Books I Read in February

Here is my really late update on all the books I read in February. I unintentionally stepped away from my blog for over a month, but I really want to reawaken my love for blogging. So here's hoping that talking about books will spark my interests...

99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne - This book follows Darcy as she teams up with her longtime crush, Tom, to renovate her grandmother's home. I have been looking forward to this book ever since I devoured The Hating Game (which I read twice in the span of 48 hours). Unfortunately I couldn't get into the plot or connect with the characters, overall this was just an average read for me.

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson - This book centers around Isobel, an artist, who paints portraits of faeries. The autumn prince, Rook, takes her away to stand trial, after she paints him with a mortal flaw, revealing his weakness. This was a reread for me, and unfortunately this was a book that didn't age well the second time around. I still really enjoyed the writing style and the world building, but I wish the romance had more development.

Bloom by Kevin Panetta and Savannah Ganucheau - This graphic novel follows Ari and Hector as they meet at the bakery Ari's family owns. I really enjoyed this graphic novel, it's a heartfelt story about a struggling business, two boys falling in love and discovering themselves. I also loved the art style and felt the characters and the storyline developed well.

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard - This is the first book in the Witchlands series, and this installment focuses on Safi, a truthwitch in hiding because her magic is a coveted ability. My goal was to reread the entire Witchlands series in February before jumping into the latest installment, Bloodwitch. So obviously I failed at that, but I enjoyed this book the second time around, I especially loved the friendships and the world building in this series.

Tea Dragon Society by Katie O'Neill - This graphic novel follows Greta as she becomes entwined in the care of tea dragons (think tiny dragons that all have personalities relating to different types of teas). This was such a cute and quick graphic novel that I absolutely became enchanted in. The art style is beautiful and the concept of tea dragons is so unique and adorable.

The Austere Academy by Lemony Snicket - This is the fifth installment in A Series of Unfortunate Events. Over two years ago, I reread the first four books in the series in anticipation of the Netflix series, and since the show is now complete I want to return to my reread of this series. I really like this installment in the series, it was really nice to see an environment where the Baudelaire's could make friends, and I like that this installment starts to set up an arc for the rest of the series.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - This book is set in a future where people's whole lives have turned to virtual reality. This is a book that I have been meaning to read for years, after hearing nothing but good things about. I really liked the world that the author created and the various nods to the 80s, but this book didn't live up to all of the praise. I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style and I really liked Art3mis, but I didn't like that her character is viewed entirely through the male gaze and I wish that she had been given a chance to shine on her own.

And those are all the books I read in February. Since the month is winding down I'll be sharing the books I read this month within the next couple of days and I hope to finish at least one more book before the month is up. - Jessica

Books I Read in January

I started the year off really well and read 9 books and one short story. Here's what I read and some of my thoughts and opinions on them...

This Cruel Design by Emily Sudeva - This is the second book in the This Mortal Coil trilogy, which is a Sci-Fi series surrounding genetic coding. I don't read a lot of Sci-Fi, but this series makes me want to change that. Sudeva's series is complex and thought provoking. I really enjoyed this installment, and I like how the story has developed and I've formed a deeper attachment to the characters.

The Cruel Prince, The Lost Sisters, and The Wicked King by Holly Black - These are the first two books in The Folk of Air Trilogy, which is set in a faerie world from the perspective of a human girl. The Cruel Prince was my second favorite book I read last year, there are so many twists and turns and I became extremely invested in the characters. I've been itching for a reread since the end of last year, but I held off until the beginning of the year, so that I could reread it closer to the release date of the second book. I also read The Lost Sisters for the first time, which is a short story that was published in October, that is supposed to be read between the first and second book. I was really disappointed with The Lost Sisters as I feel it didn't add much to the plot between the two books. I feel that it functioned more as supplementary material to keep readers engaged before the publication of the second book rather than anything else. Finally all those pages led up to The Wicked King, which was spectacular. Holly Black took all the creative world building and tension from the first book and turned it up. I need the third book to come out already.

If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio - This book follows seven college theater majors after one of them mysteriously is found dead. This book was recommended to me because of my love for Vicious, and I noticed a few similarities in the way the stories are told, but the plots are completely different. I really enjoyed this book, I listened to the audio and I like how it brought the Shakespeare sequences to life.

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black - This book is set in a human town that has strong Faerie attachments and follows the twins, Hazel and Ben, after a Faerie in a glass coffin escapes. This was my second time rereading this book, and after the four years between the readings I had forgotten so many elements. I was incensed to reread this book after my book hangover because of The Wicked King and because there are some elements in this book that tie into The Folk of the Air trilogy. I really enjoyed this book the second time around, but because of my obsession, I mostly read this book with eyes for The Cruel Prince. 

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan - This book follows Lei as she is captured from her home and is forced to serve the Demon King as his concubine. I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand the world has a lot of potential, the representation of f/f romance is so important, and I admire how the author tackled the subject of sexual abuse. But I struggled with understanding the main character, I do intend on picking up the sequel when it's released, because I think this series has a lot of potential.

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas - This book follows Bri, an aspiring rapper, as she tries to break out in the music industry, while her family struggles financially. I really enjoyed Angie Thomas' follow up from The Hate U Give, which is one of my favorites, and I like how this book takes place in the same setting as THUG. I really like how Angie Thomas is still tackling issues that black people experience in this book, and I love how this book had so much representation.

Pax by Sara Pennypacker - This is a middle grade book that follows a boy and his fox, after a war tears them apart, and their attempts to reunite. This is a really sweet story of friendship and the bond between humans and animals. I don't read as much middle grade these days, but I still really enjoyed this read. 

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo - This book is the first installment in a duology surrounding Nikolai, from the Grisha verse. I strongly recommend reading the previous installments in the Grisha verse before diving into this book, because this book directly intertwines with the Shadow and Bone trilogy and features a character from Six of Crows. I absolutely loved this book, I love revisiting this world and the characters and getting to read from Nikolai's perspective. I'm already planning on rereading the entire Grisha Verse before the next book comes out so that I can fully appreciate the events of this book.

