Category: Books

November 2020 Round Up

LaurenLeave a comment

Well hello. How are you? Did you have a good Turkey Day? Was your Black Friday shopping fruitful? I hope you got all the good deals.

I don’t really do Black Friday shopping unless its online from my couch. Cyber Monday is my jam.

What I Read in October 2020: We have to put those monthly qualifiers on everything, don’t we? This post was, obviously, a list of everything I read in October.

Birthday or October 2020 Book Haul: This is exactly what it says on the tin. A list of all the books I bought during my birthday month!

What to Read-My November TBR: This is my TBR for November! What a short list!

November 2020 New Releases I Want!: My list of new releases for November that I, or people that live in my house, want.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue-A Book Review: Spoiler alert, I liked this book. A lot. You can find the full review here.

Bookish Gifts to Give This Holiday Season: I complied a list of some of my favorite book related gifts to give! Because who wouldn’t want a candle that smells like a bookstore?

The Book Nook: What a fun little piece of art the book nook is. I loved finding this list of book nooks for you!

100th Blog Post: I put together a list of some of my favorite blog posts from the last 99 posts.

Happy Thanksgiving: I wrote a very, very short Thanksgiving day post.

This was a good month for blog posts it seems, except for book reviews. I need to do more of those.

How was your November?

The Book Nook

Lauren2 Comments

No, I don’t mean a place you can hide away with a good book. Though those are awesome.

I am talking about dioramas that are the size of a book that fit on your bookcase to liven things up.

I mean look at this one by the Etsy Shop BooknookFR

You can find it here. It’s of Diagon Alley! How great is that!

Or how about this book nook by DungeonKeep

You can find this one here.

I love this book nook that looks like an Asian village by StudioInteriorS.

You can find this one here.

The downside to these really detailed book nooks is that they can cost over a hundred dollars. And before you say anything, no, I can’t make one myself. This is a particular talent I don’t have.

Though I have discovered that they do make kits so you can build your own, those can cost as much as an already made one. So…yeah. Do your own thing.

None of this stops me from wanting one. Guess i’ll just have to save up.

By the way, one of these would make a great holiday gift for that bookish friend of yours.

Bookish Gifts to Give This Holiday Season

Lauren1 Comment

Tis the season! Hooray!!! It’s time for snow and cold weather and wearing all the layers.

Unless you live in Texas like I do, then its not going to be any of those things.

But it’s still going to be the Holiday Season! Huzzah!

It’s also the time to stress out about what gift you are going to give that book lover in your life. But because they already have all the books, and you don’t want to buy them anymore lest their bookshelves collapse, I’ve prepared a list of items you might want to procure for your wayward bibliophile.

And I’m not gonna lie, all of these are off of Etsy. Support small businesses!

This candle that might just smell like a bookstore. And only $7 on Etsy!

This bookish t-shirt is fantastic! Who doesn’t love a good RBG quote? Plus it comes in sizes up to a 3XL! It’s $12-$17 (depending on the size) on Etsy.

Book Sleeves are amazing gifts for the book lover who can’t go anywhere without a novel of some kind! It protects the book from damage while in their bag. This one is on Etsy for $15-$17 depending on the size.

These Nancy Drew bookmarks are so cute! And who doesn’t need a way to both be nostalgic and hold their place at the same time? I found this on Etsy for $7.

I feel like this mug speaks the truth, and your own Book Dragon will agree. Etsy has this fabulous mug for $19.

These bath bombs are book related, so you can luxuriate in scents and feels based on your favorite books! Only $7 on Etsy.

This is only if you know your bibliophile wont shriek with rage at the sight of a damaged book. This one, btws, also works for the Star Wars fan in your life. Bonus points for the person who is both! This is on Etsy for $56.

Do you have an enamel pin lover in your life? This pin is perfect for them! Look how cute! Etsy. $10.

What about the sticker obsessed? How about these bookish stickers to help with their addiction? I found them on Etsy for $8!

Again, don’t give this to someone how hates damaged books! But look at the pretty! I found this wreath on Etsy for $25.

Who wouldn’t like to go out on a blind date with a book? With this you choose the genre and the recipient has no idea what they are getting. You could do this for yourself too! This was on Etsy for $10.

Every good library needs pretty bookends. How about these blue agate ones for your book lover? Check out this Etsy listing for $48.

I find this tote bag to be true. So will your book loving friend. Etsy has it for $20.

Does your book lover have a TBR cart? How about their fridge? These magnets to decorate it would be a great gift. Etsy has these for 47.50 to $16.50 depending on size.

