February Wrap Up and March TBR

Read in February: Dragons

Ugh! Well that didn't go well. I had high hopes for February, but alas, work and life got in the way again and I didn't quite have the great reading month. I did not read that many books at all this month. If I'm being entirely honest it's because I would rather watch Outlander and other stuff on Netflix and Amazon instead of  I have a not quite actual goal of reading 10 books a month and after once again rushing to finish a comic I ended up reading 7 books. Not a great showing but it is what it is.

For challenges, this year I'm sort of only low key doing challenges. I set a Goodreads goal of reading 120 books in a year. I'm on track for that with 18 books total for the year but I should probably pick up steam a little. For the rest of the challenges I only low key set them. I want to read 20 debuts this year. I read one this month so I'm at three total. I want to read 36 books from Netgalley and Edelweiss and I only read 1 this month. I haven't really been reading e-books lately so this might be a problem. I also want to read 20 backlist books. This month I read 2 so I'm doing well on that.

The Books

1.) Reign the Earth by A.C. Gaughen Rating: 9.5 out of 10 [My Review]
2.) Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander  
(aka J.K. Rowling) Rating: 8.5 out of 10 [My Review]
3.) Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman Rating: 9 out of 10 [My Review]
4.) To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo Rating: 9 out of 10 [My Review]
5.) Talon by Julie Kagawa Rating: 8.5 out of 10 [My Review]
6.) Blood of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza 
Rating: 9 out of 10 [My Review]

7.) Supergirl Vol. 1: Reign of the Cyborg Superman by Steve Orlando,
Brian Ching, and Mike Ativen Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

To Be Read in March: Historical Fiction

I think it would be optimistic to read 12 books in March but a girl's gotta aim high. There are a few books I am super excited about and I have a few audiobook rereads planned so maybe I will be able to make it happen. We shall see.

Books for Review

The Radical Element by Jessica Spotswood and many  - Add to Goodreads
I am so excited for this book. I loved A Tyranny of Petticoats and I am super excited for another collection of short stories. Plus even more authors I love are featured in this book.

Chaotic Good by Whitney Gardner - Add to Goodreads

I really loved Whitney's Debut and I am excited for her next book. Plus I always really like contemporary reads with nerdy characters so this sounds right up my alley.

Nothing But Sky by Amy Trueblood  - Add to Goodreads
I am super excited about this book. I love historical books that have something to do with planes, I love books set in World War I, I like books about strong female characters and this combines all three.

Pacifica by Kristen Simmons - Add to Goodreads

Despite having interest and even getting a few of her books I have year to read a Kristen Simmons. Maybe this will be my first.

Carmegie's Maid by Marie Benedict - Add to Goodreads
I picked this book up at ALA because Andrew Carnegie spent a lot of time in Pittsburgh. Also it sounded interesting.

New Releases

Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff - Add to Goodreads

The last book in the Illuminae Files comes out this month! I can't wait. I'm so excited that I have already started my audio reread of the series.

The Wicked Deep by Shea Earnshaw - Add to Goodreads

This book sounds totally amazing and I can't wait to read it. I preordered a copy and I can't wait for it to arrive. I mean it's about witches and sisters so yeah, I need to read it.

Bygone Badass Broads by Mackenzie Lee - Add to Goodreads
This book just came out and I am a huge fan of Mackenzi's and love her Bygone Badass Broads posts on Twitter. I'm going to her signing today in fact and can't wait!

Backlist Books

The Arsonist by Stephanie Oakes - Add to Goodreads
I have been wanting to read this book for ages. My friend Michelle let me borrow it and I really think this will be the time.

The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough - Add to Goodreads
I got a copy of this from a a TBTB Secret Santa (thanks, Alyssa!) and I have not yet read it. But it sounds really fantastic and I trust the recommendation.


