First Line Friday: 1/23

Hey there. It’s been a bit since I last participated in First Line Fridays – about a month, actually.

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:

Time has no borders except those people make. On this particu-larly cold autumn day, Ishikawa Hana fashioned that border out of the thinnest layer of skin.

Do you know what the book is? If you don’t, here are another couple of hints…

Still have no idea? Here are some lovely and cozy pictures of books to admire while you think about it a little longer…

Annnd the book is… 🥁🥁 Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao!

(Didja guess it?)

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao

LENGTH: 374 pages

GENRES: Fantasy, Contemporary, Fiction

PUBLISHER: Del Rey

RELEASE DATE: 14 January 2025

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

On a backstreet in Tokyo lies a pawnshop, but not everyone can find it. Most will see only a cosy ramen restaurant. And just the chosen ones – those who are lost – will find a place to pawn their life choices and deepest regrets.

Hana Ishikawa wakes on her first morning as its new owner to find the pawnshop ransacked, the shop’s most precious acquisition stolen and her father missing. And then into the shop stumbles a charming stranger, quite unlike other customers. For he offers help, instead of seeking it.

Together, they must journey through a mystical world to find Hana’s father and the stolen choice – through rain puddles, hitching rides on paper cranes, across the bridge between midnight and morning and through a night market in the clouds.

But as they get closer to the truth, Hana must reveal a secret of her own – and risk making a choice she will never be able to take back.

What books have you been reading lately? What’s on your TBR that you’re currently the most excited about?

As always, thank you for reading, and I hope you have an awesome day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 5/19 – 5/25

Hey everyone! I’m a bit late with this again, but yesterday was Memorial Day, so this weekend was a bit busy. But it’s still early in the week, so here’s another Weekly Wrap-Up!

I’m simultaneously happy and annoyed with my productivity last week. On the one hand, I posted three times on the blog and finally got another book review out. On the other hand though… I didn’t get to reading a new book. But I just started another, and I have other book reading plans, so that won’t be a problem this week.

Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the weekly wrap-up!

Wednesday 5/21: Can’t-Wait Wednesday

Last Wednesday, I did another Can’t-Wait Wednesday. Three weeks in a row! Yay! May was just a good month in regards to new books that looked interesting to me.

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme currently hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings. It focuses on books you’re looking forward to reading, usually new releases.

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association

Friday 5/23: First Line Friday

On Friday, I participated in First Line Fridays for the first time in a while – like a month. First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words.

First Line Friday: 5/23

Sunday 5/25: Impossible Creatures Review

On Sunday, I finally posted my book review for Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell. It’s a generally well-written, middle grade fantasy-adventure book with gorgeous artwork; which includes the cover as well as pictures in the interior of the novel.

It took me a bit to get this review out, which annoyed me, but I’m happy to have finally written and posted it. I enjoyed this book and gave it ★★★✬☆.

Impossible Creatures Review

Books I Read Last Week

💖🎁 Wrapping It All Up 💖🎁

So yeah, I’m generally happy with my blog actually last week, but I wish I would have read and finished a book. This week, my goal for the blog is to do at least as many posts as last week, and to read at least one book.

Regarding specific blog stuff, I want to do a couple of my usual weekly posts, and in particular want to do another Bewitching Book Covers, as it’s been awhile. I also want to do another book review. In relation to what I’m currently reading and planning on reading next… Well, I’ve finally started reading Behooved by M. Stevenson and am planning on finishing it in the next day or so. Then, I’m gonna read the Fishman Island Arc from One Piece.

That’s right, it’s been a while, but I’m finally continuing on with my buddy read of One Piece with my spouse. We’ve actually been meaning to get back to it for some time now, but it just hasn’t worked out. We have still been buddy reading stuff though – we both recently read Impossible Creatures together and liked it.

After that, I think I’ll finally read The Ashfire King by Chelsea Abdullah. It’s been my immediate To Be Read Pile since it came out last month, and I’m a little annoyed I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet, but I’ve been busy with other things, and Impossible Creatures had a time limit to it since we were borrowing it from my spouse’s family. But I think I’ll definitely be able to read it next week.

Concerning stuff outside of the blog and books, last week has our big cleaning day of the month. So our house is now freshly cleaned. I’m also continuing with my diet, as well, and have been eating better and doing more physical activity.

I wanted to note real quick that next week will probably see a decrease in blog activity here. My spouse and I are doing a staycation, and I think I’m just gonna take it easy mostly. I might do a post or two, but if I do I’ll have probably prepared them and scheduled them ahead of time. I just… want to relax. I want to take a break. I’ve been feeling a little burnt out with the blog on and off for the past couple of months (hence the weeks where I only did like two posts), and I think taking a break during our vacation is what I need. So yeah, you probably won’t see much from me next week.

