First Line Friday #9

It’s been a couple of weeks (thanks last week, for being oh so wonderful to me), but I’m more than ready to post another First Line Friday!

First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words, but I saw it over at One Book More.

What if instead of judging a book by the cover, author or most everything else, we judged it by its content? Its first lines?

If you want to join in, all you gotta do is:

📚 Take a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open it to the first page
📝 Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
📙 Finally… reveal the book!

Here are the first lines:

It is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die.

Any ideas?? Admire these books pics while you think about it…

Annnd the book is 🥁🥁… The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater!!

(Did you guess right??)

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

LENGTH: 409 pages

GENRES: Fantasy, YA, Fiction

PUBLISHER: Scholastic Press

RELEASE DATE: 18 October 2011

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Some race to win. Others race to survive.

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line.

Some riders live.

Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a choice. So she enters the competition – the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

As she did in her bestselling Shiver trilogy, author Maggie Stiefvater takes us to the breaking point, where both love and life meet their greatest obstacles, and only the strong of heart can survive. The Scorpio Races is an unforgettable reading experience.

Thank you for reading, and have a fantastic day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Spring Reading 2023

Happy Spring everyone! 🌱🌈🌞🏵️ March 20th was the spring equinox this year, so I wanted to get this post out before the end of the day. So, Spring Reading 2023, here we come!

With this post I’m gonna start a new thing here. It’s a thing that I made up, but is inspired by this post, where I talk about the books I feel like reading depending on the season. And what better one to start with than spring, the season of new life?

So without further ado, let’s jump right in!

The Kinds of Books I Like to Read During Spring

In general, I’ll just read all kinds of different stuff throughout the year. I read different genres and stuff sometimes depending on the season, but I’m not a seasonal reader in the way that you’re probably thinking.

I’ll read fantasy books of all sorts throughout the year, regardless of the way different times of the year “feel” to me. But in spring, I start getting in the mood for some weird sci-fi, post apocalyptic, and dystopian fiction for whatever reason. Actually, no scratch that, it’s probably because of that thing that happened in March 2020. So yeah, that’s what I love reading in spring.

A Few Random Things From My TBR That I’d Like to Read This Spring (From Soonest to Not Soonest of When I’ll Read It)

A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas

I’ve decided to finally finish the ACOTAR series, after starting it years ago. I got my mom into it, and we’re currently buddy reading A Court of Wings and Ruin, which I’ll most likely finish by tomorrow night.

It’s a long series full of long books though, so depending on how I feel after I finish A Court of Frost and Starlight, I might put off A Court of Silver Flames a couple of weeks and read other stuff. My mom will need time to catch up anyway. (She’s a slow reader and she spends a lot of her free time during the day doing other stuff she likes.)

This was a book series that I absolutely devoured about fifteen years ago. But I was young, and I lost interest in the political machinations going on, so I lost interest after Brisingr. Thus, I never read Inheritance when it came out in… 2011?

But yeah, I absolutely loved Eragon when I first read it – so much so that I read it a second time just a few months later in the same year that I first read it! I rather liked Eldest too, and I love the setting that Paolini created. (Parts of it make me feel the same way I do when I play Legend of Zelda games, and I love it.) So I’m gonna finish it this time – the whole dang series!

The Locked Tomb series is still on my TBR!! I just… keep getting distracted by other books that I want to read, unfortunately. But I’m definitely still interested in it! I already have the first two books, waiting on my shelf, ready to be read. Plus lesbian necromancers in space!! How can I not try reading that?!

Also, it’s a weird science-fantasy, possibly post apocalyptic, and definitely dystopian series of books. So yeah, absolutely gotta read it now!

This is one of the books coming out this year that I’m ridiculously excited for. (Other books I’m excited for include: everything that Martha Wells is publishing this year and Murtagh by Christopher Paolini.) In the Lives of Puppets is another book that falls into that weird sci-fi category that I love. And it has found family to boot! (I love the found family trope.)

The End

So yeah, these are some of the things I’m planning on definitely reading in the immediate future. I’m looking forward to all of them. (To a degree. I’m looking at you, ACOTAR series.)

It’s not as weird science-y and post apocalyptic as you might think, but as I said: I’m not really a seasonal reader. Half of the list here is though, so I say it’s enough to be a thing.

As always, thanks so much for reading and have an amazing day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Birthstone Book Covers: March 2023

Yay! It’s March, which means that spring is right around the corner. Green Month is officially here! (Or Aquamarine Month, if you prefer, considering this post. Lol.)

Leslie @ Books Are the New Black created a fun monthly post called Birthstone Book Covers. Each month, she features book covers that are either the same color of that month’s birthstone or include the color in the title.

March has one birthstone – Aquamarine.