There you have it. Some of the books I hope to read in March. As always, these are subject to change. I may read all of these or I may only read a few and then read a bunch of different ones. But honestly I think this list I can stick to. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Audiobook Review: Blood of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza

Title: Blood of a Thousand Skies Series: Empress of a Thousand Skies #2 Written by: Rhoda Belleza Published: October 28, 2014 by Harlequin Teen (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Empress With a revolution brewing, Rhee is faced with a choice: make a deal with her enemy, Nero, or denounce him and risk losing her crown. Fugitive Framed assassin Alyosha has one goal in mind: kill Nero. But to get his revenge, Aly may have to travel back to the very place he thought he’d left forever—home. Princess Kara knows that a single piece of technology located on the uninhabitable planet Wraeta may be the key to remembering—and erasing—the princess she once was. Madman Villainous media star Nero is out for blood, and he’ll go to any means necessary to control the galaxy. Vicious politics and high-stakes action culminate in an epic showdown that will determine the fate of the universe.

I really liked Empress of a Thousand Skies. It was one of my favorite debuts of last year because it was an amazing audiobook with a plot full of political intrigue in space. I was really excited for the next book in the series to find out what would happen next.

One of the great things about this book was the plot development. Not that I particularly remember the plot of the first book but I think it was a little different than this one. It was less action-packed maybe, but still with plenty of surprises and plenty of political intrigue. Many of the information from the first book came into play in a big way in this book which was really cool. It also really built to an exciting conclusion that had me nervous and ultimately very surprised. However I do think the plot dragged a little bit. There was a lot of moving parts and they all had to line up for things to move along and I think that really kind of complicated things. When we did finally reach the climax it moved entirely too fast and there was so little falling action. You would have thoughts there was another book coming the way it all wrapped up but there isn't.

But I will say, there was also a good amount of political intrigue. So much of this book involved the hunt to fund and keep power. It's not there was a lot of plotting and scheming though, it was more just constant shifts. So many shifts that I couldn't really keep things straight. But that all worked together for me to make an engaging read. We also learned more about the world and some of it's technological aspects as well as some of the religious elements of the book but I think I would have liked more from the political.

One thing I do think this book did much better was character development. In this book we alternated perspectives between Rhee, Alyosha, and Kara. Being in each of their heads we had to get to know them all very well. I really liked each of the characters in the first book and found them just as likable and complex in this book. For both Rhee and Kara they are torn between what they want and what is expected of them. For Kara that is all the more heightened because she is only just realizing who she is. There's a subtle story of discovery in this book. But more Kara meant less Aly. I loved Alyosha in the first book and I wish he got a little more screen time, but I totally respect that the two females got top billing. Their stories were interesting and I wanted to see them succeed.

I am mostly glad that I listened to the audiobook of this one. I listened to the audio of the first book in the series and as always I loved Rebecca Soler's narration. She does an amazing job in embodying the characters. She brought the sass and uncertainty of Rhee, the strength and caring of Aly, and the thoughtfulness and toughness of Kara. I love how she gives them their own felling and voice. Plus she captures the action and adventure of the book. This book is just one more example of why she is one of my favorite narrators.

I really enjoyed this book. It's not perfect but it was a fantastic read with an engaging plot, great characters, and a fantastic audiobook. I do wish the plot wasn't so complex and it had more info about the politics but I still really enjoyed it.

I give Blood of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. If you liked the first book in this series I recommend you pick this one up. But if you haven't an you are intrigued by a book that is political intrigue in space then I recommend this series. Plus I would definitely recommend the audio.

Have you read Blood of a Thousand Skies? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Waiting on Wednesday: Providence by Caroline Kepnes

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: Providence Published: June 19, 2018 by Lenny Books (Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: A propulsive new thriller about the obsessive nature of love when an intensifying relationship between best friends is disrupted by a kidnapping. Growing up as best friends in small-town New Hampshire, Jon and Chloe are the only ones who truly understand each other, though they can never find the words to tell one another the depth of their feelings. When Jon is finally ready to confess his feelings, he's suddenly kidnapped by his substitute teacher who is obsessed with H.P. Lovecraft and has a plot to save humanity. Mourning the disappearance of Jon and facing the reality he may never return, Chloe tries to navigate the rites of entering young adulthood and "fit in" with the popular crowd, but thoughts of Jon are never far away. When Jon finally escapes, he discovers he now has an uncontrollable power that endangers anyone he has intense feelings for. He runs away to protect Chloe and find the answers to his new identity--but he's soon being tracked by a detective who is fascinated by a series of vigilante killings that appear connected. Whisking us on a journey through New England and crashing these characters' lives together in the most unexpected ways, Kepnes explores the complex relationship between love and identity, unrequited passion and obsession, self-preservation and self-destruction, and how the lines are often blurred between the two.