Anyway, as always thank you for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful day/night!

See ya ~Mar

First Line Friday: 11/15

Happy Friday everybody! I’m here a second week in a row! Yay!

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’s the first line:

Isla Crown watched the man she loved disappear as the world fell away.

Know the book already? If you don’t, here’s another couple of hints…

Huh. Still no idea? Here are some gorgeous photos of books to admire while you think about it a little more…

Annnd the book is… 🥁🥁 Skyshade by Alex Aster!!

(Did you guess it?)

Skyshade by Alex Aster

SERIES: The Lightlark Saga #3

LENGTH: 384 pages

GENRES: Fantasy, Romance, YA, Fiction

PUBLISHER: Amulet Books

RELEASE DATE: 12 November 2024

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

The pulse-pounding third novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Lightlark Saga, by acclaimed author and #BookTok sensation Alex Aster

Love kills kingdoms…

Back in Grim’s castle on Nightshade, Isla is reeling in the wake of a brutal battle and the devastating truths it exposed. Her future—and the fate of the world—now hinge on a heart split in two.

Past Isla, who fell in love with the ruler of Nightshade, fights to resist feelings she considers treasonous. The Isla of the present, who has seen the ruin her powers can cause, will do anything to save Lightlark and its king.

As the line between enemy and friend is tested, Isla is more desperate than ever to understand the oracle’s final prophecy and change her heartrending fate. But a storm is coming. And with it, a long-buried evil greater than anything the realms have faced before.

With the clock ticking on her destiny and the survival of two warring kingdoms hinging on her own shattered heart, Isla Crown will either save the world—or destroy it.

What books have you been reading lately? What’s on your TBR that you’re currently the most excited about?

As always, thank you for reading, and I hope you have an amazing day/night!

See ya ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 11/4 – 11/10

It’s back! I said I was gonna do this post again, and I’m keeping my word! Second Weekly Wrap-Up in a long time let’s goooo!

I’m happy with the way my posting went last week, even though I didn’t manage to get a book review out. (That is definitely not gonna be the case this week, btw!) I did a bunch of other posts I wanted to get out, though.

Anyway, on with the post!!

Monday 11/4: The Return!

I don’t normally highlight this in these posts because I find it extremely redundant. Because it is. But since last week was The Return of the Weekly Wrap-Up, I decided that it’s special.

I’m feeling very happy that I’m still doing it – it just feels so good to be doing this post again for whatever reason.

Weekly Wrap-Up: 10/28 – 11/3

Wednesday 11/6: Can’t-Wait Wednesday

Last Wednesday, I did another Can’t-Wait Wednesday. It was the second week in a row – but it’s ’cause there’s a book I’m so looking forward to hate reading coming out very soon.

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme currently hosted by Tressa @ Wishful Endings. It focuses on books you’re looking forward to reading, usually new releases.

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: Skyshade

Thursday 11/7: October Reading 2024

On Thursday, I finally posted my monthly reading wrap-up for October. For those who don’t know, monthly wrap-ups are when I go over the books I read over the past month, as well as my stats over on The StoryGraph.

Monthly Wrap-Up: October Reading 2024

Friday 11/8: First Line Friday

Last Friday, I participated in First Line Fridays for the first time in several weeks. First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words.

First Line Friday: 11/8

Books I Read Last Week

💖🎁 Wrapping It All Up 💖🎁

So yeah, I’m relatively happy with the posts I did last week, even though I didn’t manage to get a book review out. But, that won’t be the case with this week – heck, I might even get two reviews out. We’ll see.

Regarding other posts I’m planning on: definitely a book review (like I said above), possibly a Bewitching Book Covers, probably WWW Wednesday and maybe a monthly post. But we’ll see what ultimately ends up happening.

As always, thank you to everyone for reading, and I hope you all have a great day/night!

See ya ~Mar

First Line Friday: 11/9

Hey everybody, it’s been a while. Happy Friday! Jeez, I can’t believe it’s been over a month since the last time I posted one of these!

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’s the first line:

Jenna Grodonsky was terrified of the snow.

Any ideas? If not, here’s another hint or two for you…

Still don’t know? Here’s some awesome pictures of books to start at while you consider it…

Annnd the book is… 🥁🥁 Snow Drowned by Jennifer D. Lyle!!

(Did you guess it?)

Snow Drowned by Jennifer D. Lyle

LENGTH: 304 pages

GENRES: Fantasy, Horror, YA, Fiction

PUBLISHER: Sourcebooks Fire

RELEASE DATE: 5 November 2024

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

There’s a saying on Fall Island: the snow will get you.

Gracie Hutchinson has lived here her whole life and knows there’s some truth to those words. Every few years someone dies in a snowstorm, or loses their mind, or disappears without a trace. Sometimes it seems like more than just New England weather. Now, a hundred-year-storm is approaching, and while most of the locals have taken the ferry to the mainland, Gracie must stay behind.