Rules:
📚 Mention the creator (Leslie @ Books Are The New Black) and link back to her so she can check out your post.
📚 Pick 5+ book covers that match the current month’s Birthstone.
📚 HAVE FUN!
📚 Nominate people if you want!

Stormcaster by Cinda Williams Chima — *Stormcaster* (The Shattered Realms #3) by Cinda Williams Chima

The Wicked King by Holly Black — *The Wicked King* (The Folk of the Air #2) by Holly Black

Night of the Shadow Moon by A.E. Rayne — *Night of the Shadow Moon* (Furyck Saga #3) by A.E. Rayne

Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey — *Hook, Line, and Sinker* (Bellinger Sisters#2) by Tessa Bailey

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi — *Ignite Me* (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi

The Island by Maggie Miller — *The Island* (Compass Key #1) by Maggie Miller

First Line Friday #6

I’m back, and it’s only been a week since my last First Line Friday post! Yay! A reasonable amount of time!

First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words, but I saw it over at One Book More.

What if instead of judging a book by the cover, author or most everything else, we judged it by its content? Its first lines?

If you want to join in, all you gotta do is:

Here’re the first lines:

The blade traced a slow line of fire down his face.

He desperately tried to cry out, to jerk away, but the hand over his mouth prevented both. Steel filled his vision, gray and dirty. Warm blood trickled down the left side of his face, onto his neck, under his shirt.

There were only fragments after that.

Laughter. The hot stink of wine on his attacker’s breath. A lessening of the pain, and screams – not his own.

Voices, high-pitched with fear, begging. Then silence. Darkness.

Do you know what book it is? I’ll give you a moment to think about it… (and admire some books)

Annnd the book is 🥁🥁… The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington!

(Were you able to guess it??)

The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington

Series: The Licanius Trilogy (Book #1)

Length: 736 pages

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

Publisher: Orbit

Release Date: May 9, 2017

Book Description:

A young man with forbidden magic finds himself drawn into an ancient war against a dangerous enemy in book one of the Licanius Trilogy, the series that fans are heralding as the next Wheel of Time.

As destiny calls, a journey begins.

It has been twenty years since the godlike Augurs were overthrown and killed. Now, those who once served them — the Gifted — are spared only because they have accepted the rebellion’s Four Tenets, vastly limiting their powers.

As a Gifted, Davian suffers the consequences of a war lost before he was even born. He and others like him are despised. But when Davian discovers he wields the forbidden power of the Augurs, he and his friends Wirr and Asha set into motion a chain of events that will change everything.

To the west, a young man whose fate is intertwined with Davian’s wakes up in the forest, covered in blood and with no memory of who he is. . .

And in the far north, an ancient enemy long thought defeated begins to stir.

Have you read this book? The rest of the trilogy? What did you think of it (them), if you have?

Thank you for reading, and have an awesome day/night!

See ya ~Mar

First Line Friday #5

I know, I know – it’s been two weeks since I did a First Line Friday post. But hey, I was sick for the latter half of last week and the first part of this week, so it isn’t my fault.

First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words, but I saw it over at One Book More.

What if instead of judging a book by the cover, author or most everything else, we judged it by its content? Its first lines?

If you want to join in, all you gotta do is:

Here’re the first lines:

Down a path worn into the woods, past a stream and a hollowed-out log full of pill bugs and termites, was a glass coffin. It rested right on the ground, and in it slept a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives.

Any guesses? I’ll give you a sec to think about it…

Annnd the book is 🥁🥁… The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black!

(Did you get it right??)

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

Length: 337 pages

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQIA+, YA, Fiction

Publisher: Little Brown

Release Date: January 13, 2015

Book Description:

A girl makes a secret sacrifice to the faerie king in this lush New York Times bestselling fantasy by author Holly Black. Set in the same world as The Cruel Prince!

In the woods is a glass coffin. It rests on the ground, and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives….

Hazel and her brother, Ben, live in Fairfold, where humans and the Folk exist side by side. Since they were children, Hazel and Ben have been telling each other stories about the boy in the glass coffin, that he is a prince and they are valiant knights, pretending their prince would be different from the other faeries, the ones who made cruel bargains, lurked in the shadows of trees, and doomed tourists. But as Hazel grows up, she puts aside those stories. Hazel knows the horned boy will never wake.

Until one day, he does….

As the world turns upside down, Hazel has to become the knight she once pretended to be.

Have you read this book? What did you think about it?

Thanks for reading and have an awesome day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Shelf Control #11

It’s been a couple of weeks (again), but I started getting sick (again) last week, so I couldn’t post as often as I might have liked. But here it is – another Shelf Control post!

Shelf Control is a weekly celebration of the unread books languishing on our bookshelves created and hosted by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies. It’s a whole lotta fun, so if you’re interested in participating yourself, click the backlink above.

