Weekly Wrap-Up: 5/22 – 5/30

So… These last couple of weeks haven’t been super great on the blog. But real life has also been quite the wild ride as well. Last weekend and early this past week, all kinds of crazy and unfortunate life stuff. And this weekend the power went out! Grrr. So much sucky stuff!

Anyway, I’m hoping that this week is gonna be more productive, and just better in general. And hey, summer has essentially started now, and that always feels great!

But yeah, I’m not gonna waste any more time. Let’s wrap-up the (very small) past week!

Wednesday 5/24: WWW Wednesday / Can’t-Wait Wednesday

Wednesday was when I finally got my crap together, and found myself to be mentally ready enough, and enough time to post. And I double posted!

First I participated in WWW Wednesday. WWW Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words. I then also participated in Can’t-Wait Wednesday. Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings.

WWW Wednesday 5/24

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: “Witch King”

Thursday 5/25: Popular Books That I’ve Read Never #2

On Thursday, I finally got around to posting another Popular Books That I’ve Read Never. Popular Books That I’ve Read Never basically describes itself – it’s a blog post where I discuss popular books that I’ve never (and most likely won’t ever) read.

Popular Books That I’ve Read Never #2

Books I Read Last Week

The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah

Goals for 5/31 – 6/4

This week I’m definitely gonna do more. Post more, read more, get more stuff done in real life. I’ve adjusted from last week, and the power’s back on, so productivity is gonna be a lot easier to keep up with.

Considering specific goals: I’m finally gonna finish The Stardust Thief, which I’m very excited to do. I haven’t finished it yet cuz I haven’t been enjoying it – on the contrary, I’m enjoying it a lot! – it’s mostly because I haven’t had any free time, or I didn’t have any light to read.

For other specific goals, I’m planning to post another Majestic Monday later, I’m planning on participating in the weekly bookish posts that I usually do, and I’m going to post at least a couple of book reviews. Oh, and I’m also going to post my monthly reading wrap-up for May 2023.

But yeah, that’s what I’m planning on for this coming week. As always, thank you so much for reading, and have a great day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: “Witch King”

There’s a book that’s coming out next week that I’m extremely excited for – actually, no, beyond excited for is more accurate – so I thought I’d participate in another Can’t-Wait Wednesday.

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings (and was previously hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine where it was known as Waiting on Wednesday) to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. They’re usually books that have not yet been released.

This week’s book is:

Witch King by Martha Wells!!

It’s a new book from the Murderbot Diaries genius herself!

Witch King by Martha Wells

Witch King by Martha Wells

LENGTH: 432 pages

GENRES: Fantasy, Fiction

PUBLISHER: Tordotcom

RELEASE DATE: 30 May 2023

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

From the breakout SFF superstar author of Murderbot comes a remarkable story of power and friendship, of trust and betrayal, and of the families we choose.

“I didn’t know you were a… demon.”
“You idiot. I’m the demon.”
Kai’s having a long day in Martha Wells’ WITCH KING….

After being murdered, his consciousness dormant and unaware of the passing of time while confined in an elaborate water trap, Kai wakes to find a lesser mage attempting to harness Kai’s magic to his own advantage. That was never going to go well.

But why was Kai imprisoned in the first place? What has changed in the world since his assassination? And why does the Rising World Coalition appear to be growing in influence?

Kai will need to pull his allies close and draw on all his pain magic if he is to answer even the least of these questions.

He’s not going to like the answers.

WITCH KING is Martha Wells’s first new fantasy in over a decade, drawing together her signature ability to create characters we adore and identify with, alongside breathtaking action and adventure, and the wit and charm we’ve come to expect from one of the leading writers of her generation.

Thank you all so much for reading, and have a wonderful day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 5/1 – 5/7

As I never always say: another week, another wrap-up!

Haha. Just kidding. In all seriousness though, I’m pretty happy with my blogging last week. Sure, I didn’t read nearly as much as I wanted, but sometimes those things happen.

Anyway, I’ll stop talking now, so that we can wrap-up last week.

Monday 5/1: Majestic Monday

Last Monday, I finally posted another Majestic Monday. The first one in forever. Majestic Monday is when I look at awesome book covers and rate them.

Majestic Monday #12

Tuesday 5/2: Arch-Conspirator Review

Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth

Tuesday, I posted my review of Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth. It’s a dystopian, post apocalyptic, science fiction retelling of the Greek play Antigone. I gave it ★★✬☆☆.

My review of Arch-Conspirator

Wednesday 5/3: Can’t-Wait Wednesday / WWW Wednesday

On Wednesday, I double posted. First, I participated in Can’t-Wait Wednesday. Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings. Then, I participated in WWW Wednesday. WWW Wednesday is hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words.

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: The Never Heir

WWW Wednesday 5/3

Thursday 5/4: April Reading Wrap-Up

Thursday was when I finally got around to posting my reading wrap-up for April 2023. The most reading I’ve done (on a monthly basis) all year so far!

April 2023 Reading Wrap-Up

Friday 5/5: First Line Friday

On Friday, I participated in First Line Friday. First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words.

First Line Friday #13

Sunday 5/7: I’m Glad My Mom Died Review

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy

Yesterday, I reviewed I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy. It’s her memoir, and it’s about growing up as a child actor and her toxic relationship with her mother. There’s some sensitive themes here, so if you’re wary of TWs like: EDs, emotional abuse, and addiction, maybe stay clear for your health. I gave it ★★★★☆.