But she’s intrigued to find someone else her age has stayed too—Joseph Wescott, whose mysterious family lives in Wescott Manor, descendants of the legendary first settlers of Fall Island. Together, they stumble across something even more unsettling than the coming storm: the body of a stranger, murdered in a grim ritual. Someone on the island believes the old Fall superstitions have a dark power—and now, they have Gracie in their sights.

As the hours count down to the blizzard’s landfall, it seems the only safe place to go is Westcott Manor. But Gracie wonders if there’s another reason why she’s been brought there, one that has to do with Joseph. She’ll discover secrets that have been kept for generations, a hidden history, and the terrifying truth about Fall Island. Because even when the storm ends, there’s no escape from the horror beneath the snow.

What books have you been reading lately? What’s on your TBR that you’re currently the most excited about?

As always, thank you for reading, and I hope you have an amazing day/night!

See ya ~Mar

First Line Friday: 10/11

Happy Friday everybody!

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 are the first lines:

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! I imagine myself saying from the pulpit in the pink sanctuary of our church. My name is Edgar Poe, and today, for reasons I don’t fully comprehend, I’m obsessed with the seventy-two bodies buried beneath us.

Any guesses? If you’re still having trouble, here’s another hint or two…

Still have no idea? Here’s some gorgeous pictures of books to stare at, while you think about it a bit longer…

Annnd the book is… 🥁🥁 The Raven’s Tale by Cat Winters!!

(Were you able to guess it?)

The Raven’s Tale by Cat Winters

LENGTH: 368 pages

GENRES: Fantasy, Historical, YA, Fiction

PUBLISHER: Amulet Books

RELEASE DATE: 16 April 2019

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Seventeen-year-old Edgar Poe counts down the days until he can escape his foster family–the wealthy Allans of Richmond, Virginia. He hungers for his upcoming life as a student at the prestigious new university, almost as much as he longs to marry his beloved Elmira Royster. However, on the brink of his departure, all his plans go awry when a macabre Muse named Lenore appears to him. Muses are frightful creatures that lead Artists down a path of ruin and disgrace, and no respectable person could possibly understand or accept them. But Lenore steps out of the shadows with one request: “Let them see me “

What books have you been reading lately? What’s on your TBR that you’re currently the most excited about?

As always, thank you for reading, and I hope you have an amazing day/night!

See ya ~Mar

First Line Friday: 10/4

Hey everyone! Happy Friday! It’s been a couple of weeks!

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 are the first lines:

I walk to the bus station by myself. There’s always a fuss over my paperwork when I leave. All summer long, we’re not even allowed to walk to Tescos without a chaperone and permission from the Queen-then, in the autumn, I just sign myself out of the children’s home and go.

Know it already? If you don’t, here’s a couple more hints for you…

Still don’t know? Please admire these lovely photos of books while you think…

Annnd the book is… 🥁🥁 Carry On by Rainbow Rowell!!

(Did ya guess it?)

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

SERIES: Simon Snow #1

LENGTH: 521 pages

GENRES: Fantasy, Romance, YA, LGBT+, Fiction

PUBLISHER: St. Martin’s Publishing Group

RELEASE DATE: 6 October 2015

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

#1 New York Times best seller
Booklist Editors’ Choice 2015 – Youth
Named a Best Book of 2015 by Time Magazine, School Library Journal, Barnes & Noble, NPR, PopSugar, The Millions, and The News & Observer

Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who’s ever been chosen.

That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.

Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here–it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story and a mystery. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story – but far, far more monsters.

What books have you been reading lately? What’s on your TBR that you’re currently the most excited about?

As always, thank you for reading, and I hope you have an amazing day/night!

See ya ~Mar

First Line Friday: 9/20

Happy Friday everybody! It’s been a couple of weeks!

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 are the first lines:

It’s now or never.

Any ideas? Here’s another hint if you don’t know…

Still not sure? Here’s some nice pictures of books to look at while you consider…

Annnd the book is… 🥁🥁 The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde!!

(Did you guess correctly?)

The Wren in the Holly Library by K.A. Linde

SERIES: The Oak and Holly Cycle #1

LENGTH: 381 pages

GENRES: Fantasy, Romance, Fiction

PUBLISHER: Entangled Publishing, LLC

RELEASE DATE: 4 June 2024

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Can you love the dark when you know what it hides?

Some things aren’t supposed to exist outside of our imagination.

Thirteen years ago, monsters emerged from the shadows and plunged Kierse’s world into a cataclysmic war of near-total destruction. The New York City she knew so well collapsed practically overnight.

In the wake of that carnage, the Monster Treaty was created. A truce…of sorts.