This week I’m focusing on the first book in the Stalking Jack the Ripper series, eponymously named Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco.

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper (Book #1)

Length: 464 pages

Genres: Horror, Mystery, YA, Fiction

Release Date: September 20, 2016

This #1 New York Times bestseller and deliciously creepy horror novel has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion.

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord’s daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life. Against her stern father’s wishes and society’s expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle’s laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine.

When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her back to her own sheltered world. The story’s shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling, #1 New York Times bestselling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.

Why It Languishes on My Bookshelf

When I Got It: 2019

Why I Wanted to Read It: I thought that it looked interesting at the time.

Why I Haven’t Read It Yet: I essentially bought it on a whim and checked out some (spoiler free for the story) reviews, and realized that this book was probably not for me and kind of ignored it. I was distracted by other stuff going on that was more important, too.

Will I Ever Read It?: Probably not. Mostly because I bought it on a whim (as I’ve mentioned) and I lost interest quickly. I’m considering trying out Maniscalco’s other series, though I haven’t bought or even borrowed a copy of Kingdom of the Wicked yet.

Have you read this book or any of the author’s other work? What did you think? Or is it just sitting unread on your bookshelf too?

Thanks for reading and have a glorious day/night!

See ya ~Mar

WWW Wednesday #6

Wanna know what I’m currently reading? What book review is imminent? Well then, you’ve come to the right post!

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme that used to be hosted at A Daily Rhythm, but has been taken over by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words. Now, without further ado, let’s get into the 3 Ws!

The 3 Ws of WWW Wednesday:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Thing That I’m Currently Reading

A Conjuring of Light (Shades of Magic #3) by V.E. Schwab

Current Status: 69% (planning on finishing it tonight – review imminent)

Current Feels: 🙂 (pretty good, actually)

Witness the fate of beloved heroes – and enemies.

THE BALANCE OF POWER HAS FINALLY TIPPED…
The precarious equilibrium among four Londons has reached its breaking point. Once brimming with the red vivacity of magic, darkness casts a shadow over the Maresh Empire, leaving a space for another London to rise.

WHO WILL CRUMBLE?
Kell – once assumed to be the last surviving Antari – begins to waver under the pressure of competing loyalties. And in the wake of tragedy, can Arnes survive?

WHO WILL RISE?
Lila Bard, once a commonplace – but never common – thief, has survived and flourished through a series of magical trials. But now she must learn to control the magic, before it bleeds her dry. Meanwhile, the disgraced Captain Alucard Emery of the Night Spire collects his crew, attempting a race against time to acquire the impossible.

WHO WILL TAKE CONTROL?
And an ancient enemy returns to claim a crown while a fallen hero tries to save a world in decay.

The Thing I Just Finished Reading

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber

The Ballad of Never After (Once Upon a Broken Heart #2) by Stephanie Garber

My Rating: ★★★★☆ • 4 / 5 stars

Read My Review

Now that she’s discovered her own magic, Evangeline believes she can use it to restore the chance at happily ever after that Jacks stole away.

But when a new terrifying curse is revealed, Evangeline finds herself entering into a tenuous partnership with the Prince of Hearts again. Only this time, the rules have changed. Jacks isn’t the only force Evangeline needs to be wary of. In fact, he might be the only one she can trust, despite her desire to despise him.

Instead of a love spell wreaking havoc on Evangeline’s life, a murderous spell has been cast. To break it, Evangeline and Jacks will have to do battle with old friends, new foes, and a magic that plays with heads and hearts. Evangeline has always trusted her heart, but this time she’s not sure she can…

The Thing(s) That I Might Read Next

Gideon the Ninth (The Locked Tomb #1) 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.

Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as arcane revenants. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy.

Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won’t set her free without a service.

Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will be become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon’s sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die.

Of course, some things are better left dead.

OR

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride, in the hopes that one day the “true bride” will be chosen and end the suffering.

Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village—and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joon—may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.

Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin—as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits—Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.

But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking…

What kinds of books have you been reading recently? How’ve you been enjoying them?

Thanks for reading and have an amazing day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Birthstone Book Covers: February 2023

Sounds fun, right? You can see why I was quick to jump on the bandwagon once I discovered it!

February has one birthstone – Amythest.

Rules:
📚 Mention the creator (Leslie @ Books Are The New Black ) and link back to her so she can check out your post.
📚 Pick 5+ book covers that match the current month’s Birthstone.
📚 HAVE FUN!
📚 Nominate people if you want!