And those are all the books I read in January. I also started Peter Pan, which I'm slowly making my way through. There are quite a few February releases that I'm looking forward to getting to this month, particularly Bloodwitch, and I'm rereading the Witchlands series as we speak in anticipation ot reading it. - Jessica

Bookish Goals and Lists for 2019

This year I'm setting a reasonable goal of reading 120 books, I read 123 last year when my goal was 100, so I'm very confident I'll reach this number. This month I'm already off to a good start, I'm currently reading Peter Pan which is a book that I included on my TBR list from 2017, and a book that I've wanted to read for years. I usually write a list of books that I want to read at the beginning of the year, but I'm absolutely awful at getting to any of the books on the list, so this year I'm just going to plan as I go. Typically at the beginning of the month I run through a handful of titles that I'd like to read in the coming month. One day I hope to be organized enough to attempt to bullet journal all this information...

At the beginning of the new year I love to go through the list of new releases for the year and assemble some of the one's I'm most looking forward too. So here's some titles, I can't wait for...

Links (left to right): 01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06. 07. 08. 09. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

And those are only the books that have had cover releases, there's still The World of Throne of Glass, which I've heard has details following the conclusion of Kingdom of Ash, the final book in the Renegades Trilogy, and Vow of Thieves. And I'm still reeling over the fact that we are getting a sequel to Carry On, I distinctly remember that I was out in public when I saw the news for Wayward Son and I barely restrained screaming. I'm very lucky to have already read one of these books on the list, The Wicked King (which is amazing), and I also am making my way through an ARC of On the Come Up, that I got through work. Other than that, I can't wait for the other releases to come out. - Jessica

Favorite Books of 2018

In 2018, I read 123 books. Last year I started rereading books more, and I started listening to way more audiobooks. So many final installments in some of my favorite series came out, and I also discovered some new favorites. Here's a list of my top 10 favorite books I read for the first time in 2018.

1. Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas - This is the final installment in the Throne of Glass series. I have mentioned this book a lot on my blog, because the Throne of Glass series is one of my all time favorites (second only to Harry Potter) and I absolutely loved every aspect of this concluding novel. It's a very bittersweet feeling because I loved reading this series but I'm very saddened that this story has come to a close. 

2. Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare - This is the final installment in The Dark Artificies series. There's going to be a lot of final books on this list, and this is one of them. This book is a massive amalgamation of Clare's Shadowhunter universe, and I loved seeing every single piece from all the other books come together in this installment. I also really love how it set up my anticipation for the upcoming series about Ty and Kit, but also provided conclusion in other aspects. Of Cassandra Clare's three series set in this world, this is by far my favorite. 

3. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black - This is the first installment in the Folk of the Air Trilogy. This was one of the first books I read in 2018, but it stuck with me so much. I spent so much time thinking about the twists and turns in this books. Slow burn is my favorite element in writing, and this book is the epitome of the perfect slow burn. I love the dynamic between Jude and Carden and I need the final book in this series to come out already.

4. Vengeful by V.E. Schwab - This is the sequel to Vicious. I have been anticipating the release of this book for years and I'm so satisfied with the result. This book picks up five years after Vicious and I loved witnessing how the world expanded and the new problems the characters faced.     

5. Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor - This is the final book in the Strange the Dreamer Duology. Laini Taylor has the ability to create amazing and fantastical worlds, with the most whimsical writing. I love how this book expanded on the elements in Strange the Dreamer and how expertly the world expanded.

6. Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff - This is the final book in the Illuminae Files Trilogy. This is a series that I've been following since the release of the first book, and I'm so happy that I've read the final pages. This installment is action packed and I loved how the action came to a close. 

7. Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson - This is the first book in the Dance of Thieves Duology. This book is a spinoff to Pearson's The Remanent Chronicles, which is another of my all time faves, and I love how the two series converged in a way that wasn't vital for new readers to understand, but also allowed returning readers to appreciate. I loved the new characters in this book and I can't wait for the sequel to come out. 

8. Immortal Reign by Morgan Rhodes - This is the final book in the Falling Kingdoms series. I enjoyed how every detail accumulated to this book, and it's been a rewarding experience following these characters, Mangus and Cleo are my favorites and I'm happy with the ending they received.

9. Save the Date by Morgan Matson - This is the only contemporary book in this list, as I've gotten older I've read less and less contemporary and although there were several others that I loved (Anger is a Gift and A Very Large Expanse of Sea to name a few), Morgan Matson is my all time favorite contemporary author because she handles coming of age books with expertise. I especially loved and related to the sibling dynamic in this book.

10. To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Cristo - This is a stand alone novel, that was inspired by The Little Mermaid. This is another book that handled slow burn extremely well, and is such an incredible debut. This is a title that I listened to on audio and thoroughly enjoyed.

And those are my all time top 10 books I read last year. I have to give honorable mentions to Furyborn and Between Frost and Fury because I loved both books and I'm torn that I couldn't add them to this list.  - Jessica

Books I Read in December

Hello 2019, it's been a little quite on the blog for a couple of months, but I'm looking forward to getting back into my weekly blogging. Since I'm a little behind on posts, I wanted to start this year off by going over the books I read in the closing days of 2018. Here's the books I read in December and some of my thoughts and opinions on them...

Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare - This is the final book in The Dark Artifices trilogy, that is set in the Shadowhunter universe. This book is a cumulation of everything that Cassandra Clare has been writing since the first book in The Mortal Instruments series, this book ties in so well with her other series, and it was mind blowing seeing all the correlations. On it's own, this book is a masterpiece, the character development and story development is masterful. I think The Dark Artifices might have taken the spot of my favorite series in the Shadowhunter universe. After reading this book, I do think that you need to read The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices to fully appreciate the series, but it's such a rewarding universe, and I think it's why I come back each time Clare writes a new book in this world.

A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir - This is the penultimate book in the series, An Ember in the Ashes. It was unfortunately a bit of a process to read this book, I started it back in June, but I struggled to remember what had happened in the previous two books, to fully appreciate this book, because it is a really good book. Luckily as I was making my way through this book, I was slowly remembering the main plot points, but I'd definitely missed a lot of the connections to the previous books. I mostly listened to the audiobook of this and I fully plan on rereading the series before jumping into the last book, which unfortunately is slated for a 2020 release.

My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan - This book follows Ella as she spends a year at Oxford on the Rhodes scholarship. I visited Oxford last year, and ever since then I've been obsessed with the atmosphere, and that's what I liked the most of this book. The first half of the book heavily focuses on Ella discovering Oxford, while the last part focuses on the romance. I wasn't a huge fan of the romance and I think that affected my overall opinion of this book, because I enjoyed the first half more than the second. 

East by Edith Pattou - This is a retelling of the Norweigan fairy tale, East of the Sun and West of the Moon. I was really intrigued by this book as it's a early YA book, and the author wrote a sequel 15 years after this publication. Overall it read like a middle grade book, and the main character seemed very juvenile, which threw off my perception of this book. Overall I wasn't able to fully immerse myself in the world or the characters, and I'm unsure if I want to read the sequel. 

