November TBR

I have a couple of ARCs in progress that I need to finish up and review, but for the most part I'm free to read whatever I want for the rest of the year.  I'm hoping to finish up the remaining books on my reading challenge list.  I only have 10 books left, that's not too bad with 2 months left in the year. 

Books/Ebooks/ARCs

• Everless by Sara Holland
• This is the sequel to Evermore.  This series centers around a world where time is currency and time lives in your blood.  I really enjoyed the first book and I'm looking forward to finding out where the story goes.  This comes out in December but I'm trying to stay on top of my ARCs.
• Vicious by Victoria Schwab
• This book will fulfill my anti-hero prompt.  I've heard great things about this book, and the sequel just came out.  I recently picked this up on Kindle for 99 cents, so I'm excited to finally have time to read this.  I hear it is about mutants or monsters and two completing frenemies, maybe?  I like Scwab's writing and I'm looking forward to reading this.
• Cranberry Bluff by Deborah Garner
• I've had this on my Kindle for a while and I forget what it is about.  I think it is a contemporary.  I do remember it was free and came recommended.  It fits the prompt for a fruit or vegetable in the title so I'm going to give it a chance.  
• Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
• I've wanted to read this forever.  I've heard nothing but good things about her books and this duology.  I was holding out for the audio, but my library doesn't have it on Overdrive or Hoopla.  This will fulfill my challenge for an animal in the title.

Audiobooks

As usual I've got 7 books on hold at the library, and several more on my wishlist.  I do have 2 checked out currently that I'll definitely get to in November.  

• Must of Nightmares by Laini Taylor
• I've been anxiously awaiting this since reading Strange the Dreamer earlier this year and I can't wait to find out what happens next.
• A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner
• I'm really enjoying this series.  This is the 4th book in the series.  It is full of political intrigue, deceit, humor, and war.  I'm interested to see where things go from where they left off in the 3rd book.
• A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi
• I won this in a giveaway via Libro.fm, a new audiobook vendor site I recently found.  I'm really excited to get to this.  I love Mafi's writing style and I'm excited to read something a little different from her.

Review: Warcross

Warcross by Marie Lu
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really loved this, it kept me engaged and entertained the whole book. Nancy Wu did an excellent job with the audio narration.  This fulfills my cyberpunk reading prompt challenge.  It hits most of the requirements for cyberpunk. 

This follows Emika Chen, a brillian hacker turned bounty hunter because she has to pay the bills. She's been banned from computers after pleading guilty to hacking to save a friends reputation. At her center Emika is a good person, but she knows that the world is an ugly place, so she tries to catch some of the bad guys and make some cash doing it. Emika typically hides in the shadows of the internet, but when one of her hacks goes wrong she finds herself glitched into the opening game of the Warcross tournament. Her anonymous identity isn't anonymous any longer and the developer of the world's favorite game offers her a job. Hideo developed Warcross, and now everyone in the world plays, but someone is hacking into the game and messing with Hideo's code. He asks Emika to go undercover as a Warcross wildcard player and use her hacking and bounty hunting skills to find the hacker that is trying to destroy Warcross. Emika finds herself entrenched in the dark side of the game and trying to uncover a mole within her Warcross teammates. She also finds an unexpected connection with the handsome, yet haunted billionaire. As she uncovers more about what is going on with the hacker, she also uncovers more about Hideo and finds so much more than she expected.

I could have done without the romance. It was a bit cheesy and predictable. I also figured out the plot twist pretty much right away, so the big reveal at the end was no surprise to me. The one thing I do like about Lu's writing is her somewhat villainous characters. You think they are the good guy, then they turn out the be kind of the bad guy but they still have redeeming qualities and you still want to like them. This book is much more character and plot driven. I would have liked a little more cyber and techno babble, but I know that isn't everyone's cup of tea. I really like that stuff because I'm a nerd. I think the Warcross games that the teams played were described very well as was the technology itself, I just wish there was more focus on that aspect of the book. I really enjoyed this and I'm looking forward to the sequel.

