty to enter into a loveless and hate-filled marriage with the narcissistic Crown Prince of Baist. My choices and heart are not my own to give. Yet even in the thick of dire situations, beastly vengeance can give way to beautiful attraction. 

Review:

Attention, small spoiler ahead – but I will give you a warning.

Well, I guess this is my unpopular opinion #193938488… I can see that this book has high ratings on Goodreads, but I can’t share the same feelings. 

The story is not really a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, as there are very few elements from the original story. There is the curse and a beast in the story and that’s pretty much the extent this retelling goes to. Rosalie is forced to marry the Prince of Baist, Xander, by her mother who is trying to get her revenge on the seven kingdoms (what revenge, mmh, not sure). Xander was actually going to marry the love of his life, a marriage that would have brought stability to the kingdom. The marriage is cancelled on the day and he marries Rosalie instead as her mother Lady Eville makes a deal with the king. And so, Rosalie finds a very reluctant husband and a court who see her as an evil witch, and she has to endure abuse every day while trying to uncover the mystery of a terrifying beast that roams in the kingdom.

Let me say first that, unfortunately, I had a massive issue finding Rosalie relatable. She is constantly bullied and a victim of abusive behaviour. She keeps complaining about how everybody hates her and the nasty rumours about her being an evil witch, daughter of the devil and so on, but realistically she doesn’t do anything about it. I mean if you keep acting like a witch (and I didn’t mean witch), that’s what you get. All she does is keep deceiving people and throwing compelling spells whenever things don’t go her way. 

The other massive problem I had with this story is the depiction of a very unhealthy and abusive marriage between Xander and Rosalie. 

I do enjoy reading an enemies-to-lovers story but the development of this relationship was completely inexistent. It was more of an enemies-just-enemies thing.  And then in the end it was completely forced with very unexpected couple developments. The problem was that Xander acted like this massive offensive tool and a jerk to Rosalie for a big chunk of the story. There was never a hint of romance between them. —- SPOILERS STARTS HERE —- So when in the end they declared love to each other (and she was also pregnant), it just felt very wrong. —- END OF SPOILERS —- I initially thought that probably the writer didn’t intend to have a romance developed between the two main characters because nothing was happening, and I admit I thought about giving up halfway. 

Anyway, it’s not that type of marriage you want to promote. 

Overall, the plot was unnecessarily confusing, and, towards the end, too many things were happening, so I couldn’t follow what was happening. I didn’t fully understand why Rosalie was forced into this marriage and what her mother was trying to avenge. I couldn’t even understand the extent of her magic and why she seems to have all the powers in the world and at the same time be so useless to find the beast. 

It’s a massive shame because this book is part of a series where every daughter of Lady Evella will have a part in this plot of revenge, and every book will be a retelling, so I appreciate the original idea. However, because no explanation has been given in the story, I assume that you need to read all the books, so this is not really a standalone you can just pick up. This book was a flat read, with so many things dumped in the story, mostly in the last 10% of the story, for which we don’t get an explanation.

Sigh. This was one of the most disappointing retellings ever.

WWW Wednesday – 5 May 2021

Hello Fellow Readers,

I decided to trial this meme on a weekly basis, as many of you do. I thought it would be a great way for me to provide more contents on my blog and also, I wanted to join the fun. I love reading your WWW posts and I wanted to give it a try as well.

How it works:

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words, and the purpose is to share what I have been reading recently.

Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to it!

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently reading:

Dark Skies (Dark Shores #2) – Danielle L. Jensen

A RUNAWAY WITH A HIDDEN PAST

Lydia is a scholar, but books are her downfall when she meddles in the plots of the most powerful man in the Celendor Empire. Her life in danger, she flees west to the far side of the Endless Seas and finds herself entangled in a foreign war where her burgeoning powers are sought by both sides.

A COMMANDER IN DISGRACE

Killian is Marked by the God of War, but his gifts fail him when the realm under the dominion of the Corrupter invades Mudamora. Disgraced, he swears his sword to the kingdom’s only hope: the crown princess. But the choice sees him caught up in a web of political intrigue that will put his oath–and his heart–to the test.

A KINGDOM UNDER SIEGE

With Mudamora falling beneath the armies of the Corrupter, Lydia and Killian strike a bargain to save those they love most–but it is a bargain with unintended and disastrous consequences. Truths are revealed, birthrights claimed, and loyalties questioned–all while a menace deadlier and more far-reaching than they realize sweeps across the world.