Why I'm Waiting:

I loved the You duology by Caroline Kepnas. They were some of my favorite books of the year when I read them. They were really complex and dark mysteries and thrillers. I loved the characters and how you were in the head of a serial killer who was still very sympathetic, watching him murder people. I didn't even know she was coming out with a new book but when I did I knew I needed to read it!

But even if I didn't love this author I probably would still want to read this book. It sounds like a truly fascinating read with a kidnapping, Lovecraft, and what I think is a little bit of a supernatural element. I'm also super excited to read a book that takes place in Providence. When I read You it made me miss Rhode Island and I have since moved back there and am interested to see in Kepnes does it justice.
,
I am definitely excited about this book. I was approved for an e-ARC on Netgalley so I am hoping to read it sooner rather than later. But I think I will save it for the summertime because I love to read thriller in the summer. There is just something about reading a gripping read on the beach and this will be such a perfect one.

What about you? What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Are you waiting on Providence along with me? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Could Reread Multiple Times But Have Only Read Once

A weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

I have done a fair amount of rereads, of course I've read Harry Potter a million times, and favorites like Little Women and The Historian. Mostly what I reread is series. I tend to reread the first few books in a series when the new book comes out. But there are plenty of favorites that I have not reread a bunch of times. So I decided to spin this a little bit and talk about the books I love but haven't read multiple times.

1.) The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
This is one of my all-time favorite books, it's the book that inspired me to start this blog, and yet I have only read it once. I want to reread it again and I need to get the audiobook so I can do just that.

2.) Wuthering Heights by Charlotte Bronte
I read this book like eight years ago and read it so much faster than I thought because I loved it so much I couldn't put it down. I really want to reread it as well and think it would be a great audiobook.

3.) Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
I'm a big Brandon Sanderson fan and this is one of my favorite series. I feel like if I reread it I would notice all the clues and hints that I missed the first time and honestly I'm a little nervous about that. But also probably I will love it because it's that good.

4.) The Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifvater
I know plenty of people of people have read this book multiple times and despite the fact that I loved this books so much I am not one of those people. But I want to be.

5.) The Magicians by Lev Grossman
I love this series a lot. It has been a long time since I read the first book, and I want to reread the whole series. I have wanted to reread the series and listen to the audiobooks when the TV series first came out but I haven't done that yet.

6.) Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
The movie is coming out soon and I really need to reread this one before I watch the movie. I actually want to read the book. I listened to the audio, which is great, but I think it would be interesting to read the book this time around.

7.) Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
I planned to reread this book when Hunting Prince Dracula came out but that was when I was moving and my reading time got really messed with. But I totally plan to do it when Escaping from Houdini comes out.

8.) Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
This was my favorite book of last year and I want to reread it. I'm going to a signing for Mackenzi's new book this week and I just bought a copy of it so it's making me want to reread. Although I'd probably listen to the audiobook.

9.) The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
I really love this series and yet I have only read each of the books once, even when new books have come out. But it's been so long that when the next book comes out I am definitely going to have to reread and refresh.

10.) A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
So I watched the TV show first, I know... SHAME, and have only read the books once. I really need to reread to get all the theories flowing, especially before the final season of the show comes out.

There you have it, all the books I want to have read a million times but have only read once. Have you read any of these books multiple times? What books have you read a bunch? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Audiobook Review: Talon by Julie Kagawa

Title: Talon Series: Talon Saga #1 Written by: Julie Kagawa Published: October 28, 2014 by Harlequin Teen (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser. Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George. Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher at BEA four years ago in exchange for an honest opinion. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

When I was deciding that I wanted to do a dragon themed month I looked through some of my backlist books to see what I might have that fit and I found this one. Not only do I have an ARC I got at my first BEA but I also has an audio. So I felt like I needed to read it. And I'm glad I did because I really liked this book, in fact I liked it more than I expected.