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling - This was obviously a reread for me, because there's something about Christmas that makes it the perfect time to reread Harry Potter. This time around I read the UK 20th edition that came out recently, which had some great added elements.

Evermore by Sara Holland - This is the final book in the Everless duology, set in a world where time is currency. I really enjoyed the first book and was excited to delve into the sequel. I unfortunately did not enjoy this book as much as the first, but I was still fairly satisfied with this book. I do wish that this series had gone more in depth in the world building, because I think those elements were rushed and this book could have been way longer. 

And those are the books I read to finish out the year. I've got a few more book posts coming soon about my favorite books of 2018 and some books I'm looking forward to 2019. - Jessica

Books I Read in November

I had a good reading month in November, I managed to read 10 books. So here's what I read and some of my thoughts and opinions on them...

Mirage by Somaiya Daud - This is the first installment in a trilogy, that focuses on Amani, a girl forced to become the stand in for a hated princess. I thought that this was a decent first book in a series, it's well written and I really liked the world building. But I think that too much of the plot revolved around the romance, when there were other, more interesting relationships that the author could have focused on.

What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera - This book follows Ben and Arthur, who have a chance meeting while Arthur is living in NYC for the summer. I have been looking forward to the book from the moment it was announced, I love the author's friendship and I was really looking forward to see how their writing would work together. I absolutely loved this book, I really loved the characters and their experiences. It was also interesting to see the parts where it was stylistically obvious which parts were written by whom, and other parts where I wanted to second guess myself on.

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang - This is a graphic novel that revolves around a prince who likes to wear dresses, and a dressmaker who wants to design unexpected looks. I absolutely loved this graphic novel, it's such a great story of friendship and identity.

The Caged Queen by Kristen Ciccarelli - This is the sequel, spinoff to The Last Namsara, which was one of my favorite reads last year. It's really hard for me to rate this book because I didn't love it as much as the first book, but I also read it one sitting. I struggled to understand the characters, and I found this book to be a little predictable, but I also loved the world building and the writing. Overall, I did really enjoy this book, and I'm interested in the sequel coming out next year.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (Screenplay) by J.K. Rowling - I mentioned previously that I've seen the new Fantastic Beasts movie three times, and I loved it. I really like reading the screenplays for the films, because it's amazing to see how it's brought to life and I love the little extra hints I picked up from reading this.

The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare - This is a collection of short stories about Magnus Bane from the Shadowhunter universe. I originally read all the Shadowhunter books two years ago, and I wish that I had read this then, because I think I would have enjoyed this more and picked up on more of the references. That being said, Magnus is one of my favorite characters in Shadowhunters, and I found it a little difficult to reconcile the Magnus from this collection, from the Magnus that's in the other books, probably because it's been a while since I read the other books and also because he's younger in these. There were several short stories that I really enjoyed, but I didn't love this as much as I was expecting.

Archenemies by Marissa Meyer - This is the sequel to Renegades, Marissa Meyer's superhero inspired trilogy. I absolutely loved this book, there's so much crucial slow burn development, which in all honesty is some of my favorite content. I really loved exploring more of the powers that exist in Galtan City, and I love how the author has created so much tension leading up to the final book.

Check, Please! Vol. 1 by Ngozi Ukazu - This is the first in a graphic novel duology, that revolves around Bitty, a hockey player/vlogger/pie enthusiast, as he starts college. I absolutely loved this graphic novels, I loved the characters, I love the friendship between all the teammates, and I can't wait for the sequel to come out.

Lady Midnight and Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare - These are the first two books in The Dark Artifices trilogy, which takes place in Clare's Shadowhunter universe. This was a reread for me in anticipation of the final book, Queen of Air and Darkness. My favorite thing about this reread, was that I loved this series even more the second time. I listened to the audiobooks and they both have excellent narration. I'm so happy that I reread the series, because I had forgotten so many crucial elements, and I got to revisit some of my favorite characters.

And those are the books I read in November. I just finished Queen of Air and Darkness today, and I loved it (but more on that later), and I'm resuming my Harry Potter reread this month. Plus there are a ton of other new releases this month, that I'm hoping to get to, and not enough time in the day to do so... - Jessica

Books I Read in October

I had a huge reading month in October, I managed to read 16 books! I had a huge list of books I wanted to read last month, and I basically only managed it, by locking myself in my room. Anyways, here are the books I read and some of my thoughts and opinions on them...

Vengeful by V.E. Schwab - This is the highly anticipated sequel to Vicious. I read Vicious over three years ago, and it is one of my all time favorite books, so I went into this with a lot of expectations. Although I didn't love this book as much as Vicious, I still really loved revisiting this world and characters. I also liked the introduction to the new characters, and I'm very satisfied at how it ended.

Strange the Dreamer and Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor - This is Taylor's latest fantasy duology. I'm really happy I reread Strange the Dreamer before picking up Muse of Nightmares, because the series is so detailed and I forgot so much of the plot. This series is overall just fantastic, the characters and the writing are so beautifully handled.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman - This is an adult contemporary novel that follows a character with a mysterious backstory. I was really looking forward to reading this book, because it's gotten a lot of praise, but unfortunately this story was not for me. I just felt like the plot was stagnant and I felt like the ending was incomplete.

Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich - This is a novelization of the Broadway musical by the same name. This was another book that I've had on my radar, I love the original cast recording and I was interested in learning more about the plot of the musical. I enjoyed how this was adapted, but I do think it was missing something in comparison to the musical. If you're interested in this book, I highly recommend the audiobook.

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi - This book follows a Muslim-American girl growing up a year after 9/11. I loved this book, Mafi drew upon her own experiences for this book, and I think it is an important read. I did find that this book revolved way too much on the romance, but it didn't distract me from appreciating the overall message.

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab - This book follows Cass, who has the ability to see ghosts, as she joins her parents on a trip to Edinburgh. Victoria Schwab can write anything, this is her first foray into Middle Grade, but she handles it like a pro. This book has a fun whimsical feel, and I love how the setting played a huge role in the book.

Mirage by Somaiya Daud - This book follows Amani, who becomes a stand-in for a disliked princess. I liked this book, it's a good first installment in a Sci-Fi trilogy, so there is quite a bit of info-dumping to establish the world (which is huge), but overall it's well done. My only issue with this book is that it revolved too much around the romance, which wasn't as interesting as some of the other character relationships in the book.

Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas - I mentioned in one of my previous posts that I reread the entire Throne of Glass series, in anticipation of the releases of Kingdom of Ash. I absolutely loved revisiting this world, before diving in to the last book. Overall I absolutely love this series and it's characters. It's bittersweet because I'm sad that one of my favorite series is over, but I'm satisfied with the ending.

And those are the books I read in October. I've already reached my reading goal for the year of 100 books, but I'm hoping I can finish the year out strong, as there are still several books that I'm looking forward to the release of. - Jessica

Kingdom of Ash

Have you ever waited so long for something that the ending was so terrifying and anticipating? That was me with the release of Kingdom of Ash. I first picked up the Throne of Glass series over four years ago, and it's the series that awakened my love for fantasy novels. The only other series I've ever come close to loving as much as ToG is Harry Potter, and now that I've read the last pages, my heart is so content but I'm so sad that it's actually over. I don't think I can articulate how much I loved the KoA, plus I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but maybe one day I can fully express my love for this series.

In anticipation of KoA, I reread the entire series again, and I used way to many post it notes to mark all my favorite parts/quotes/important scenes. I went through 4 packets of post it notes for this project, but it was worth it. The only other series I've done this for is Harry Potter, and it's something that I have to absolutely loved a book to do. I love doing this and being able to randomly flip to a post it and rediscover a particular scene or quote. - Jessica

Books I Read in September

I had a decent reading month in September, I managed to read 9 books. Here's what I read and some of my thoughts and opinions on them...

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne - This is an adult contemporary novel, it follows two rival coworkers, that are competing for the same job promotion. I was surprised by how much I loved this book, it has it's fair share of cliches, but as soon as I finished this book, I ended up flipping to the beginning and reading it again. As much as I loved this book, both times I read it, I had trouble getting used to the writing style and Lucy's characterization.

Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley - This book follows two former best friends, Rachel and Henry, who are reunited after the death of Rachel's birthday. I was intrigued by this book because Henry's family owns a bookstore, and it plays a huge role in the plot. Overall, I felt that this book was okay, I think it was trying to accomplish a lot and it didn't really meet all those goals.

Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart - This book follows two sisters, one of them is trying to become the prince's attendant, but everything changes when the other sister is chosen. I really liked this book, and I feel that the series has a lot of potential. The book is set in a world where women are oppressed, and I think the author did a good job of addressing the social disparity. I did find that there were some common tropes in this book, the first half reminded me of The Selection, but I'm interested in picking up the second installment.

Ship It by Britta Lunda - This book follows a fangirl, Claire, who passionately wants her ship to be cannon, and she plots to make it happen. I always love to find new books about fandom, but this book was honestly the worst book I've ever read. It's such a problematic book and a bad representation of what fandoms are about, and if you're interested, I wrote a really long, spoilery review on Goodreads about the problems in this book (which is mostly just a rant that I wrote at 3am because I was so angry about this book).

Warcross and Wildcard by Marie Lu - This duology follows Emika Chen, a hacker, who gets swept into the world of Warcross, a virtual reality tournament. I love everything that Marie Lu writes, and this duology is no exception. I was so excited to revisit this world and reread the first book before immediately reading the concluding novel. These books are thrilling adventures, and I love that in the second book we got to explore more from the secondary characters, and I really love how this series wrapped up.

Vicious by V.E. Schwab - This book follows two college roommates, Victor and Eli, who find a way to gain superhuman powers, and find themselves in a murder plot. I first read this book in 2015, and it is one of my all time favorite books. I loved revisiting this book, especially since I immediately picked up the sequel as soon as I finished it.

Catwomen: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas - This the third book in the DC Icons universe, which explains the backstory of famous heroes. This installment has been my favorite of the three books, I really like how SJM took so many creative liberties and really gave this book her own spin. I'm not a huge DC fan, but I know that this book does not follow many of the canon element from the comics, and as an outside fan I think I was able to appreciate it more.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan - This book mostly follows the couple, Rachel and Nick, as they visit Nick's family in Singapore and Rachel learns that his family is one of the richest in the country. I was actually disappointed in this book, I liked it, but there was so much happening. There's so many characters, and the writing style was hard to follow, as the narrator would switch between character perspectives abruptly. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I actually think that I would enjoy it more than this book. This book is labeled as a satire, and for me it just illustrated the gross indulgence of the characters and didn't address anything beyond that, and I think the movie's representation of it as a romantic comedy is more appealing. I will say that I'm very happy that this book has become extremely popular, because it addresses so much Asian representation, that is not seen in Western media, and I do think that this book did a good job addressing cultural aspects.

And those are the books that I read last month. October has already been a really busy reading month for me, there's so many new releases coming out that I've been counting down the days for (What If It's Us, Muse of Nightmares, A Very Large Expanse of Sea, Kingdom of Ash, and so many more that I can't name of the tope of my head). And in anticipation of Kingdom of Ash, I'm rereading the Throne of Glass series. So the month of October is really just all booked for me. - Jessica

Books I Read in August

I had a fairly good reading month in August, I read 9 novels and a graphic novel. I feel like with all the new releases that are coming out this fall, I'm slowly getting back into my typical goals, since I typically average around 12 books a month. So here are the books I read and some of my thoughts on them...

Between Frost and Fury by Chani Lynn Feener - This is the second book in the Xenith Trilogy, which centers around a girl who has to pose as an alien princess, to avoid a galactic war. This book was extremely high on my most anticipated books of the year, I randomly picked up the first book, Amid Stars and Darkness, and absolutely fell in love with the characters and their story. The second book did not disappoint, I enjoyed revisiting this world and seeing the new conflicts that the characters faced. I absolutely can't wait for the last installment in the series.

Dance of Theives by Mary E. Pearson - This is the first book in Pearson's latest duology, that is set in the same universe as The Remnant Chronicles. TRC is one of my all time favorite series, and I knew that I would be picking up this book as soon as it was announced. Since this is a spinoff series, it can be read independently from TRC, and I think the author did a good job in building from the world she created in TRC, but also kept a wall of separation for those who hadn't read TRC. This book did not disappoint, I loved being reintroduced to the world that Pearson created, and also gaining a new perspective from Jase and Kazi.

The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan - This book follows Leigh, after her mother commits suicide and she travels to Taiwan to understand her mother better. The writing of this book was lyrical and carefully constructed. I really enjoyed the depths of culture Pan delved into and overall I really liked this read.