Readers may read either Dark Shores or Dark Skies first!

Unwanted betrothals, assassination attempts, and a battle for the crown converge in Danielle L. Jensen’s Dark Skies, a new series starter set in the universe of the YA fantasy Sarah J. Maas called everything I look for in a fantasy novel. 

Recently finished:

Of Beast and Beauty – Chanda Hahn

Something evil this way comes.
7 Vengeful Sisters
7 Fairytale Kingdoms
7 Daughters of Eville

Everyone dreams of marrying a prince—except for me. I am nothing more than a pawn in my adoptive mother’s diabolical plot against the seven kingdoms.I was the chosen tool, her sharpened blade that would cut the deepest into the heart of the Kingdom of Baist. But like all deadly weapons, my wedding is two-edged sword that could cost me my soul.

For I am Rosalie, one of the adopted daughters of Lady Eville, and it is my duty to enter into a loveless and hate-filled marriage with the narcissistic Crown Prince of Baist. My choices and heart are not my own to give. Yet even in the thick of dire situations, beastly vengeance can give way to beautiful attraction. 

Next Read:

Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite – Various Authors

Eleven fresh vampire stories from young adult fiction’s leading voices!

In this delicious new collection, you’ll find stories about lurking vampires of social media, rebellious vampires hungry for more than just blood, eager vampires coming out―and going out for their first kill―and other bold, breathtaking, dangerous, dreamy, eerie, iconic, powerful creatures of the night.

Welcome to the evolution of the vampire―and a revolution on the page.

Vampires Never Get Old includes stories by authors both bestselling and acclaimed, including Samira Ahmed, Dhonielle Clayton, Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker, Tessa Gratton, Heidi Heilig, Julie Murphy, Mark Oshiro, Rebecca Roanhorse, Laura Ruby, Victoria “V. E.” Schwab, and Kayla Whaley.

So, I didn’t read The Bright & The Pale, haha. I followed my mood and the last book I read was Of Beast and Beauty, which was super weird, I will put my review up in the next couple of days. I finally got my copy of Dark Skies from the Dark Shores series – I still don’t know why the second book was available so late in the UK, since the third book is already out in the US. But, better late than never! My next read is Vampires Never Get Old. This is an anthology of short vampire stories that came out last year and has been on my radar ever since. I was lucky to get an e-arc via NetGalley and I can’t wait to read it!    

What are you reading this week? I can’t wait to read your WWW Wednesday posts!

Latest Book Haul & TBR Check In #1

Hello Fellow Readers,

I hope you are having a lovely weekend so far and enjoying the Spring weather.

I have taken some time off work so I had some time to finally dedicate time to personal admin stuff. I came to the conclusion it is time I put myself on a book ban. No more books, until I go through at least a half of the ones I have (I think “half” is a more realistic compromise than “all the books I got”). I think the unread pile-of-books situation I got is getting out of control. My impulse to request whatever book with a pretty cover I see on NetGalley doesn’t help. Even right now, while I am writing this piece, I am fighting an inward battle with myself to prevent me from requesting something (specifically Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim).

So, I thought, it would be helpful for me to write this post every month from now on, as a way to keep me accountable.

I have a few books on pre-order, and they are staying. Same for book subscriptions, I will still keep them.

April Book Haul

I am sorry, I pre-ordered Blessed Monsters ages ago, and I am aware of all the controversy regarding the writer. I still want to know where it will go. The second book was terrible, but I want to know how much worse it will get. Red Wolf is actually a physical arc. House of Hollow is a signed copy I bought together with the ticket for a virtual event and The Bright & The Pale came with the March FairyLoot box.

NetGalley

These are my latest NetGalley approvals. I am so excited to read all of them. I am currently reading These Hollow Vows and it’s fantastic!

TBR Check In

Titles I will delete from my TBR:

I came to the conclusion that, if I haven’t read these books during the last couple of years, it’s probably time to be honest with myself and admit I have no intention to read them in the very near future. Luckily they are in my Kindle so they don’t take much space, but still… I feel bad. Also, you can see from these titles how I used to read whatever, but then the weight of the world was too much to bare, and I chose my form of escapism: YA books.

Titles I added to my TBR:

These are the latest books I added to my TBR after being inspired by you guys and your lovely posts. I just hope I will get to read them soon, hahaha.

At the end of April my physical TBR pile of books have come to: 47 books. 😱

That’s it guys. Let the book ban start!

Share in the comment your tips. How do you keep track of your TBR? Do you check it regularly?