My review of I’m Glad My Mom Died

Books I Read Last Week

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy

Goals for 5/8 – 5/14

This week, I want to read at least two new books and review them. I also want to keep up with the weekly memes that I participate in. I’m also planning on something a little different for Thursday, or as an additional post on Friday. We’ll see which day I post it on.

I don’t know what else I’ll do for sure, though. I guess we’ll all find out together!

Anyway, thank you so much for reading, and have a fantastic day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: “The Never Heir”

There’s a book that’s coming out in a couple of weeks that I’m very excited for, so I thought I’d participate in another Can’t-Wait Wednesday.

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings (and was previously hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine where it was known as Waiting on Wednesday) to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. They’re usually books that have not yet been released.

This week’s book is:

The Never Heir by Courtney Millecam!

It’s a YA book coming out that is somewhat based on Peter Pan, as well as the start of a new series, each centering on an old story in some way. I love retellings and books based on older tales, so this novel seems right up my alley.

The Never Heir by Courtney Millecam

The Never Heir by Courtney Millecam

SERIES: The Otherworlds (Book #1)

LENGTH: 350 pages

GENRES: Fantasy, YA, Fiction

PUBLISHER: Laurel Ink Press

RELEASE DATE: 16 May 2023

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Charlie ‘Tootles’ Tulane risked everything to break the spell binding the lost boys to Pan and escape Neverland. Now seventeen and living in 1923 London, Charlie’s freedom from the land of Faerie has never felt better. But even the noblest of actions have consequences. Neverland demands a leader, and without one, chaos spills into the mortal world.

Spending his nights as an amateur boxer, Charlie meets the ‘Bright Young Things’ of London’s upper class. Part of that group is Evie, a girl whose ravings about mermaids abducting her sister got her sent to an asylum. Now that she’s back among polite society, Evie’s under strict orders from her mother to avoid any further scandal and to attract a suitable match. But that proves difficult when Evie’s friend and confidant from Faerie turns demanding and sinister, forcing her into a deal she can’t refuse: In exchange for locating Pan’s lost relics of power, the Fae will return the one thing Evie wants most.

When Charlie learns his past betrayals set off a chain reaction resulting in the abduction of Evie’s sister, the two must return to the place of Charlie’s nightmares in an attempt to set things right. But this time, the price for rectitude might prove too steep for either one of them to pay.

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

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 4/17 – 4/23

It’s later than I usually post it, and definitely later than I intended, but here’s the weekly wrap-up for last week. I was just so gosh darn busy yesterday, that I forgot to do my final once-over and post it. Whoops.

Anyway, it’s here now, and I’m happy with the stuff I posted last week, even if I’m not happy with how many days I posted last week. This week, even though I’m not off to the best start, I’m going to do better.

But that’s enough of a preamble. Let’s get into the wrap-up.

Wednesday 4/19: Can’t-Wait Wednesday / WWW Wednesday

Last Wednesday, I participated in Can’t-Wait Wednesday for the first time. Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings. I also posted for (and also participated in) WWW Wednesday, which is hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words.

Can’t-Wait Wednesday #1

WWW Wednesday 4/19

Friday 4/21: Antimatter Blues Review / First Line Friday

On Friday, I posted my review of Antimatter Blues by Edward Ashton, the sequel to Mickey7. I gave it ★★★★☆. I also participated in First Line Fridays, a weekly feature (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words.

My review of Antimatter Blues

First Line Friday #11

Saturday 4/22: April 2023 Birthstone Book Covers

Saturday was when I finally posted my contribution to Birthstone Book Covers, a really fun monthly thing created and hosted by Leslie @ Books are the New Black. April was just really hard, okay? I needed to think about it a little more.

Birthstone Book Covers: April 2023

Books I Read Last Week

Heavenly Delusion: Tengoku Daimakyo by Masakazu Ishiguro

I binged the whole thing last week – this rating is for the entire manga. It’s very, very good.

Antimatter Blues by Edward Ashton
Chance by Matthew Fitzsimmons

Goals for 4/24 – 4/30

I just want to keep doing what I’m doing, but this time, definitely up my game from last week. I’m gonna keep up my reading momentum though – last week I read a ton compared to the weeks before, and I want to continue that.

As for posts coming this week: my Chance review will be coming later today, I’ll probably be participating in WWW Wednesday tomorrow, I’ll do a review of In the Lives of Puppets tomorrow or the next day, First Line Friday for Friday, and something else probably. I don’t know that it’s gonna be yet, though.

As always, thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Can’t Wait Wednesday: “In the Lives of Puppets” by TJ Klune

Guys, I found another Wednesday weekly feature that I want to participate in: Can’t Wait Wednesdays!

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings (and was previously hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine where it was known as Waiting on Wednesday) to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. They’re usually books that have not yet been released.

This week’s book is:

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune!

Despite many of the reviews that I’ve read rating it as mostly mid, I still can’t help but be excited for it. I still really, really want to read it.

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

LENGTH: 432 pages

GENRES: Science Fiction, LGBTQIA+, Fiction

PUBLISHER: Tor Books

RELEASE DATE: 25 April 2023

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune invites you deep into the heart of a peculiar forest and on the extraordinary journey of a family assembled from spare parts.

In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots—fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They’re a family, hidden and safe. 

The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled “HAP,” he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio–a past spent hunting humans. 

When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio’s former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic’s assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming. 

Along the way to save Gio, amid conflicted feelings of betrayal and affection for Hap, Vic must decide for himself: Can he accept love with strings attached? 

Inspired by Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio, and like Swiss Family Robinson meets Wall-EIn the Lives of Puppets is a masterful stand-alone fantasy adventure from the beloved author who brought you The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door.

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

See ya ~Mar