I went into this book expecting it to be a paranormal romance that felt like an urban fantasy kind of book. And yes, there were those elements. This had all the trappings of an old school YA. There was a predictable love triangle, and a lot more romance than I really care for in my books. At the beginning I found myself getting a little annoyed at these elements but in the end it kind of won me over. I think I may have even shipped it in the end. I felt like the love triangle kind of worked even though it was so obvious who the main character likes. Normally these kinds of things would make me not like a book but here it was only a minor frustration.

I think that is because I did actually like the characters here. We kind of have three main characters even though two  get most of the attention. Arguably the main character is Ember. She is a dragon who is being trained by a shadowy agency for dragons called Talon. She is headstrong and independent, questioning everything. I really liked that about her and it made her a good main character. I wanted to know all the secrets and meanings along with Ember. The other main character is Garret, a soldier and dragon hunter. Garret is the prefect soldier but he is also kind and caring. Both he and Ember have similar development throughout the book as they learn what they have been told by their organizations may not be entirely true. It them likable and complex characters and allowed me to overlook some of the other character elements.

As far as the plot goes it was definitely more advanced than I expected but still suffered from a bit of first book syndrome. I have the feeling that this is the start of a pretty good spy series full of action and adventure. There were traces of that here but it never really developed in the way that I would have liked. Now there were plenty of narrow escapes and a lot of twists and turns. There was a good amount of action and surprises to keep me reading from beginning to end. In fact the book did really built to an exciting conclusion which I did appreciate. I only wish there wasn't quite so much exposition, especially in the beginning.

But one of the things that there wasn't a lot of that I surprisingly enjoyed was world building. This is definitely a book about dragons and I loved seeing the dragons in action and learning about them and their history. There is a lot more to learn about the dragons, Talon, and the Order of St George in later books. Here we only got to learn a taste of all of that in this book. Julie Kagawa did a great job of building out the world by showing us instead of telling us about what it is like. It did a great job of drawing me in and engaging me in the book.

Speaking of drawing me in, this audiobook was really amazing. One of the main reason I picked up this audiobook is because it's narrated by MacLeod Andrews. He is one of my favorite narrators and he did an amazing job with this book. he brought Garret to life, toughness and caring and all. There were two more narrators as well. One who voiced Ember and one who voiced Riley/Cobalt. I love when audiobooks have multiple narrators and I appreciated that here as well. It gave the audio a lot of depth and helped make the characters as enjoyable as there were.

On the whole I enjoyed this book. It wasn't perfect but it had complex characters, a good plot, and an interesting world I want to learn more about. I am interested to see where the storu goes from here I just don't know when I would be able to finish the series.

I give Talon by Julie Kagawa 8.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. If you are a fan of paranormal romances or like reading books about dragons I would suggest this one. I'm a little late to the party so I think a fair amount of people have already read it. But if, like me, you haven't then I say pick it up.

Have you read Talon? What did you think? Also, if you're up to date with this series should I finish it? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

Title: To Kill a Kingdom Written by: Alexandra Christo Published: March 8, 2018 by Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever. The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?

*** I received an advance copy of this book from Michelle who got it from the publisher in exchange for an honest opinion. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

When Michelle told me she had an ARC of this book and asked me if I wanted to read I immediately said yes. It sounded like a completely brilliant story, and it was. It was a dark YA fantasy with great characters and a fascinating world.

My first thought about this book is how dark and brutal that it is. If this is a Little Mermaid retelling, and I think it most certainly is, it's a very dark one. This book doesn't pull any punches when it comes to the brutality pf the world and plot. The characters are vicious, the plot is bloody, and the world is intense. I love my fantasy to be on the darker side and I very much appreciated that with this book. It added the drama and interest of the book.

The plot added to the drama as well. I don't think that it's the most cohesive plot but it was a pretty interesting one. For one thing there was the  retelling aspect. I can't say that I have read a lot of Little Mermaid retellings but they are typically really interesting ones and this was no exception. I loved the changes that the author made. It elements of the familiar story but still made it a story all its own. But there was more to it that that. There was a good amount of political intrigue and plenty of action. It did built to an exciting conclusion but if I am being entirely honest I wish there were more twists and turns along the way. It's not that this book was trying to be a mystery it's just that I like a good mystery and I wish this book had one.