Did you see anything you would want to gift? What about buy for yourself? I know I’m picking up the Book Dragon mug for myself.

November 2020 New Releases I Want!

Lauren2 Comments

With each month brings new releases! Here is a list of the new releases I am excited for this month!

Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

After forming a coalition of human resistance against the enemy invasion, Dalinar Kholin and his Knights Radiant have spent a year fighting a protracted, brutal war. Neither side has gained an advantage, and the threat of a betrayal by Dalinar’s crafty ally Taravangian looms over every strategic move.

Now, as new technological discoveries by Navani Kholin’s scholars begin to change the face of the war, the enemy prepares a bold and dangerous operation. The arms race that follows will challenge the very core of the Radiant ideals, and potentially reveal the secrets of the ancient tower that was once the heart of their strength.

At the same time that Kaladin Stormblessed must come to grips with his changing role within the Knights Radiant, his Windrunners face their own problem: As more and more deadly enemy Fused awaken to wage war, no more honorspren are willing to bond with humans to increase the number of Radiants. Adolin and Shallan must lead the coalition’s envoy to the honorspren stronghold of Lasting Integrity and either convince the spren to join the cause against the evil god Odium, or personally face the storm of failure.

Release Date: November 14, 2020

This is book four set in Branden Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive. I haven’t read a single book in this series. So why is it on this list, you may ask? Cause the Hubs is really looking forward to this. It’s already pre-ordered and plans to have nothing to do for two days have been made.

Ready Player Two by Earnest Cline

Days after winning OASIS founder James Halliday’s contest, Wade Watts makes a discovery that changes everything.

Hidden within Halliday’s vaults, waiting for his heir to find, lies a technological advancement that will once again change the world and make the OASIS a thousand times more wondrous—and addictive—than even Wade dreamed possible.

With it comes a new riddle, and a new quest—a last Easter egg from Halliday, hinting at a mysterious prize.

And an unexpected, impossibly powerful, and dangerous new rival awaits, one who’ll kill millions to get what he wants.

Wade’s life and the future of the OASIS are again at stake, but this time the fate of humanity also hangs in the balance.

Release Date: November 24, 2020

I’m not gonna lie, this is the one that I am that I am the most apprehensive about. Even the Hubs is like, really?

The Empire Strikes Back: From a Certain Point of View by Various Authors

On May 21, 1980, Star Wars became a true saga with the release of The Empire Strikes Back. In honor of the fortieth anniversary, forty storytellers re-create an iconic scene from The Empire Strikes Back through the eyes of a supporting character, from heroes and villains, to droids and creatures. From a Certain Point of View features contributions by bestselling authors and trendsetting artists:

• Austin Walker explores the unlikely partnership of bounty hunters Dengar and IG-88 as they pursue Han Solo.
• Hank Green chronicles the life of a naturalist caring for tauntauns on the frozen world of Hoth.
• Tracy Deonn delves into the dark heart of the Dagobah cave where Luke confronts a terrifying vision.
• Martha Wells reveals the world of the Ugnaught clans who dwell in the depths of Cloud City.
• Mark Oshiro recounts the wampa’s tragic tale of loss and survival.
• Seth Dickinson interrogates the cost of serving a ruthless empire aboard the bridge of a doomed Imperial starship.

Plus more hilarious, heartbreaking, and astonishing tales from:
Tom Angleberger, Sarwat Chadda, S.A. Chakraborty, Mike Chen, Adam Christopher, Katie Cook, Zoraida Córdova, Delilah S. Dawson, Alexander Freed, Jason Fry, Christie Golden, Rob Hart, Lydia Kang, Michael Kogge, R. F. Kuang, C. B. Lee, Mackenzi Lee, John Jackson Miller, Michael Moreci, Daniel José Older, Amy Ratcliffe, Beth Revis, Lilliam Rivera, Cavan Scott, Emily Skrutskie, Karen Strong, Anne Toole, Catherynne M. Valente, Django Wexler, Kiersten White, Gary Whitta, Brittany N. Williams, Charles Yu, Jim Zub

Release Date: November 10, 2020

I just heard about this series. I haven’t read the first one yet and I am already looking forward to the second one! Who does that? Well, me, apparently. I love the concept of having all these great authors write these short stories in this universe. I am so excited.

Can you tell I’m excited?

The Burning God by R.F. Kuang

After saving her nation of Nikan from foreign invaders and battling the evil Empress Su Daji in a brutal civil war, Fang Runin was betrayed by allies and left for dead. 