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Tag Tuesday: Finally Fall Book Tag

If you saw my last tag Tuesday post you know I love fall. It is my favorite time of year. This fall has been really crazy, it was 90 degrees one day and 40 the next. It's been super rainy so we haven't had those beautiful sunny autumn days to transition us from summer to fall. The leaves stayed green well into October and because it got cold so fast everything just kind of died and didn't get pretty and change colors. This fall was a bust but hopefully this tag won't be. 

I just watched Chelsea from Chelseadolling reads video of this tag and it seemed appropriate and fun. She is one of my go to youtubers for contemporary recommendations. Check her video out and her channel in general.

Chelseadolling Reads video - https://youtu.be/-QQxkIn1biw

Tall Tale's original video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNUc-... 

QUESTIONS: 

1. In fall, the air is crisp and clear: name a book with a vivid setting!  This is probably an odd pick but I loved this book so much!  I felt transported to the time and places when I read it so I'm going with The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.   I listened to the audiobook and it was one of my favorite reads of 2017.  I bought my own copy and while I don't re-read things often this is one I can see myself re-reading.

2. Nature is beautiful… but also dying: name a book that is beautifully written, but also deals with a heavy topic like loss or grief.  Ryan's Bed by Tijan.  Tijan is a relatively new to me author, but I had to read this when it came out.  It tells the story of twins, after one has committed suicide and the other is left to deal with the aftermath and her own grief.  I really loved how this was handled and how it was written.

3. Fall is back to school season: share a non-fiction book that taught you something new.  I'm currently reading Pittsburgh Irish: Erin on the Three Rivers for the Popsugar Reading challenge for a book about my heritage.  I'm 3rd generation Irish and this book is really interesting and I'm learning a ton about my Irish heritage that I never knew before.  I never met my Irish great-grandparents, but I'm learning all about how the Irish settled Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas of Pennsylvania.

4. In order to keep warm, it’s good to spend some time with the people we love: name a fictional family/household/friend-group that you’d like to be a part of.  - I would love to be a member of the Knitting in the City knitting group.  These women are so fun and I feel like I would be friends with them in real life, plus they could help me with my knitting.  I never could quite figure it out.  This series and its "sister" series The Winston Brothers by Penny Reid are awesome!

5. The colourful leaves are piling up on the ground: show us a pile of fall-colored spines! These are all books I've recently acquired that I haven't read yet and they are all red, orange, and yellow.

6. Fall is the perfect time for some storytelling by the fireside: share a book wherein somebody is telling a story.  I can't think of a more epic story than The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.  While this is quite the undertaking to read, it is so worth it.  I really enjoyed the magic system, the characters, and the plot.  

7. The nights are getting darker: share a dark, creepy read. Marina by Carlos Ruiz Zafon was pretty dark and creepy.  There are these creepy puppet things that really got to me and when someone asks me about a creepy read I'd recommend this one.  It has classic horror elements mixed with European Gothic style and I loved it.

8. The days are getting colder: name a short, heartwarming read that could warm up somebody’s cold and rainy day. - Paintbrush by Hannah Bucchin was such heartwarming YA contemporary.

9. Fall returns every year: name an old favourite that you’d like to return to soon.  I don't re-read books that often.  I used to when I was a kid, but I find I have so many new books I want to read I don't often feel the need to re-read old favorites.  I would like to re-read Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor soon, I just bought my own copy recently.  Muse of Nightmares just came out and I loved Lazlo and Sarai so much.  I can see myself re-reading that one soon.

10. Fall is the perfect time for cozy reading nights: share your favorite cozy reading “accessories”! - Warm fuzzy socks, a blanket, and a cup of hot tea.  Can you tell I'm always cold? 

11. Spread the autumn appreciation and tag some people! - I tag anyone who takes the time to read this, leave your answers in the comments or a link to your post.

Review: The Boy I Grew Up With

The Boy I Grew Up With by Tijan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC via the author in exchange for an honest review.

This follows Channing and Heather, who if you are a fan of Tijan's Fallen Crest series you probably already know them. I've only recently discovered Tijan and I'm still making my way through her books and Fallen Crest is still on my backlog. This stands nicely on it's own. This delves into Channing's crew, so if you haven't read Crew yet that kind of explains more about crews but it isn't necessary to understand the storyline here.