But tonight, Kierse—a gifted and fearless thief—will break that treaty. She’ll enter the Holly Library…not knowing it’s the home of a monster.

He’s charming. Quietly alluring. Terrifying. But he knows talent when he sees it; it’s just a matter of finding her price.

Now she’s locked into a dangerous bargain with a creature unlike any other. She’ll sacrifice her freedom. She’ll offer her skills. Together, they’ll put their own futures at risk.

But he’s been playing a game across centuries—and once she joins in, there will be no escape…

What books have you been reading lately? What’s on your TBR that you’re currently the most excited about?

As always, thank you for reading, and I hope you have an amazing day/night!

See ya ~Mar

First Line Friday: 9/6

Happy 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:

Here are the first lines:

It was a harrowing climb to the high school. Eight hundred twenty-one steps.

Do you know the book? Here’s another hint or two if you don’t know what it is yet…

Still don’t know? Here’s some gorgeous pics of books to admire, whilst you consider…

Annnd the book is… 🥁🥁 The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang!!

(Were you able to guess it?)

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

SERIES: Theonite

LENGTH: 651 pages

GENRES: Fantasy, Fiction

PUBLISHER: Self Published

RELEASE DATE: 17 February 2019

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Better to die sharp in war than rust through a time of peace.

A mother struggling to repress her violent past, a son struggling to grasp his violent future, a father blind to the danger that threatens them all.

When the winds of war reach their peninsula, will the Matsuda family have the strength to defend their empire? Or will they tear each other apart before the true enemies even reach their shores?

High on a mountainside at the edge of the Kaigenese Empire live the most powerful warriors in the world, superhumans capable of raising the sea and wielding blades of ice. For hundreds of years, the fighters of the Kusanagi Peninsula have held the Empire’s enemies at bay, earning their frozen spit of land the name ‘The Sword of Kaigen.’

Born into Kusanagi’s legendary Matsuda family, fourteen-year-old Mamoru has always known his purpose: to master his family’s fighting techniques and defend his homeland. But when an outsider arrives and pulls back the curtain on Kaigen’s alleged age of peace, Mamoru realizes that he might not have much time to become the fighter he was bred to be. Worse, the empire he was bred to defend may stand on a foundation of lies.

Misaki told herself that she left the passions of her youth behind when she married into the Matsuda house. Determined to be a good housewife and mother, she hid away her sword, along with everything from her days as a fighter in a faraway country. But with her growing son asking questions about the outside world, the threat of an impending invasion looming across the sea, and her frigid husband grating on her nerves, Misaki finds the fighter in her clawing its way back to the surface.

What books have you been reading lately? What’s on your TBR that you’re currently the most excited about?

As always, thank you for reading, and I hope you have an amazing day/night!

See ya ~Mar

First Line Friday: 8/30

Happy Friday everybody! Managed another two weeks in a row!

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 are the first lines:

The boy stands alone on the roof of the tallest skyscraper in the city, a thin slice of darkness against the glowing lights. He could be eighteen, twenty-eight, or anywhere in between.

Know it? If you don’t, here’s a couple hints if you need them…

Still no ideas? Look at these pretty photos of books while you try to think about it…

Annnd the book is… 🥁🥁 Darker by Four by June C.L. Tan!!

(Did you guess it?)

Darker by Four by June C.L. Tan

SERIES: Darker by Four Duology #1

LENGTH: 425 pages

GENRES: Fantasy, YA, LGBT+, Fiction

PUBLISHER: HarperTeen

RELEASE DATE: 2 April 2024

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

The Shadowhunter Chronicles meets Chinese diaspora folklore in Darker by Four, the first in an epic contemporary fantasy duology from Jade Fire Gold author June Tan.

A vengeful girl. A hollow boy. A missing god.

Rui has one goal in mind—honing her magic to avenge her mother’s death.

Yiran is the black sheep of an illustrious family. The world would be at his feet—had he been born with magic.

Nikai is a Reaper, serving the Fourth King of Hell. When his master disappears, the underworld begins to crumble…and the human world will be next if the King is not found.

When an accident causes Rui’s power to transfer to Yiran, everything turns upside down. Without her magic, Rui has no tool for vengeance. With it, Yiran finally feels like he belongs. That is, until Rui discovers she might hold the key to the missing death god and strikes a dangerous bargain with another King.

As darkness takes over, three paths intersect in the shadows. And three lives bound by fate must rise against destiny before the barrier between worlds falls and all Hell breaks loose—literally.

Perfect for fans of This Savage Song and Only a Monster, Darker by Four will pull readers into a world of love and desperation and revenge—a world where every deal has a catch, no secret stays buried, and no one is exactly who they say they are.

What books have you been reading lately? What’s on your TBR that you’re currently the most excited about?

As always, thank you for reading, and I hope you have an amazing day/night!

See ya ~Mar