Heart of Thorns by Bree Barton - This book is set in a world where witches are hunted and after her mother is murdered by one, Mia's sole purpose in life is to become a witch hunter, until she ends up bethroed to the prince. I really wanted to love this book, the premise sounded amazing when I first read it, and I really enjoyed the idea that women gained magic as a defense mechanism to combat abuse from men. But overall, the execution fell flat to me, I had a hard time connecting with the two main characters and I think that the romance elements took away from the actual story.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - This is a story about a blind, French girl and a German boy whose paths cross during WW11. This book has been on my TBR list for years and I finally listened to the audiobook! I've heard so much hype about this book, and unfortunately I wasn't blown away by this book, but I still really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed how this story had a sense of fantastical elements, but also stayed true to the historical fiction aspect. I really enjoyed that this book held my attention because I never sure the direction the story was going. 

To All the Boys I've Loved Before Trilogy by Jenny Han - This trilogy follows Lara Jean, after her past love letters are unexpectedly delivered. This was a reread for me, because I initially just wanted to read the first book before the movie came out. As soon as I finished the first book and I watched the movie, I was reminded of how much I love everything about this series and I had to continue on. I was a little nervous going in to this reread, because I wasn't sure how I would react to Lara Jean's story now that I'm older, but I still really love these books and her character.

Nightblood by Elly Blake - This is the final installment in the Frostblood Trilogy, which is set in a world divided by people who have the ability to wield frost and people who have the ability to wield fire. This is an amazing final installment, each book in this series gradually improved upon it's last and I was highly entertained reading this series.

Fence (Vol. 1) by C.S. Pacat, Johanna the Mad and Joana Lafuente - This is a graphic novel that follows Nicholas, an aspiring fencer, who lives in the shadows as the illegitimate son to a fencing legend. I've been wanting to read more graphic novels lately, and I picked this one up on a whim because I heard it had great representation. This was a good introduction to the characters and their story, but I feel like this installment mainly focused as a build up to the next, so I'm looking forward to continuing on with this.

And those are all the books I read in August. As I mentioned there's a lot of new fall releases coming out this month and I can't wait to get to them all. - Jessica

Books I Read In July

I read 8 books in the month of July. This was definitely been my worst reading month this year, since I struggled with finding the motivation to pick up a book this month. So here are the books I read and some of my thoughts and opinions on them...

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young - This is a Viking inspired novel that follows Eelyn, after she discovers that her brother alive, who she watched die five years before. I really enjoyed this book, I liked the cast of characters and the social questions this book raised. I also liked Young's execution of slow burn development, in terms of the story and the romance.

The Ascendence Trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielsen - This book follows Sage, after he is enlisted in a game to employ a false prince to his kingdom's throne. I found the first two books in this series interesting enough, but as the series continued on, I became disappointed in the lack of character development in the main character. This is a series that's been on my radar for years now, and it's one of those books that I think I would have enjoyed more, if I read it at a younger age.

Anger is a Gift by Mark Oshiro - This is a coming of age story centered around police brutality and racism. I was blown away by this book, it tackles so many hard subjects, such as; underdeveloped communities, lack of funding in schools, and undocumented citizenship. Because of these issues, the book almost had a dystopian undertone, except all of these issues are unfortunately true. I also absolutely loved the different levels of representation this book has, and I think that so many people can relate to some of these characters on some level. I did find this book a little hard to grasp at times because there is so many issues that the main characters face, that I think some of the messages about these topics was diluted. Overall, I think this a fantastic must-read, but there is a lot of explicit violence, which may not be for everyone.

Skin and Earth (Vol. 1) by Lights - This is the first volume in a graphic novel, dystopian series. I have talked a lot about Light's latest album and the tie-in-comic that she wrote and drew. When the bind up of the series was released, I knew that I would be rereading the story (disclaimer: I had previously reread each issue at least 3 times when they came out, which I think speaks volumes about how much I love this project). So as soon as my hardcover arrived, I again devoured the whole series again. I absolutely can't wait to see the direction Light's has planned for this series.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling - This was another reread of the month, I initially planned to reread the whole series, since I picked up the new US paperback covers, but I barely squeezed by the first book. I do plan to continue rereading the series slowly over the next couple of months.

Heart of Mist by Helen Scheuerer - This is the first installment in a high-fantasy trilogy, where magic is forbidden, and the heroine is captured by the king for her skill. I really liked this book, mostly I found that it sets up for the next two books, so I'm interested to see how this story continues.

And those are the books I read in July. I'm hoping that August will be a better reading month, because there are a lot of new releases that I've been anticipation and that I've been itching to get to. - Jessica

Books I Read in June

I read 8 books and one short story in June. It wasn't my best reading month, but I still felt like I read enough for the month. So here are the books I read and some of my thoughts and opinions on them.

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli - This is a spinoff novel that revolves around Leah from Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. I recently reread Simon in anticipation of this book, and I'm really happy I did because I had forgotten so much of these characters and their story. I really liked this book and the LGBTQ+ elements. Leah was one of my least favorite characters in Simon so it was nice to get to know her more and learn about her character.  

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson - This book revolves around Andie, after her summer plans are canceled and she has to learn to renavigate her life. This was my only reread of the month, and I wanted to revisit this book before I read Matson's latest book, Save the Date. This is one of my all time favorite books, so I loved getting the chance to revisit the characters and gain a new perspective from reading this book again. 

Opal by Maggie Steifvater - This is a short story that takes place after the events of The Raven King. This was a fun addition to the series and allowed the reader to revisit two of their favorite characters from The Raven Cycle, but other than that I don't think it truly added much to the overall story of the series.

Save the Date by Morgan Matson - This book follows Charlie and her family, on the weekend that the oldest daughter is getting married. As I have mentioned before, Morgan Matson is my absolute favorite YA contemporary author, her books mix coming of age with summer reads and they're just perfect. So I obviously had a lot of high expectations going in to this book, and it did not disapoint. This book is not as romance heavy as her previous books, but I really liked that element and how it fit the story. I also loved the family dynamic of this book, which is something Matson does so well in all of her books. I'm also so happy I reread The Unexpected Everything almost immediately before picking this book up, because Matson also does a really good job with adding in cameo appearances. Overall I loved this book and I'll be patiently waiting for the release of Matson's next book.   

From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon - This book follows aspiring filmmaker, Twinkle, as she works on her first student film. I absolutely loved Menon's debut, When Dimple Met Rishi, so I did go into this book with some high expectations. The storyline was fun but I had trouble liking Twinkle's character. Overall this was a fun and quick read.

The Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan - This is the final book in the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series. Out of all the books in this trilogy, I definitely liked this book the most. I've gradually started liking Magnus' character throughout this series, and I liked how this book explored more of the side characters. I'm going to be honest my favorite part of this series has been Alex, who I think is one of the greatest characters in Riordan's universe (they are up there with Percy and Annabeth). Overall this was a fun read, and I'm really interested to see what myth Riordan focuses on next.

Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody - This book follows Enne after she travels to the City of Sin, in an effort to find her lost mother, and joins forces with Levi, a gang leader. This was a great first installment in a trilogy. I really loved exploring New Reynes, a.k.a the City of Sin, and how it has a similar vibe to Ketterdam from Six of Crows, but is also completely different. I'm really looking forward to the next installment in the series.

Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman - This book follows Elio as he develops an attachment to his father's summer guest, Oliver. I really wanted to love this book, because of all the praise this movie has, but it ended up being different from what I expected. I thought this book would revolve around a coming of age story, but it mostly tells the story of desire. Overall it was a quick read, and I listened to the audiobook that is narrated by Armie Hammer, which really added to the experience.

Bright Lights, Dark Nights by Stephen Emond - This book surrounds around the relationship between Walter and Naomi as they have to overcome their families approval and issues surrounding race. I liked this book, the characters were enjoyable and there is art interspersed within the book that gives it a graphic novel feel, but doesn't add a lot to the plot. This book raised a lot of questions about police brutality and racial profiling, but didn't provide any concrete answers. Overall, I found this to be a good read and fulfilled some of my interests after reading The Hate U Give.

And those are all the books I read in June. I have some books on my radar that I want to read in July, but ultimately I'm planning a big Harry Potter reread for the month. - Jessica  

Books I Read In May

I read 8 books in May, which I'm very pleased with since I was traveling for almost half the month. So here are the books I read and some of my thoughts and opinions on them...

A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas - This is a novella directly following the events of A Court of Wings and Ruin. I really enjoyed this book, it's different from anything else SJM has written, mostly because there's no big, looming conflict for the characters. I really enjoyed seeing some of my favorite characters in a relaxed setting and I really loved how well this set up for the next book in the series.  

The Case for Jamie by Brittany Cavallaro - This is the third book in the Charlotte Holmes series, which follows the descendants of Sherlock Holmes and James Watson. I really liked the first book in this series, but I found the second book disappointing, so I was a little hesitant to pick this book up. I think this book was a huge improvement over the second one, but I was really surprised to hear that there will be another book in this series, because I think this one wrapped the series up really nicely.

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian - This book is about a princess, whose throne has been stolen, and she has to team up with the son of her usurper to win her throne back. I enjoyed this book, it definitely isn't the most original story, but the writing and the storyline kept me entertained. 

Furyborn by Clara Legrand - This book follows two sides of a war, across a thousand years, from the girl who started the war, and the hero who is prophesied to end it. This book blew me away, the story is so ambitious and the execution is so well done. This is the first book in a trilogy, and I'm looking forward to the release of the next book.

War Storm by Victoria Aveyard - This is the final installment in the Red Queen series. I really enjoyed this installment, for an almost 700 page book, it did drag in some places, but I didn't mind because this book added so much to the world building and the characterization. I did struggle wrapping my head around the ending, but I'm pretty satisfied with how this series wrapped up.

The Falconer Trilogy by Elizabeth May - This trilogy follows a fae hunter in 17th century Scotland. I liked the first book of the series, but I fell absolutely in love with the two concluding novels. The first book set up the plot, that I think the second book benefited from, and allowed for the world and the characters to develop.

And those are the books I read in May. I've got quite a bit of catching up that I want to do on my reading goal, and I've already read quite a bit this month. - Jessica

Books I Read in April

In the month of April, I read a total of 12 books, 9 of those books were rereads. I've weirdly managed to read 12 books every month so far this year, usually I'm never this consistent with my reading. So here are all the books I read and my thoughts and opinions on them...

Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi - This book follows Penny and Sam, who meet through mutual friends and decide to keep in contact through text messages. I liked this book, the characters were likable and the plot was interesting. But what really drew me to this book was the setting, it takes place in Austin and it was really interesting to see how well the setting translated to my experience of the city.

Simon vs the Homo Sapien Agenda by Becky Albertali - This is a coming of age story following Simon, as he struggles with coming out. This was my first reread of the month and I wanted to reread this book after watching the movie (which is a great adaption) and I also am looking forward to picking up the spinoff sequel that just came out. I forgot a lot of the details of this book, so it felt like I was reading it for the first time. I enjoyed this book, and I again had a huge oreo craving while reading it.

The Beauty That Remains by Ashley Woodfolk - This book follows three characters who have recently suffered the loss of someone close to them, and how music has helped them deal with the loss. I was really surprised by how much I like this book, the characters and the plot are so meaningful, and as someone who has gotten back into playing music on a regular basis, I really enjoyed the impact that music has on the characters.

I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman - This book follows three strangers as they form a bond by spending the day together. I have been a fan of this author and her book for a while, If I Stay, was one of the first books I read that got me back into reading again. I really liked this book, I enjoyed the diverse characters and the coming of age elements. There are some elements of instalove and I thought the ending could have been more conclusive, but for the most part I enjoyed this book.

The Lunar Chronicles (books 1-4 and Stars Above) by Marissa Meyer - This is a fairy tale retelling series, with Sci-Fi elements. This is one of my all time favorite series and I have been wanting to reread it for a while, and when I saw that the audiobooks were available from the library, I jumped at the chance to read it again. Since this was a reread, I was able to appreciate all of the details in this series, the world building and character development are so well done, and the story itself is so unique. I'm already thinking about how the next time I read this book, that I want to read each book and short story in chronological order, and how that will add to the level of storytelling.

Red Queen series (books 1-3) by Victoria Aveyard - This series is set in a world divided by blood, and follows Mare, a red blood, who discovers that she has powers that people of her blood should not possess. This series is another reread as I geared up for the release of the final novel. I really love this series, and although it has a ton of cliches, the world building and the writing improve so much with each book. I'm really happy that I decided to reread this series, because there are so many detail and plot points that I had forgotten, and I'm simultaneously scared and excited for the last book.

