Monthly Wrap-Up | October 2022

Hello Lovely Readers!

This is a bit late but that is fine!

October was filled with not a whole lot, haha. It was just kind of a normal month but I did manage to get a lot of reading done!

This month I managed to read 21 books, 7 audiobooks, and 14 manga/graphic novels.
42 books in total!

My favorite book of the month would be two! The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson and A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams were both amazing.

My least favorite would be Married by Wind by Angela J. Ford. It was too short and repetitive.

• The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 2-4, 6 by Natsu Hyuuga
• Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega
• The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson
• A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

• Buried in a Good Book by Tamara Berry
• The Frost Goblin by Abi Elphinstone
• The Apothecary Diaries Vol. 1 & 5 by Natsu Hyuuga
• My Happy Marriage Vol. 1 by Akumi Agitogi
• The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
• How to Heal a Gryphon by Meg Cannistra
• The Secrets We Keep by Cassie Gustafson
• Crown of Bones by A.K. Wilder
• Married by Fate by Jenny Hickman
• Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala

• Out of My League by Sarah Sutton (3.5)
• The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox (3.5)
• Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove by Rati Mehrotra
• The Christmas Clash by Suzanne Park
• Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee
• Love Me, Love Me Not Vol 11 & 12 by Io Sakisaka
• Those Not-So-Sweet Boys Vol 7 by Yoko Nogiri
• After Dark with Roxie Clark by Brooke Lauren Davis
• She’s Gone by David Bell
• Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
• Cruel Illusions by Margie Fuston
• Empire of Exiles by Erin M. Evans

• Riley’s Ghost by John David Anderson (2.5)
• Two Wrongs Make a Right by Chloe Liese (2.5)
• Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter (2.5)
• Abe-Kun’s Got Me Now Vol. 1 by Aki Iwai
• The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
• Salt and Sugar by Rebecca Carvalho
• Deadly Summer Nights by Vicki Delany
• The Poison Season by Mara Rutherford
• A Wilderness of Stars by Shea Ernshaw
• Built to Last by Erin Hahn
• Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Vol. 1 by Kanehito Yamada

HOW MANY BOOKS DID YOU READ IN October? DID YOU HAVE A FAVORITE?

FIND ME ON INSTAGRAM / GOODREADS

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October Wrap-Up

Hello Lovely Readers!

Today is the last day in October. Isn’t that just crazy?? Where did it go?

I did manage to read quite a lot this month. I am down to only 8 arcs and I am pretty proud of myself for that. I am hoping to finish them all up within the next couple of weeks.

For October, I managed to read 22 books and 2 mangas.

My favorite read would have to be a toss up between Novice Dragoneer and Night Spinner. I really loved both!

My least favorite was Love, Unscripted. It was definitely a letdown.

(Any titles with a * will have a review for it closer to publication date or in the next month or so if not an arc)

5 Stars:

• Yona of the Dawn Vol. 18 by Mizuho Kusanagi
• Novice Dragoneer by E.E. Knight
• Beyond the Shadowed Earth by Joanna Ruth Meyer*
• The Girl in Building C by Mary Krugerud*
• Night Spinner by Addie Thorley*

4 Stars:

• The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
• Sand Chronicles Vol. 2 by Hinako Ashihara
• Bid My Soul Farewell by Beth Revis
• Nordic Tales by Chronicle Books*
• Summernight by Sarah K. L. Wilson*
• Dead Voices by Katherine Arden*
• Beneath the Haunting Sea by Joanna Ruth Meyer
• The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones

3 Stars:

• A Treason of Thorns by Laura E. Weymouth
• The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw*
• Echoes Between Us by Katie McGarry*
• The Fowl Twins by Eoin Colfer
• The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa*
• The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James*

2 Stars:

• Sisters of Shadow and Light by Sara B. Larson
• Betrayed by Raye Wagner*
• Highfire by Eoin Colfer*
• Wildfire by Carrie Mac*
• Love, Unscripted by Owen Nicholls*

DNF:

• Oath Taker by Audrey Grey
• The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh
• Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi

How many books did you read in October? What was your favorite read? Let me know in the comments!

Find me on Instagram / Goodreads

The Bone Houses: Book Review

Title: The Bone Houses
Author: Emily Lloyd-Jones
Genre: YA Fantasy/Historical Fiction/Horror
Publication Date: September 24th, 2019

Synopsis: “eventeen-year-old Aderyn (“Ryn”) only cares about two things: her family, and her family’s graveyard. And right now, both are in dire straits. Since the death of their parents, Ryn and her siblings have been scraping together a meager existence as gravediggers in the remote village of Colbren, which sits at the foot of a harsh and deadly mountain range that was once home to the fae. The problem with being a gravedigger in Colbren, though, is that the dead don’t always stay dead.

The risen corpses are known as “bone houses,” and legend says that they’re the result of a decades-old curse. When Ellis, an apprentice mapmaker with a mysterious past, arrives in town, the bone houses attack with new ferocity. What is it that draws them near? And more importantly, how can they be stopped for good?