Despite her losses, Rin hasn’t given up on those for whom she has sacrificed so much—the people of the southern provinces and especially Tikany, the village that is her home. Returning to her roots, Rin meets difficult challenges—and unexpected opportunities. While her new allies in the Southern Coalition leadership are sly and untrustworthy, Rin quickly realizes that the real power in Nikan lies with the millions of common people who thirst for vengeance and revere her as a goddess of salvation. 

Backed by the masses and her Southern Army, Rin will use every weapon to defeat the Dragon Republic, the colonizing Hesperians, and all who threaten the shamanic arts and their practitioners. As her power and influence grows, though, will she be strong enough to resist the Phoenix’s intoxicating voice urging her to burn the world and everything in it? 

Release Date: November 17, 2020

I cannot wait for this book! Unfortunately, I’m gonna have to cause I’m not allowed to buy any books next month. I banned myself, cause my TBR pile is huge!

Spellbreaker by Charlie N. Holmberg

The orphaned Elsie Camden learned as a girl that there were two kinds of wizards in the world: those who pay for the power to cast spells and those, like her, born with the ability to break them. But as an unlicensed magic user, her gift is a crime. Commissioned by an underground group known as the Cowls, Elsie uses her spellbreaking to push back against the aristocrats and help the common man. She always did love the tale of Robin Hood.

Elite magic user Bacchus Kelsey is one elusive spell away from his mastership when he catches Elsie breaking an enchantment. To protect her secret, Elsie strikes a bargain. She’ll help Bacchus fix unruly spells around his estate if he doesn’t turn her in. Working together, Elsie’s trust in—and fondness for—the handsome stranger grows. So does her trepidation about the rise in the murders of wizards and the theft of the spellbooks their bodies leave behind.

For a rogue spellbreaker like Elsie, there’s so much to learn about her powers, her family, the intriguing Bacchus, and the untold dangers shadowing every step of a journey she’s destined to complete. But will she uncover the mystery before it’s too late to save everything she loves?

Release Date: November 1, 2020

I’ve already pre-ordered this, sort of. It was offered as a Kindle First so I got it for free! Those things are worth their weight in gold! All the free books, for all that they don’t have free fantasy/sci-fi books very often.

Planet Paradise by Jesse Lonergan

To survive after crash landing on an alien planet, a vacationer must battle against a hostile environment, killer lizards, corporate bureaucracy, and the pessimism of her sole companion, the drug-addled captain of the ship.

Release Date: November 17, 2020

I haven’t seen any of the art yet, but if the cover is any indication I might just love this graphic novel. Also, this sounds so funny.

And there you have it. All the new releases I am looking forward to in November of 2020.

What new releases are you eagerly anticipating?

What to Read-My November 2020 TBR

Lauren2 Comments

Well, it’s that time of the month again. The time when all good book bloggers sit down and decide what books they are going to read for the month of whatever.

This month I have chosen five contenders for the top spot. Or just five books I know I want to read over the course of the month.

What joy! What rapture! What a relief I stopped at five!

Our first two book are sequels to books I read last month.

Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire.

This is the story of Liir. The mystery surrounding his life is still unanswered. Is he the Wicked Witches’ son? He sets out on a quest to answer this and other questions in an OZ that is under new and terrible management.

The Defiant Heir by Melissa Caruso

Amalia and her bound Falcon Zaria must go behind enemy lines and use every bit of wit and wisdom they have to prevent war, or both nations may burn.

Cursed by Thomas Wheeler and art by Frank Wheeler

A story about Nimue, who becomes the legendary Lady of the Lake. I’m down for anything King Arthur related.

The Postmortal by Drew Magary

John Farrell is about to get “The Cure.” Old age can never kill him now.
The only problem is, everything else still can . . .

The Road Not Taken by Susan Rubin

Suddenly widowed at 50, a woman is shown all of SpaceTime by the Lost, a species that has been on Earth since the cool down.

And that’s the list of books I am hoping to get through this month. I hope I can do it/remember to read them all!

Birthday or October 2020 Book Haul

Lauren1 Comment

Ya’ll, I turned 40 this year. So I celebrated by buying books. As a result, I’m pretty sure I can skip buying books for the rest of the year.

No really. I’m putting myself on a book buying ban.

Yeah, even I doubt that. But a girl can dream!

I went to Half Priced Books. I also shopped on Thriftbooks.com, and bought a few from Amazon.com.

Here are the books I bought this past month!

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

A story about a girl at a magic school that just might kill you before you graduate.

Cursed by Thomas Wheeler, art by Frank Miller

A new story about a mercenary named Arthur and Nimue, who holds the sword Excalibur.

Skyhunter by Marie Lu

The last free nation of Mara is fighting back against the might Federation. Is their newest prisoner a spy, or the savior of all?