And those are all the books I read in April. May is going to be a busy reading month, there are so many new releases that I'm looking forward too, but I'm also going on a big trip and I'm not going to have as much time to read as I usually do (I'll be sharing more info about my trip soon!). - Jessica

Books I Read in March

I had a really good reading month in March. I read 12 books, 5 of which were rereads. Here are the books I read and some of my spoiler free thoughts on them...

Shatter Me Series (Books 1-4) by Tahereh Mafi - This series follows Juliette, who has the power to kill people with her touch, as she falls into a plot to overthrow a corrupt government. I reread the first three books in this series in anticipation of the fourth novel, and I loved the original trilogy just as much the second time around. I absolutely love the direction that the fourth novel takes, and it really is the perfect continuation of the series and sets up so well for this next trilogy. I also really loved returning to the original characters and learning more about them. I read the fourth book in one sitting, because I couldn't put it down, and now I'm overcome with how much I need the next installment.

Illuminae Files Trilogy by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff - This is a science fiction series, told entirely through files (emails, transcriptions, photos...). I reread the first two books in anticipation of the series final, and I loved revisiting this world. There were a lot of details I had forgotten, and that helped wrap up the events of the third book. The third books is just as mind blowing and incredible as the first books. This is one of my favorite series and I highly recommend reading it.

The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza by Shaun David Hutchinson - This book follows, Elena, who triggers an apocalypse, when she heals the fatal wound of the girl she likes. Shaun David Hutchinson is the author of one of my favorite books, We Are the Ants, so going into this book, I had high expectations. I ended up really enjoying this book, it has the same quirky vibes as the authors other works, and I really enjoyed how he wrote in some cameos from his other novels. 

Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston - This is an Anastasia retelling, set in space and surrounds a group of outlaws. I really enjoyed this book, the Sci-Fi elements add a really cool twist onto the classic story. I also really enjoyed the characters and the world building. I'm looking forward to picking up the sequel, when it comes out.

Autoboyography by Christina Lauren - This story follows Tanner, who takes a seminar class and meets Sebastian, a Morman, and quickly falls in love with him. I really enjoyed this book, it has great representation, and tackles a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding bisexuals and LDS followings. This was the first contemporary novel, I read this year and was the perfect book to read after watching Love, Simon. 

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo - This book follows a siren, who is punished and turned into a human, as she sets out to redeem herself and kill a prince known as the Siren Killer. I absolutely loved this book, it has fantastic character development. I felt like this book had all the capabilities of a slow burn series, but is only 342 pages. 

Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner - This book is pitched as Indian Jones meets Lara Croft, in Space, and it's honestly such an accurate description. I really enjoyed this novel, I loved the characters and the storyline is completely gripping. This book also played perfectly into my linguistics degree, and there's so many interesting puzzles and mysteries. I rated this book a 4.5/5 stars, because I do think there was too much "instalove" between the two main characters, but I still really love the direction this duology is headed. 

And those are all the books I read. I have a list of books I'm hoping to get to in April, including rereading the Red Queen series, so hopefully everything goes according to plan. - Jessica

Books I Read in February

I had a really good reading month in February, I read 11 novels and one short story. February is such a hard reading month, since it's shorter, but rereading really helped me stay on track. Here's the books I read and some of my thoughts and opinions on them... 

Immortal Reign by Morgan Rhodes - This is the sixth and final book in the Falling Kingdoms series. I had so many fears and expectations going into this book and I was extremely satisfied with how everything wrapped up. Falling Kingdoms is one of those series that gets better with each book release, and I was no disappointed in this book.

This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada - This is the first in a science fiction, dystopian series, which follows a genetic hacker. This book is pretty different than my usual fantasy binge, but it was an enjoyable and different read. I actually really enjoyed the science fiction element and I was intrigued with the world building. I'm looking forward to the next book's release in October.

The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson - This trilogy revolves around Lia, a princess, who escapes from an arranged marriage, and the prince and assassin who follow her. This was my first big reread of the month and I absolutely loved getting a chance to jump back into this world, and I ended up rereading this whole trilogy in 2 days. Marathoning this trilogy actually helped me realize how detailed this story is, and I loved seeing that element. I absolutely loved this trilogy just as much the second time around. I also finally got to read the short story, Morrighan, which was a nice addition to the series. All in all, this was a great set up for the release of Dance of Thieves, which is set in the same universe as The Remnant Chronicles.

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton - This book follows Camilla, a Belle, someone with the ability to change and alter beauty. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, it's a great first book in an upcoming series, and it's obvious that this book provides a lot of set up for the future books. I'm definitely going to be picking up the series, because I'm curious with how the world will build.

The Winner's Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski - This trilogy revolves around a well respected general's daughter, Kestrel, and the consequences she faces after purchasing a slave. This was my second big reread of the month, and I wanted to pick this series up again because there was so much that I had forgotten. I absolutely loved this trilogy just as much the second time around, because it was almost like I was reading this book again for the first time. Kestrel is one of my all time favorite female characters, and I loved being back in her world.

Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore - This is a magical realism book, following a family of women who have a magical ability to grow gardens. The writing of this book is beautiful, but it took me so long to get into the story, and differentiate the many characters.

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert - This book follows Alice, who has to travel to the magical world of her grandmother's stories to rescue her mother. I had heard so much praise for this book and unfortunately for me it did not live up to my expectations. I really enjoyed this book and the dark, fairytale elements, but I struggled to connect to the main character and I felt the second half of the novel was a little rushed. I will probably pick up the next book, cause I'd like to see more from the Hitherlands, and I'm really looking forward to the short story collection, based on the fairytales in this book.

And those are all the books I read. I'm continuing my rereading trend into March, as so far 3/4 books I've read have been rereads. There's a ton of new releases in March that I'm excited about and hoping to get to. - Jessica

Reading Slumps

Arguably one of the worst things for a reader to hear is the term "reading slump." I think one of the most frightening parts of having a reading slump is the uncertainty surrounding how long they can last. When I was in high school, I only read a handful of books on my own accord, and I fear that I will revert back to those times when I didn't read on a regular basis. Ultimately, I don't want to lose my love of stories or lose my love of getting consumed within the pages of a book.

I'm so used to reading almost every single day but earlier this month, I went almost a full week without picking up a book. At that point, I started to panic. I searched my shelves for a book that I actually had a desire to read, since I've learned that I tend to not enjoy a book as much when I force myself to read. I ultimately decided to reread The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson, and just three days later, I had finished the entire trilogy. I think revisiting favorite books is one of the best cures for reading slumps. Even though, I know what's going to happen in the end, there are always so many elements I've forgotten and details that I didn't pick up on before. My recent rereads have really fueled my desire to reread more books, and I'm already planning my TBR to include some more of my favorite series. - Jessica

Books I Read in January

I had a really good reading month in January, I read 10 books and 2 graphic novels. Here's what I read and some of my thoughts and opinions on them...

