November Recap and December TBR

Read in November

I decided to make November my catch-up month and go without a theme. In the past that let me read books I was excited about and ARCa that didn't fit a theme. And while I got to do that this November, I wasn't quite blown away by all by one book this months, though many of them were good reads. Here is the full list of books I read in November.

1.) In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken

Rating: 9 out of 10 [Full Review]

2.) The Map to Everywhere by Carrie Ryan and John Parke Davies Rating: 8.5 out of 10 [Full Review]

3.) Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Rating: 7.5 out of 10 [Full Review]

4.) The Job by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

Rating: 9 out of 10 [Full Review]

5.) Legion by Brandon Sanderson

Rating: 8.5 out of 10 [Full Review]

6.) The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Rating: 9.5 out of 10  [Full Review]

7.) Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger

Rating: 8 out of 10 [Full Review]

8.) Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger

Rating: 8.5 out of 10 [Full Review]

9.) Legion: Skin Deep by Brandon Sanderson

Rating: 9 out of 10 [Full Review]

10.) Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios

Rating: 8.5 out of 10 [Full Review]

Other Posts

- Blogoversary Reflection and Interview with Violet at Paper Worlds and Swirls of Ink.

- Discussion Post: Book Polygamy

- Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Tag

To Read in December: Science Fiction Theme

This month's theme is Science Fiction. And I am trying to stick to more traditional science fiction. So while Dystopia is considered SciFi I'm staying clear of that subgenre. I'm thinking time travel, parallel universes, space odysseys. I haven't read much of that lately and there is a lot of really great stuff coming out in the SciFi avenue so I'm excited to check it out.

ARCs that Fit the Theme

1.) Zodiac by Romina Russell - Add to Goodreads

This one is the start of a new series that is a space adventure with worlds based on astrology. I'm really intrigued and excited about this one despite hearing some mixed reviews.

2.) This Shattered World by Aime Kaufman and Meagan Spooner - Add to Goodreads

I was blown away by These Broken Stars and I'm so excited to continue with this series. I'm expecting another mindblowing plot, new complex characters, and unlikely romance.

3.) The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon - Add to Goodreads

I loved the world of The Bone Season and found it much more Science Fictiony than I expected. Plus it looks like this one will be more about what's happening in London which I'm excited about.

ARCs that Don't Fit the Theme

4.) Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay - Add to Goodreads

I finished this one the other day and it's an interesting YA high fantasy and fairy tale retelling with a swoony romance. (Review coming tomorrow) 

5.) Beautiful Curse by Jen McConnel - Add to Goodreads

This is my current read and so far I'm enjoying this paranormal romance that is a modern retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche. 

6.) The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant - Add to Goodreads

I got a last minute ARC of this one but it sounds really good. It's historical fiction about a woman telling her story about growing up in Boston in the early 20th Century.

Series to Marathon - Insignia Trilogy by S.J. Kincaid

7.) Insignia by S.J. Kincaid - Add to Goodreads

8.) Vortex by S.J. Kincaid - Add to Goodreads

9.) Catalyst by S.J. Kincaid - Add to Goodreads

This series has been called "Hogwarts in space" which I'm on board for. It sounds like a good space adventure series with an interesting world and complex characters so I'm excited. 

Backup Books

- A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray - Add to Goodreads

This one was on the list but then I got some last minute ARCs and it got bumped but I'm still excited about reading this book about parallel universes.

- Dissonance by Ericka O'Rourke - Add to Goodreads

I've heard really good things about this book that is also about parallel universes and it was on the list for my SciFi month but it also got bumped for some ARCs

- And Another Thing by Eoin Colfer - Add to Goodreads

I'm a big fan of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series and I initially didn't want to read this "sequel" but I got a really cheap copy and then a friend who liked the series recommended it.

How about you? What are you planning on reading in December? Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

October Wrap Up and November TBR

Read in October: Psuedo-Halloween Supernatural/Thrillers

October was an interesting reading month for me. I'm not a big fan of Horror but I do like creepy and atmospheric reads this time of year. So I thought I would read Supernatural and/or Thrillers this month. And while I did have some great reads like The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater, a lot of the books I had planned kind of disappointed in the creepiness department. Here's the full list

1.) The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater 

Rating: 9 out of 10 [Full Review]

2.) A Sudden Light by Garth Stein 

Rating: 7 out of 10 [Full Review]

3.) Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn 

Rating: 8.5 out of 10 [Full Review]

4.) Of Monsters and Madness by Jessica Verday 

Rating: 6.5 out of 10 [Full Review]

5.) Blackbird by Anna Carey 

Rating: 8 out of 10 [Full Review]

6.) The Turn of the Screw by Henry James 

Rating: 8.5 out of 10 [Full Review]

7.) The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater 

Rating: 9 out of 10 [Full Review]

8.) Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater 

Rating: 9.5 out of 10 [Full Review]

9.) Rooms by Lauren Oliver 

Rating: 9 out of 10 [Full Review]

To Read in November: No Theme? What Madness!

So I have decided to make November my "freebie" month. I like to do themes here on the blog and it's good to every six months cut the theme and just read those books that don't really fit in with some of the other books. I like having some direction but it's also good to not be too structured. I actually asked you guys what I should read.

The Series: Finishing School by Gail Carriger

Etiquette & Espionage - Add to Goodreads, Corsets & Conspiracies - Add to Goodreads, and Weapons & Waistcoats - Add to Goodreads

Book Three in this series comes out tomorrow and Gail Carriger has been on my list for awhile. So when I saw copies of all three books available on Netgalley I scooped them up. I've been loving the steampunk worlds lately so I'm excited for this series!