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

A young girl has to pose as a boy to compete to sew three magic dresses and win the role of imperial tailor.

Scythe by Neil Shusterman

Humanity has conquered war and disease. Even death. Now the Scythes are the only one’s who can end life.

The Defiant Heir by Melissa Caruso

Amalia and her bound Falcon Zaria must go behind enemy lines and use every bit of wit and wisdom they have to prevent war, or both nations may burn.

The Unbound Empire by Melissa Caruso

In the sequel to The Defiant Heir, Amalia and her Falcon Zaria have new challenges to face in the court of Raverra. Can they survive?

Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City by K.J. Parker

To save the city under siege will take a miracle. What it has is Orhan.

A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher

14 year old Mona isn’t like other wizards. Her magic only works on bread. But what happens when an assassin stalks the city’s wizards and only Mona is left?

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

In 1714 a young woman makes a deal with the devil to live forever. The catch? No one will remember her. Until one day 300 years later, someone does.

Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened by Allie Brosh

Stories and comics about dogs, depression and the god of cake.

The Postmortal by Drew Magery

John Farrell is about to get “The Cure.” Old age can never kill him now.
The only problem is, everything else still can.

Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett

In a city that runs on industrialized magic, a secret war will be fought to overwrite reality itself.

The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg

Two transgender elders must learn to weave from Death in order to defeat an evil ruler.

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

In the late 1800s, three sisters use witchcraft to change the course of history.

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

The Emperor needs necromancers. The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman. Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead nonsense.

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer Armentrout

Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.

The Wolf of Oren-Yaro by K.S. Villoso

A queen must unite her divided land, even if she’s hated by the very people she’s trying to protect.

The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter

The Omehi people have been fighting an unwinnable war for almost two hundred years. The lucky ones are born gifted. One in every two thousand women has the power to call down dragons. One in every hundred men is able to magically transform himself into a bigger, stronger, faster killing machine.

Everyone else is fodder, destined to fight and die in the endless war. Young, gift-less Tau knows all this, but he has a plan of escape. He’s going to get himself injured, get out early, and settle down to marriage, children, and land. Only, he doesn’t get the chance.

Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar

The daughter of a star and a mortal, Sheetal is used to keeping secrets. Pretending to be “normal.” But when an accidental flare of her starfire puts her human father in the hospital, Sheetal needs a full star’s help to heal him.

Some of these were Kindle purchases, so I got a few of them for cheap! And I did buy a few more books that were repurchases due to the book having fallen apart and needing to be replaced.

Rest in Peace Exiles Vol 1 and the Dragon Prince (both by Melanie Rawn, and both are very, very good).

And maybe a Christmas present for the hubs that I might have already given to him because I couldn’t wait.

What book did you pick up this past month?

What I Read in October 2020

Lauren1 Comment

Well, here we are. Another month gone. Another list of books I read. Hopefully you’ll see one you like and go find out whether or not I rated it correctly!

The Tethered Mage by Melissa Caruso

Magic and politics combine when a Falconer meets her Falcon on the streets of Reverra. I loved this book from page one. The political aspects weren’t to dry or drawn out, which means I was able to enjoy them. 4 out of 5 stars.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The story about a boy named Nobody raised in a graveyard, but can the graveyard protect him from who killed his family? It was cute. I gave this 3.5 out of 5 stars.

The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

Ceony Twill is sent to apprentice under Emory Thane to learn the magical art of Paper Magic. But when Emory is attacked and his heart stolen, does she have the magic to take it back? I loved this book. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Yadriel is a trans teenager. His only goals are to be accepted by his family and be a brujo. So imagine his surprise when he summons Julian while performing a ritual that was forbidden to him. I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

To Be Taught If Fortunate by Becky Chambers

This is the story of four astronauts who embark on an eighty year long journey to see planets light years away from our own. But what has happened to the world they left behind? I gave this 4 out of 5 stars.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

A woman makes a Faustian deal to live forever, the catch is that no one remembers her. Until one day, a man in a bookstore does. This book was great. I initially gave it 4 stars but the more I let it sit with me, the more I loved it. 5 out of 5 stars.

A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore

Charlie is a nice normal guy with a nice normal wife and a nice normal kid. That is, until people start dying around him. See Charlie has been chosen for a new career, as Death. I really didn’t like this book. I spent 3 days trying to read 50 pages and it just didn’t happen. This one got DNF’d. 1 out of 5 stars, cause you can’t give zero on Goodreads.