The Court of Mortals by A.J. Lancaster — *The Court of Mortals* (Stariel #3) by A.J. Lancaster

The Diviners by Libba Bray — *The Diviners* (The Diviners #1) by Libba Bray

Immortal Fire by Annette Marie — *Immortal Fire* (Red Winter #3) by Annette Marie

The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima — *The Gray Wolf Throne* (The Seven Realms #3) by Cinda Williams Chima

The Burning God by R.F. Kuang — *The Burning God* (The Poppy War #3) by R.F. Kuang

Finale by Stephanie Garber — *Finale* (Caraval #3) by Stephanie Garber

(Also, what the heck was up with all of them except for The Diviners being the third book in a series? Like, wth are you doing book 3?!)

(Also also, I promise it wasn’t intentional. I didn’t notice at all until I started captioning the pics. 😳😣)

Shelf Control #10

Sooo… It’s been, like, three weeks. Whoops. Things got a little crazy after my medical thing at the end of January. But I’m back with another participation post for Shelf Control!

This week, I’m highlighting one of the books that’s been sitting on my shelf the longest: American Gods by Neil Gaiman.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Series: American Gods (Book #1)

Length: 635 pages

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

Release Date: July 16, 2002

Description:

Days before his release from prison, Shadow’s wife, Laura, dies in a mysterious car crash. Numbly, he makes his way back home. On the plane, he encounters the enigmatic Mr Wednesday, who claims to be a refugee from a distant war, a former god and the king of America.

Together they embark on a profoundly strange journey across the heart of the USA, whilst all around them a storm of preternatural and epic proportions threatens to break.

Scary, gripping and deeply unsettling, American Gods takes a long, hard look into the soul of America. You’ll be surprised by what – and who – it finds there…

Why It’s Still Sitting Unread on My Bookshelf

When I Got It: June 2016

Why I Wanted to Read It: I’d heard nothing but good things about it, and I was at a point in my life where I was attempting to read more adult fiction (still hasn’t really happened yet, lol).

Why I Haven’t Read It Yet: I got distracted by a bunch of stuff. I was starting a new job, transitioning to university, and I got some big news about my favorite fictional thing ever that I go gaga over. But yeah, it kinda fell off the wayside and then I lost interest.

Will I Ever Read It?: I don’t know. That’s honestly the only answer I can give now, lol.

What books have you been reading lately? Which ones are languishing unread on your bookshelves?

Thanks for reading and have a great day/night!

See ya ~Mar

First Line Friday #3

I started participating in First Line Fridays a couple of weeks ago, and I’m really enjoying it. So I’m going to continue with it, and really try to do it every week.

In case you don’t know, First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers that was (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words, but I saw it over at One Book More.

What if instead of judging a book by the cover, author or most everything else, we judged it by it’s content? It’s first lines?

If you want to join in, all you gotta do is:

📚 Take a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open it to the first page

📝 Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first

📖 Finally… reveal the book!

Here’re the first lines…

The Magician stood on the edge of his world and took one last look at the city. The spires of churches rose like jagged teeth, and the nightless windows of tumbled buildings flashed in the rising sun. He’d loved it once. In those lawless streets, a boy could become anything – and he had. But in the end, the city had been nothing but a prison. It has borne him and made him and now it would kill him just the same.

…So, what book do you think it is? Any guesses? I’ll give you a moment to think about it. (And to look at beautiful pictures of books while you do.)

another gorgeous book, this time focusing on what's in between the covers in one book only

beautiful contrast with some light and shadow, with one book's pages splayed open

a book and some coffee, can you think of a more perfect combination??

Annnd the book is… The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell!!

(Did you get it right??)

Series: The Last Magician (Book #1)

Length: 512 pages

Genres: Fantasy, YA, Fiction

Release Date: July 18, 2017

Book Description:

Stop the Magician.
Steal the book.
Save the future.

In modern-day New York, magic is all but extinct. The remaining few who have an affinity for magic—the Mageus—live in the shadows, hiding who they are. Any Mageus who enters Manhattan becomes trapped by the Brink, a dark energy barrier that confines them to the island. Crossing it means losing their power—and often their lives.

Esta is a talented thief, and she’s been raised to steal magical artifacts from the sinister Order that created the Brink. With her innate ability to manipulate time, Esta can pilfer from the past, collecting these artifacts before the Order even realizes she’s there. And all of Esta’s training has been for one final job: traveling back to 1902 to steal an ancient book containing the secrets of the Order—and the Brink—before the Magician can destroy it and doom the Mageus to a hopeless future.

But Old New York is a dangerous world ruled by ruthless gangs and secret societies, a world where the very air crackles with magic. Nothing is as it seems, including the Magician himself. And for Esta to save her future, she may have to betray everyone in the past.

Have you read The Last Magician, or any of the rest of its sequels? What did you think, if you did?

Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful day/night! As always, tune in next time for more bookish stuff.

See ya ~Mar

LINKS: Goodreads | Instagram