The ARCs

The Map to Everywhere by Carrie Ryan and John Parke Davis - Add to Goodreads

I started this one already, it's a MG portal fantasy and is pretty good so far. I'm surprised by how it's taking me this long to get through it but I'm hoping that it's just because the plot hasn't picked up yet.

The Job by Janet Evonavich and Lee Goldberg - Add to Goodreads

I read book two in this series,The Chase, in April and it was pretty good. A quick and fun mystery from an author that I really enjoy. I'm excited to continue with these characters and their hijinx

Others

In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken - Add to Goodreads

The final book in The Darkest Minds trilogy. I read most of this one already and it is so good and full of feels. I'm so attached to these characters, I really don't want to let them go! Don't rip my heart out Alex! I've already cried four times including at lease one bout of sobbing so bad I couldn't see!

The Young Elites by Marie Lu - Add to Goodreads

By far this book won when I asked what I should read in November. It had the most votes out of everything else so it is definitely going on the list. I'm so excited to read a hardcore villain/anti-hero story. Everyone says it's really good too!

Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios - Add to Goodreads

This was not the winning ARC when I asked you all but that one has a December release date so I'm picking this one as my audiobook. I had heard a little preview of it when the book was being released and I liked it so far so I'm going to give it a go on my drive home for Thanksgiving.

Backup Books

So I'm trying to put less pressure on myself this month and not plan 10 books which I then don't finish and fell bad about. Also most of these are e-books which I tend to read slower. But in case I finish these here are three more possibilities based on your voting. I may actually get you all to vote if I end up reading one of these.

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch - Add to Goodreads
I was really excited about this one but for some reason my excitement has waned a little bit. I think it's because I've been a little burned out by high fantasies. I may wait for this one until the next book in the series comes out next.

Talon by Julie Kagawa - Add to Goodreads
I've seen some mixed reviews of this one but I'm still pretty intrigued by this "dragons walk among us" thing and it was one of the more popular votes when I asked what I should read.

Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley - Add to Goodreads

I've seen some great reviews of this book and it sounds like one I would really enjoy. It's been a little bit since I read some Historical Fiction and this is a period that I love.

All Line Up by Cora Carmack - Add to Goodreads
I recently won a copy of the second book in this series but I haven't read the first one yet so I should probably get on that. In January one of my bookish resolution was to read some NA and I haven't done it yet, so this seems like the perfect combination

That's my plan. I'm also still considering doing NaNoWriMo. Work is really busy this week but then things will start to slow down so we'll see how I feel once I have a little bit more free time and get a few books under my belt. 

What are you reading this month? Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Top Ten Tuesday: Fall TBR (HELP ME PICK WHAT TO READ)

A weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish 

It was kind of a struggle for me to come up with a list of my most anticipated fall reads. As most of you know I do themed months here on the blog. For October I am doing a pseudo-Halloween theme and reading books that are either Supernatural or Thrillers. Some books I am really excited about in that theme including Rooms by Lauren Oliver, The Raven Boys series by Maggie Steivfater, and Blackbird by Anna Carey.

For November however I am doing a freebie month. I like to do them every six months just to let me catch up on some books I may have missed because they didn't fit the theme or read some highly anticipated new releases. The only books I know I'm reading are In the Afterlight because I have to know how The Darkest Minds Trilogy ends and the Finishing School Series by Gail Carriger. Other than that I have only a vague idea of the 4-6 other books I will be reading.

That's when I got an idea. While I need a freebie month, I love knowing what to read. It keeps me focused especially because I usually read a bunch of books at once. So I've decided to do something a little different. I want you to help me decide. In the comment section down below pick one "To Buy" book and one ARC you think I should read. I will read the most popular first and then go from there. So friends, help me pick what to read!

Fall Releases to Buy 

1.) Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch - I've been waiting on this one for so long! I love the sound of this world and magical system. It was going to be a definite read but then I saw some reviews of...

2.) The Young Elites by Marie Lu - Everyone is raving about this book. It's totally a me book with magic, mystery, and a dubious protagonist. I cannot stop thinking about how badly I want to read it!

3.) Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White - I've been seeing a lot of good reviews for this lately (it comes out today) and it sounds really fascinating! I love the idea of magic and class structure combined.

4.) All Lined Up and All Broke Down by Cora Carmack - I have been meaning to try some NA and these sound up my alley. I have a copy of All Lined up and All Broke Down comes out in November. Plus fall and football just makes sense

5.) The Lost and The Missing by Sarah Beth Durst - I have a copy of The Lost which sounds really interesting and the second book comes out in November.

Fall ARCS to Read

6.) The Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley - Historical Fiction set in a period I love reading about with diverse characters. I've heard good things and I've heard it is real emotional!

7.) Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios - I was supposed to read this one in September but I was a bad blogger and only read one ARC... oops! But I'm still interested in this story of djinn despite seeing some mixed reviews.

8.) The Walled City by Ryan Graudin - Another one with diverse characters but this has a really intriguing plot and sounds mysterious. It sounds dystopian but it's not. I'm hoping for another dark and gritty story about characters doing dubious things.

9.) Talon by Julie Kagawa - I've seen some mixed reviews of this but dragons disguised as people sounds very interesting. Plus I have yet to read any Julie Kagawa and I've heard good things about her writing.

10.) Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay - Game of Thrones meets Grimm Fairy Tales? Sold! This book sounds kickass and I am pumped (reading in December if I don't in November) 

So again, in the comments section below add your vote for which ARC and which new release you think I should read in the fall.