The plot of this book was also dull of drama and darkness. In the beginning of the book we are introduced to the world of the sirens, controlled by the Sea Queen, ripping out hearts to celebrate their birthdays. There is a culture and history to the sirens that was inventive and engaging. I really liked learning about them and seeing it all play out. Then later in the book we learn about the human kingdoms and the war they have been having with the sirens. It was just another interesting layer to the story.  But I do kind of wish we learned more about it, particularly the history of the world. I had thought and hoped there was more to it but like the plot, that's just me overthinking things and wanted a mystery and twists that didn't exist.

I also enjoyed the characters. They were intense and complex. We really have two main characters here. Lira, who is the daughter of the Sea Queen, and Elian who is a prince and wannabe pirate. Both characters, while different, are similar in that they want to be what they desire independent of their families expectations of them. Lira is tough and headstrong while Elian is smart and dedicated to his people and purpose. I was rooting for both characters to get what they wanted even when those two things were different. But they were even better together. They had great banter and by the end I think their relationship even one me over. It wasn't super swoony but it kind of surprised me that I enjoyed it.

All in all I think this was a good read and a very enjoyable debut. As a fan of dark fantasies I really enjoyed of intense and brutal it was. I'd love a prequel so I could learn more about the world.

I give To Kill a Kingdom by Alexander Christo 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. I really enjoyed this book. Fans of dark YA fantasies should check it out. And also if you are looking for a new and different fairy tale retelling with a lot of magic then pick up this book.

Have you read To Kill a Kingdom? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Series I've Decided I No Longer Want to Read/Finish

A weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

1.) The Remnant Chronicles by Mary Pearson
I know a lot of people love this series. I am not one of those people. I was super excited about the first book, I loved the tension and mystery, then suddenly it became a travel and all the drama was gone. I'm not really interested in more.

2.) Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Another series that a ton of people love and I just couldn't get into. I'm not a big contemporary fan and I tried this series because I know a lot of people love it. But it just wasn't for me. I didn't like the romance and I didn't love the characters.

3.) A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
I thought I was gping to love this book and this series. But then I read the first book and hated it so much that I started this blog. I think I heard recently that they are doing a TV show and I am slightly tempted to watch it, but not finish the series.

4.) Elemental Trilogy by Sherry Thomas
The first book in this series was okay, and for awhile I considered reading the next book in the series. But mostly I was just curious to have my theories validated and to own them because the covers are so pretty. But over time I have just lost interest.

 5.) Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves
The second book in this duology comes out soon and I really don't want to read it. I saw it on Netgalley and considered requesting it but then I remembered that I wasn't blown away by the first book and would rather read something I would love.

6.) The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
This is another book I was super excited to read but didn't love as much as I had hoped and another series I want to own because the covers are so pretty. But I just saw the new cover and while I thought it was beautiful I have no interest in reading it.

7.) Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
I was not super impressed by the first book in this series. But it wasn't as dark as I was hoping or as interesting a retelling. So when the new books in the series came out I just had no interest in reading the rest.

8.) Zodiac by Romina Russell
I thought this was going to be an amazing YA science fiction series but it didn't blow me away. I mean don't get me wrong, it was fine. But it wasn't so good that I had much interest in reading more books in the series. Plus I think it's up to four books now and I'm just not interested.

9.) Kingdom of Fire by Jessica Cluess
I just saw the cover for the third book in this series and my first thought was "wow, is there still more books coming out in that series?" I'm just not all that interested in reading them. The first book was fine but I'm not invested enough to read more.

10.) The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey
I saw the cover for the third book in this series and thought it looked really cool and then I saw what it was for and I lost interest. I thought this book was going to be a total be book but it wasn't and I don't want to finish it.

11.) Reawakened by Collen Houck
I was super excited to read a book inspired by Egyptian mythology. But I really just wasn't impressed by this book. It was just too cliché a supernatural romance. The covers are cool but that's where my interest in this series ends.

12.) The Black Angel Chronicles by Kristen Orlando
I read the first book in this series recently and I was super excited for a spy novel but that's not really what this book was. It was much more of a contemporary romance. But with the second book coming out I just am not interested.

There you have it. All the series I have decided I'm not interested in reading anymore or finishing. Have you read any of these series? What did you think? Are there any that I should actually finish? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!