We go back and forth between the past and present of Channing and Heather's relationship. It is important to go back into their past to understand how they have gotten to where they are in the present day, as well as to understand where they need to go. They've been through alot as individuals and as a couple. Channing is in a crew, he started crews, and sometimes that means things get a little dangerous. Heather runs a restaurant, and really wants nothing to do with crew business she just wants Channing, she's always just wanted Channing. Crew comes first, and Heather is tired of coming in second place, so she needs to learn to accept the crew as part of Channing's life or make a permanent break from him. Channing is in the same situation, he can't live with out Heather, but he can't put her first because of his crew. They both have to go through some fairly dramatic stuff before they decide if their relationship is worth it because while they love each other, they aren't sure they are right for each other. They both really grow as characters, from making irrational decisions that make you scratch you head, to really thinking out what they want to do with their futures as individuals and as a couple. They are both tough, hard, and not to be trifled with, and when they come together things are pretty explosive.

This was highly character driven. There were some fairly violent action scenes between the crew and the local motorcycle gang which really cemented that crews get into some dangerous stuff. They also protect their own, and while tensions are high people think emotionally do and do some crazy stuff. There is plenty of heat and chemistry between Channing and Heather as well. You know that anytime they are together there is going to be a steamy scene to follow because they pretty much can't keep their hands off of one another. This book deals with some heavy topics, and while I didn't expect the ending I'm really happy with how it turned out.

If you are a fan of the Fallen Crest series, I think you will like getting to know Channing and Heather. If you've read Crew, which I have read, you will appreciate getting to know them and seeing the older more established crew in action. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Channing and Heather in Crew #2 as Bren's story continues.

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Tag Tuesday Fall Time Cozy Time Book Tag

I love the fall, especially if the sun is out and it isn't raining. The leaves are colorful and that means pumpkins and Halloween.  My house is a spectacle during October, we have lights and music, and all things spooky.  I love it!  I was catching up on videos and I saw this on Ali's channel and thought it would be a perfect tag. I love Ali's channel so go check her out.


Ali - HardbackHoarder https://youtu.be/No3maib3clw
Sam's Nonsense // creator → https://youtu.be/Q-4nDR8jXi0


1. Crunching Leaves: The world is full of color - choose a book that had reds/oranges/yellows on the cover - I'm going with City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty.  I haven't read this one yet but it certainly has all of the colors on the cover and it has been on my TBR for a bit.  I do plan on getting to it at some point.

  

2. Cozy Sweater - It's finally cold enough to don warm cozy clothing: what book gives you the warm fuzzies? - Something by Penny Reid.  If I'm in a slump or a bad mood I read one of her books.  They are funny, well written, and always have a happy ending.  Penny knows how to write a good contemporary and I fall in love with her characters every time.  I highly recommend The Knitting in the City and Winston Brother's Series.

3. Fall Storm: The wind is howling & the rain is pounding - choose your favorite book OR genre that you like to read on a stormy day - I pretty much always like a good fantasy or mystery on a gloomy day.  As long as I have a warm beverage, usually tea, a blanket, and a book I'm happy.

4. Cool Crisp Air: What's the coolest character you'd want to trade places with? - This is a tough one, there are so many good characters out there to choose from.  I'm going to go with Annabeth from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Hero's of Olympus series.  She's smart, strong, and pretty much awesome all the way around.  Plus I love Greek mythology and she's a demi-god.  She gets to go on some awesome quests to save the world.  I know this series is YA/middle grade but I really enjoyed both of them.

5. Hot Apple Cider: What under hyped book do you want to see become the next biggest, hottest thing? - I had a hard time with this one.  Most of the books I read lately get alot of hype and for good reason, or they are hyped up and I didn't like them.  Alot of books I gave 5 stars to recently are older and were hyped at some point.  I don't hear about The Diviners series a ton so I'm going to go with that one.  I highly recommend the audio.  January Lavoy is amazing and I love the series.