Together, Ellis and Ryn embark on a journey that will take them deep into the heart of the mountains, where they will have to face both the curse and the long-hidden truths about themselves.” (Goodreads)

My Review:

Here’s the thing, calling an undead being a Bone House is a lot nicer than zombie but it is still a zombie! Also, I am terrified of them and they have been haunting my dreams for 21 years! Seriously, it dates back to Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island, ha.

Anyways, enough of my boring background. As a certified chicken, I would say that this book had its creepy parts but overall it wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. That’s probably for the best so I wouldn’t have nightmares.

But, let’s talk about the characters! Ryn is not afraid of death and carries an axe with her to deal with the ones that rise. Just like her father, she becomes the next gravedigger for their town after he goes missing. Ryn and her siblings have suffered a lot of loss and even then the local Lord is also a dillweed to them. She is always trying to protect them and will do everything to make sure they have what they need to live.

Quickly into the book we are introduced to Ellis. There isn’t much that is known about his background and as the plot progresses, so does his background. He is very witty and I enjoyed the humor he produced during the worst times, ha.

Although you would think Ellis would be considered the comedic relief, a goat steals the whole show! The goat is funny, loyal, and her horns pack a punch! No fear for the undead can be found when it comes to her. I always enjoy a good animal companion and this one did not disappoint.

As for the plot, it was fast paced, interesting, and left me wanting more from the characters. I will say that the plot twists were easy to spot out after learning a bit about the curse. I also thought the ending was a tad anti-climatic.

It took until the last book of the page to make me sad. I wasn’t expecting the last couple of sentences to be so impactful but I think it’s what I needed to hear since I am dealing with my own grief.

“And perhaps this was the truth about the dead.
You went on.
They’d want you to.”

Overall, I enjoyed it and I am glad I have the Owlcrate copy because it’s definitely one I would read again.

Fireborne: NetGalley Review

 

Title: Fireborne (The Aurelian Cycle #1)
Author: Rosaria Munda
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: October 15th, 2019

eARC provided by publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: “Annie and Lee were just children when a brutal revolution changed their world, giving everyone—even the lowborn—a chance to test into the governing class of dragonriders.

Now they are both rising stars in the new regime, despite backgrounds that couldn’t be more different. Annie’s lowborn family was executed by dragonfire, while Lee’s aristocratic family was murdered by revolutionaries. Growing up in the same orphanage forged their friendship, and seven years of training have made them rivals for the top position in the dragonriding fleet.

But everything changes when survivors from the old regime surface, bent on reclaiming the city.

With war on the horizon and his relationship with Annie changing fast, Lee must choose to kill the only family he has left or to betray everything he’s come to believe in. And Annie must decide whether to protect the boy she loves . . . or step up to be the champion her city needs.

From debut author Rosaria Munda comes a gripping adventure that calls into question which matters most: the family you were born into, or the one you’ve chosen.” (Goodreads)

My Review:

I didn’t have many expectations except that it had dragons. I will say that the dragons were a bit of a letdown. I also had a few other issues with the book and didn’t find the overall plot very gripping.

When it came to the dragons. They are used to ride on and cause havoc with their fire. I was thinking there would be bonds between the rider and dragons but there wasn’t really per say. The dragons are there but not really present and I wanted more from them. I needed more action!

Another issue I had was connecting to the characters. The book has two point-of-views and even then I didn’t feel much for Annie or Lee. I know I should have felt something due to their background but it just wasn’t there for me. I will say that around 75% or so is when I finally felt something. It took awhile but I guess least it happened. The other characters were alright but there isn’t much about their backgrounds. I didn’t care to read about them.

There is romance but I wasn’t a fan. It’s just a lot of drama and a love triangle that’s annoying. Nothing super serious ever happens because of the romance and it’s just one that I couldn’t get behind.

The world building is interesting and I do like the flashbacks of how their new politics came to be. There is a lot that goes on with the politics and at times I found it to be boring but like the characters, it does eventually pick up.

Overall, it was a decent read but with all the potential it had it just ended up lacking in certain areas. I wish the execution could have been better.

The Dragon Warrior: Mini NetGalley Review

 

Title: The Dragon Warrior
Author: Katie Zhao
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Publication Date: Oct. 15th, 2019

eARC provided by publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

 

 

Synopsis: “As a member of the Jade Society, twelve-year-old Faryn Liu dreams of honoring her family and the gods by becoming a warrior. But the Society has shunned Faryn and her brother Alex ever since their father disappeared years ago, forcing them to train in secret.

Then, during an errand into San Francisco, Faryn stumbles into a battle with a demon–and helps defeat it. She just might be the fabled Heaven Breaker, a powerful warrior meant to work for the all-mighty deity, the Jade Emperor, by commanding an army of dragons to defeat the demons. That is, if she can prove her worth and find the island of the immortals before the Lunar New Year.

With Alex and other unlikely allies at her side, Faryn sets off on a daring quest across Chinatowns. But becoming the Heaven Breaker will require more sacrifices than she first realized . . . What will Faryn be willing to give up to claim her destiny?” (Goodreads)

 

My Review:

Sometimes its good to step away from heavy books and read something light like a middle grade book. I saw another author rave about this one and when I saw it on NetGalley I jumped at the opportunity.