Everless by Sara Holland - This is the first book in a fantasy duology, that is set in a world where time is currency. This was a great first book, the plot is unique and there are elements of mystery and political intrigue that kept me entertained. I did struggle getting into the writing style, but I enjoyed this book.

Frostblood and Fireblood by Ellie Blake - This book follows a Fireblood, Ruby, who lives in a world of Frostbloods and she becomes enlisted to take down the corrupt Frostblood ruler. I enjoyed the first books in this trilogy, it definitely has plenty of cliches, but I found the story interesting and the writing is executed well. I'm looking forward to the release of the last book in June.

Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu - This follows Bruce Wayne before he becomes Batman. I'm not a huge superhero fan, I like watching the movies, but I was never into the comics, but I've really enjoyed the DC Icons series so far. I also was surprised to see a Filipino main character in this book, and I wish she had a larger role. Overall this was a quick and fun read.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black - This story follows Jules and her sisters, who are kidnapped and raised in the world of Faerie. There has been so much hype surrounding this book, that I was eagerly anticipating it's release, and I was not disappointed. It took a while for me to get swept up into the story, but once I did, I couldn't put this book down. The plot definitely leans towards a slow burn type of story, and I loved that aspect. I really grew to love the characters and I can't wait until the next book is released.

The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli - This book follows Asha, a dragon slayer, enlisted by her father to kill the first dragon and motivated by his promise to end her impending marriage. I loved this story, the world building is incredible and I loved the characters. I listened to this on audiobook, and I would highly recommend it. This is another book that had a slow burn development and at times it did drag, but I still really enjoyed it.

Even the Darkest Stars by Heather Fawcett - This book follows Kamzin, who is enlisted by a renowned explorer to help climb a deadly mountain. I enjoyed this book, the world building is so well done and I love how the author was inspired by Himalayan culture. I was also really surprised that the author chose not to explore the love triangle angle of this story, and I really enjoyed that it wasn't an issue in the story.

The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye - This story follows two enchanters as they compete against each other to become the royal enchanter of Russia. I was really intrigued by the premise and the inclusion of Russian history, but every other aspect of this book fell flat. There was no world building and the plot suffered due to an instalove-love triangle. I really don't think I'll continue on with this story.

Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo - This series follows six criminals, who are hired to pull of an impossible heist. This was a reread for me, because I saw that the audiobook for the first book was on sale, and I've been dying to be back in this universe. The first time around, I didn't fully understand the hype surrounding the first book and I came to absolutely love the second. Reading this again, I was able to fully understand how incredible the first book is, the world building in that book and the character development is absolutely stunning. The only (tiny) issue I have with this series, is that I feel like one character's storyline was left incomplete, and I fully believe that Leigh Bardugo could write a billion more stories surrounding these characters. I absolutely love both of these book, and I definitely will be rereading them again soon.

Wires and Nerve and Gone Rogue by Marissa Meyer - This is a graphic novel series that continues the story from The Lunar Chronicles, and follows Iko. I really loved the chance to get back in the Lunar Chronicles universe and read more about some of my favorite characters. These book are  great and quick reads, and I loved the character development of Iko and Kinney. I really hope Marissa Meyer is planning to write more from this universe, because I never want it to end.

And those are all the books I read in January, I did start Wild Beauty but I didn't get too far into it, so I should finish that this month. So many of my anticipated releases are coming out this month, including Immortal Reign, the final book in the Falling Kingdom series, and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. - Jessica

Bookish Goals and Lists for 2018

Every year I give myself some bookish goals to accomplish. The first goal is to read a certain number of books, each year I've been steadily increasing my reading goal and ideally I should set it at 150 books, but reading 140 books last year was a bit of a stretch so I'm modestly setting my minimum goal at 100. If I end up reading 150 books, it would be great, but I'm not going to push myself to read more than I can handle.

The second goal is to read some books that I've been procrastinating on. This year I'm hoping to finish a lot of series that I have started, but haven't finished. I usually don't have the best track record with sticking to these lists, and I almost didn't make one for this year, but I decided to give it another try. I especially hope to stick to this list, because these are books that I actually see myself reading soon.

1. Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore - I have been trying to read this book for ages. This book has been sitting on my nightstand to read for a month now, it even has my Christmas themed Hermione Granger bookmark in it. I've heard really great things about it and I'm planning on reading it next.

2. The Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan - This is the final book in the Magnus Chase trilogy. I really liked the first two books in this series, I don't love it as much as Riordan's other series, but it's still really good. I've bought this book on it's release date and still haven't come close to picking it up.

3. The Invasion of the Tearling and The Fate of the Tearling by Erika Johansen - These are the last two books in the Queen of the Tearling trilogy. I read the first book last year, and I unfortunately never got around to finishing the other books.

4.  The Inquisition and The Battlemage by Taran Matharu - These are the last two books in the Summoner Series and a prequel novel is going to be released this year. I've been on the fence about continuing this series for a while, because I thought the first book was average. But since I already own these books, I'm going to try and give it another try.

5. Love Charms and Other Catastrophes by Kimberly Karalius - I read the first book in this series in 2015, and I really need to stop procrastinating on this book so I can complete this duology.

6. The Farmer's War by Elise Kova - This is the final book in the Golden Guard trilogy, which is a prequel series to one of my all time favorites the Air Awakens series. I really have no excuse for not reading this book yet because it's so short (132 pages)!

And the final list is my most anticipated releases for 2018! There are so many books that I'm looking forward to coming out this year. Here are some of them... 

Links (left to right): 01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06. 07. 08. 09. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 

And those are only the books with covers released, I'm so excited for the A Court of Frost and Starlight and Throne of Glass #7 by Sarah J. Maas. I seriously don't know what to do with myself when the last ToG book comes out, because it's one of my all time favorite series (second only to Harry Potter, of course). And then there's the sequel to Warcross and the sequel to Renegades. On the Come Up by Angie Thomas sounds fantastic, and What If It's Us by Becky Albertali and Adam Silvera is sure to be amazing. And maybe this year J. K. Rowling will finally bless us with the fourth Cormoran Strike book, because it has been over two years since that ending and I need to know what happens! I could seriously go on, because there are so many good books being released this year, and I hope I can read them all. - Jessica