6. Coat, Scarves, and Mittens - The weather has turned cold & it's time to cover up - What's the most embarrassing book cover you own that you like to keep hidden in public?  I read on my kindle or listen to audio books most of the time so this really isn't an issue.  Anything with a questionable cover or that I might not want people to know I read, I read on my technology.  While not an embarrassing read, I will say that this book sparked a ton of discussions while I was reading it.  I read The Shack for the 2017 reading challenge, and since I actually took it with me in public right around the time the movie came out people were talking about it.  Anything involving politics and religion always sparks interesting conversations.


7. Pumpkin Spice: What's your favorite Fall time comforts food/foods?  - I'm not a pumpkin pie person, I just don't like it.  I am however, an apple pie person. Give me apple pie, apple crisp, or anything with apples and cinnamon, add some vanilla ice cream and we are all good.  Yum!

Review: The Case of the Hidden Daemon by Lucy Banks

The Case of the Hidden Daemon by Lucy Banks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  This will be released on October 23, 2018.  I do recommend reading atleast book 2 before reading this one.  Book 1 was pretty much a standalone, but this one picks up where book 2 leaves off.  If you are going to read book 2, though start at the beginning because book 1 is great.  I really like this series. 

As was the case with the previous book in the series I really loved this. The band of characters is really comical. They each have a specific paranormal ability that helps them with their "ghost hunting". They all have flawed personalities and insecurities, and if they didn't work together they wouldn't work anywhere else. I do wish Kester would kind of find himself and his backbone. He keeps starting to find his courage and then he reverts to the naive, insecure, scared little boy. It doesn't help that people are constantly insulting him all of the time. I do hope that as the series continues Kester begins to conquer his fears and his colleagues begin to respect him. Overall, though I do really like the characters, they are witty and funny, and at the heart of it they really do care about each other.

This particular installment didn't focus on sending a spirit back to the spirit realm, but it did focus on daemons this time which is new for the series. I really liked the way Kester had to step up and solve the clues that the daemon left behind and the inclusion of the Thelemites, a cult-like organization that focuses on human-spirit interaction. As Kester and the agency try to figure out what the daemon and the Thelemites are up to, Kester is also trying to navigate a budding romance with librarian Anya. Anya has gotten herself mixed up in with the Thelemites and Kester is trying to protect her and fumble through his first relationship.

I will say I hate cliffhangers, this one wasn't too bad. The story does end, but it leaves you wanting more. I can't wait for the next book and to see where this is headed. There are so many different ways the story can play out and I'm so exited to see where it goes next. I have so many unanswered questions. Overall, I love this series and I highly recommend it.

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Review: The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel: A Story of Sleepy Hollow by Alyssa Palombo

The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel: A Story of Sleepy Hollow by Alyssa Palombo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  This is out already and if you like historical romances with a slight paranormal element I highly recommend it.  It is well written and well researched.

This was not at all what I expected. It was more of a historical romance than a paranormal romance. I was expecting the latter, but got the former. I was expecting magic to be a much more prevalent element of the story, and while I guess there was what you could consider magic present it is not what I consider magic or a magic system. I think had I read the description a little more closely I wouldn't have expected it to be so paranormal. That being said the book is a great retelling of the original Sleepy Hollow telling and I feel that Palombo did the original tale justice by keeping key elements and spinning her own tale around it.

As far as the romance goes, it was very insta-lovey. I really don't care for that in any romance and this being historically based it just didn't fit the theme. The propriety of the times and the characters just didn't fit their actions. Katrina, our main character, is supposed to be a feminist character for the time. She is well educated, reads all the time, and is headstrong and speaks her mind. From that perspective I can see why this would have a feminist spin. However she makes alot of rash decisions and often leads with her emotions.

Much like the original tale, Katrina is pursued by both Ichabod Crane and Brom Van Brunt until Ichabod's untimely demise. Every suspects our favorite pumpkin headed Hessian has spirited him off to the underworld but as the description of the book says, nothing is as it seems. Katrina and her best friend Charlotte vow to solve the mystery of Ichabod's disappearance. Along the way they find things they did not expect, and Katrina learns that her love may not have abandoned her afterall.

Overall, I think it is my fault that I thought this was a paranormal romance. It was a good romance, I just wasn't expecting it to be what it was. Once I realized it wasn't what I was expecting I was able to enjoy it for what it was. I also went on to read The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving and the story made alot more sense to me. Palombo did a great job with this retelling.



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