I have been loving books with Asian Mythology and this one is set around Chinese Mythology. It has demons, dragons, and even nine-tailed foxes. So of course, the plot is awesome and grabs your attention!

The main character is a young Chinese-American who kicks butt! She goes through loss, trying to please her family, and dealing with demons through it all. Her sense of humor is fun and fresh. Faryn is a great character and I can see a lot of kids connecting with her.

This book is filled with humor, family, quests, and a whole lot of action! If you are a Percy Jackson fan then definitely check this book out.

Spooky Reads

 

Hello Readers!

Since October has just started, I thought I would write a blog post about spooky reads!

Now, I hate being scared but I always find myself being drawn to spooky things. It’s like watching one and wanting to look away but you can’t because you just need to know! You know what I mean?

I wanted to get this done at the beginning of the month so that way you have time to check them out and maybe read a few.

Let’s get into it!

1.) How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather
2.) Haunting the Deep by Adriana Mather
3.) Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
4.) Dead Voices by Katherine Arden (reading this month)

5.) City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
6.) Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab
7.) Mistwalker by Saundra Mitchell (reading this month)
8.) The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein

9.) The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox
10.) The Widow of Pale Harbor by Hester Fox
11.) Dracula by Bram Stoker
12.) The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

What are some spooky books you would recommend? Let me know in the comments below!

Find me on Instagram / Goodreads

 

 

 

Monthly Wrap-Up | October 2018

October was a busy month for me, both reading and just everyday life. It was probably my best month so far this year when it came to how many books I finished. I always feel like I am slacking when I only read seven or eight in a month and my husband reminds me that most people don’t even read that in a year. So that’s a plus, right?

Without further ado, my October wrap-up:

Queen of Shadows

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Queen of Shadows is book four in a series called A Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. It was a two star read for me as were the first three books. I just don’t like Aelin and find her annoying. The only reason I continued was the hype from this series and I did like the A Court of Thorns and Roses series done by the same author.

One If By Land, Two If By Submarine

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This book was a NetGalley and it was amazing! I loved the friendship building between the four main characters and the history building was great. I gave this four stars and I cannot wait for the series to continue. If you love history with a twist I would highly recommend this book. I have a review up here.

Empire Of Storms

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Best book in the series! From my previous post above, I did not like this series but this book made me like more than I had. I would pick Aedion over Rowan though. I know, blasphemy! I gave this a solid five stars.

Maiden

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This was probably my least favorite book for October. I like for books to grab me but this one just grabbed me in the  wrong way. I wanted to love it, I really did. The cover is beautiful and the synopsis sounds amazing but it was such a let down. You can see a review here.

Tower Of Dawn

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I was hoping after reading Empire of Storms this wouldn’t be a letdown and I’m glad it wasn’t! I really enjoyed getting to see how everything turned out with Chaol and seeing another side of him beside the captain of the guard. I have not read the latest and final book, Kingdom of Ash, but plan to do so hopefully this month! I gave it five stars.

Illuminae

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Ugh, what a rush! I loved this book and didn’t want it to end. The characters are hilarious and the villian, if you want to call him that, is a breath of fresh air. Seriously, do yourself a favor and read this book! If you have audible I would recommend the audio book since it is a full cast and amazing! I gave this a solid five stars.

Gemina

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Obviously after listening to the first book I had to pick up the second right away. Again, this series is amazing and it is a must read for any sci-fi/fantasy readers! This book follows a different set of characters but still ties into the timeline of the first. The audio book is still a full cast and so so good. Another five stars.

Obsidio

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If you thought this series was done, well it wasn’t and of course it needed to be read right away for me! Again, read this series! I am obsessed and my heart broke when I realized this world was over and I would have no more to read from it. This one follows a different set of characters than the first two but ties up all three nicely at the end. Please, read these books! Again, another five stars.

Boneless Mercies

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I didn’t know if I would like this book but I am glad I went on a whim. One, the cover is gorgeous and I need it for my shelf. Two, it is about a group of girls heading out to find glory. It has great action, friendships, and none of the exaggerated romance. I gave it four stars.

How to Hang a Witch

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I kept seeing this book on Instagram and thought why not. The beginning was alright, the main character was a little annoying, but once I got past that it started getting good. I did end up enjoying it and the ending was great. It has a bit of mystery and paranormal which I think adds a lot. It got three stars.

Haunting the Deep

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Haunting the Deep comes right after How to Hang a Witch. You follow the same characters around and the mystery and paranormal is still there. A lot of the characters in the first become better friends in the second and its nice to see that progression. I loved this book more than the first and am hoping there will be a third. I gave this book five stars.

The Cruel Prince

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This book along with A Throne of Glass series I just don’t get the hype. It was a decent read but I just can’t say that I liked it that much. I will most likely read the second, The Wicked King, just because I’ve already started but we shall see. I gave it three stars.

Evenfall

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Here was another NetGalley read that I finished in October. It was good but not my favorite. I gave it four stars and a better review can be found here.

Overall, I’d say October was a good month and can’t wait to see what I get finished in November!