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

The life of the Wicked Witch of the West is laid out before us to read. What an interesting book, and it is nothing, I repeat, nothing, like the musical that is based on this book. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

Hyperbole and Half by Allie Brosh

It’s the author’s life as a child, her struggles with depression and her fights with her dogs. And a goose. This graphic novel of a webtoon made me laugh so much. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

Alice must journey to the Hazel Wood to rescue her kidnapped mother. I was skeptical about this at first. When I bought it, YA hadn’t really been on my radar for a while, but a friend recommended it to me and I was not disappointed. I gave this one 4 out of 5 stars.

The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg

Two transgender elders journey out into the desert to seek out Death to defeat a tyrant. I really wanted to like this novella, but I didn’t. But here’s the thing, I didn’t hate it, I just didn’t like it enough to continue it. I may pick this up to try again in the future, but for now, it gets 1 star out of 5.

Monthly Wrap Up October 2020

LaurenLeave a comment

Happy Halloween everyone!

If you can’t tell, I got a PicMonkey membership for editing photos. So what do I do? I made that. Go me.

I thought I would try this thing that other bloggers do which is to wrap up their month of blog posts! What do you think? Does it help in case you missed something?

Everything I Read in September 2020

This is exactly what it says on the tin, a wrap up of what I read in September.

What to Read-My October 2020 TBR

The TBR of all the books I wanted to read in October. I managed to read them all! Go me!

The Priory of the Orange Tree-A Book Review

Political intrigue meets dragons! You can see what I thought about it here.

A Birthday Away

The hubs and I spent our 40th birthday’s at a charming B&B. The Elm Creek Manor was very picturesque and the food was great!

A Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires-A Book Review

So my book club read this one this month. The story about a Book club that faces off against a vampire that has moved into the neighborhood? I loved it.

A Little Re-Organization Never Hurt Anybody

I redid the book shelves in our library. They needed a once over.

Cemetery Boys-A Book Review

A trans teenager just wants to prove to his family that he can be a brujo. Plus, ghosts! And queer romance! I loved it!

Anxiety and Book Reading

I admitted that reading makes me anxious. One book in particular set me off. But which one?

And there you have it, a complete wrap up of everything I posted in October! Have a Happy and Safe Halloween!

Anxiety and Book Reading

Lauren1 Comment

So I have generalized anxiety. Which means everything has the potential to make me anxious. And recently, I have noticed, that one of my favorite things sometimes, just sometimes, makes me anxious.

Reading.

Yes, reading.

Which is great cause I decided to have a book blog all of a sudden and now reading new books sometimes brings out my anxiety. Go me!

This is most evident when I am reading a book I really like. I have to put it down and walk away from it cause it gets to me. And then I have to do something to distance myself from the book for a little while, whether it’s for an hour or for a day.

This was most note-able to me while reading A Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires. That book made me anxious as all get out. It’s because I didn’t want it to end. I knew that if I finished it, it would be over and I wouldn’t be able to read it anymore. I kept having to put it down because it just made me so dang anxious!

I know I can’t be the only one out there that has this happen, am I?

Cemetery Boys- A Book Review

Lauren5 Comments

Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can’t get rid of him.

When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free.

However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school’s resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He’s determined to find out what happened and tie off some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.

So I just finished up Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas and wow. I was not disappointed.

Which is great.

Because right as I started reading this my ADD started acting up and you would have thought I had never read a book before. I couldn’t sit still. I would read twenty pages then I would put the book down only to come back to the book two hours later and get yet another twenty pages read. I finally got past that hump when there about a hundred pages left in the book. Thank goodness!

And please don’t let my inability to sit still and read lead you to believe this book is anything other than good. Because it’s very great. I couldn’t play Animal Crossing for very long either, and I play that for at least an hour every day.

I have no life. Cause Covid.

Back to the book!

I enjoyed the world the author created. And given that it is our world, it was pretty easy. But the picture they painted of the graveyard and Yadriel’s place in it (and the world at large) was wonderful.

The characters were rich and colorful. And I really felt for Yadriel on his journey to gain his family’s acceptance as a trans man. And Julian and Maritza are wonderful characters. I liked how alive Julian felt, you know, for a dead guy.

The magic system in this book is great. I really loved how the author used generational magic. It was such a large part of Yadriel’s journey in his struggle to be accepted.

I loved the plot, but I did have some problem with how certain things progressed here and there. I feel the book had some plot progression issues and that they kind of rushed us to the end of the story once we got there.

There were a few things I would tweak here and there, mostly to do with the writing style and the plot progression issues. And that’s why this book gets 4 out of 5 stars.

What? It’s a great book! It also happens to be the authors debut novel and I’m really excited to see what they do next.