Weekly Wrap-Up: 1/30 – 2/5

Monday has come around once again, and with it, yet another brand new week. So it’s time to review the latest week on the blog – a weekly wrap-up, if you will.

This past week I actually got quite a bit done. Not nearly as many posts as the week before and no double posting, but we can’t all be the week of January 23 to 29.

So, without further ado, let’s get into the week of January 30 to February 5.

Monday 1/30: Majestic Monday #9

Sooo, last week Monday, I managed to squeeze out a Majestic Monday, despite being pretty busy. I reviewed three amazing book covers: Tress of the Emerald Sea, Unnatural Magic, and Siege and Storm.

If you missed it, you can check it out here.

Wednesday 2/1: WWW Wednesday #3

On Wednesday, I participated in WWW Wednesday for the third time, as well as the third week in a row.

WWW Wednesday is a meme that used to be hosted at A Daily Rhythm, but has been taken over by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words. It focuses on the 3 Ws. If you want to find out what those are, you can check out my take on WWW Wednesday here.

Thursday 2/2: What Moves the Dead Review

Thursday, I finally got another book review out and posted. It was on What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher, a retelling of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher, but with a more fungal flavor to it. If you’re interested in my full review, you can read it here.

Friday 2/3: First Line Friday #3

This past Friday, I once again participated in First Line Fridays. First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words. It’s where you post the first lines of a book and have people try to guess what it is. You can read my post here, if you’re interested.

Saturday 2/4: January 2023 Monthly Wrap-Up

Saturday, February 4, I finally got around to posting my January 2023 Monthly Reading Wrap-Up. Fir those who don’t know, it’s this thing I do every month, where I post my reading stats from The StoryGraph.

If you were interested in what I read during the month of January, you can find out all about it here.

Sunday 2/5: The Savior’s Champion Review

On Sunday, I had wanted to post another book review (~~Cress~~), but it wasn’t quite ready yet, so I posted a retrospective book review instead.

This time I did one on The Savior’s Champion by Jenna Moreci, a book I originally rated pretty highly cuz I liked the author’s YouTube videos and wanted to be nice. Now, I went through the book again without bias this time around, and… well, you’ll see if you decide to check out my review. Which you can do here, if you’re interested.

Goals for the Week of 2/6 – 2/12

This week I did a lot of what I wanted. I wasn’t able to do all of my usual weekly posts (*cough* Shelf Control *cough*), but I did do a couple of book reviews. I also continued with bettering my blog. Unfortunately, I still wasn’t able to start that new post series that I was interested in doing, though. (I got my Monthly Reading Wrap-Up done, though!)

So this week, my goals are:

Shelf Control
WWW Wednesday
First Lines Friday
a few book reviews
the new thing that I wanted to do the two last weeks that I wasn’t able to

Annnd that’s all for this Weekly Wrap-Up! As I said, I did a lot, and read some books. Had a lot of fun doing it too.

Thanks so much for reading, and have an excellent day/night! Join me next post for more bookish things!

See ya ~Mar

LINKS: Goodreads | Instagram

Majestic Monday #9: Tress of the Emerald Sea, Unnatural Magic, Siege and Storm

Whoa, barely made it! It’s still a Monday though, so there’s still time for Majestic Monday! You know, that thing where I point out pretty book covers and we admire them together.

This week, the book covers that I’m highlighting are: Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson, Unnatural Magic by C.M. Waggoner, and Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo.

Tress of the Emerald Sea - Majestic Monday — *Tress of the Emerald Sea* by Brandon Sanderson

Tress of the Emerald Sea (The Cosmere) by Brandon Sanderson

The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one.

With the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie.

But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea.

Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?

I’ve done a cover with similar colors before, and those who have seen that Majestic Monday post know how that turned out.

Cover Rating: ★★★★☆ • 4 / 5 stars

I love green and gold together. And this cover goes above and beyond by juxtaposing multiple shades of green against one shade of yellow-gold. I love how it makes it stand out. And both colors paired with black so that specific things appear in shadowy, low details? Very nice.

Unnatural Magic - Majestic Monday — *Unnatural Magic* by C.M. Waggoner

Unnatural Magic by C.M. Waggoner

A “brilliant and terrifically fun”* debut novel brings an enchanting new voice to fantasy.

Onna can write the parameters of a spell faster than any of the young men in her village school. But despite her incredible abilities, she’s denied a place at the nation’s premier arcane academy. Undaunted, she sails to the bustling city-state of Hexos, hoping to find a place at a university where they don’t think there’s anything untoward about providing a woman with a magical education. But as soon as Onna arrives, she’s drawn into the mysterious murder of four trolls.

Tsira is a troll who never quite fit into her clan, despite being the leader’s daughter. She decides to strike out on her own and look for work in a human city, but on her way she stumbles upon the body of a half-dead human soldier in the snow. As she slowly nurses him back to health, an unlikely bond forms between them, one that is tested when an unknown mage makes an attempt on Tsira’s life. Soon, unbeknownst to each other, Onna and Tsira both begin devoting their considerable talents to finding out who is targeting trolls, before their homeland is torn apart…

Cover Rating: ★★✯☆☆ • 3.5 / 5 stars

This cover is even vaguer looking than the first one, but it makes up for it with more colors. I love how all of the different colors used are just in shades of pastels. It really stands out against the black backdrop. The whole thing kind of reminds me a little of those felt-drawing things for kids.

I also love the way that the leaves look. I really like twisting vines and forest imagery, so it’s no wonder this cover caught my eye. The cover also looks rather wild with the leaves and such, and really calls attention to the “unnatural” part of the title.

Siege and Storm - Majestic Monday — *Siege and Storm* by Leigh Bardugo

Siege and Storm (Shadow and Bone Trilogy Book #2) by Leigh Bardugo

Soldier. Summoner. Saint. Alina Starkov’s power has grown, but not without a price. She is the Sun Summoner–hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Shadow Fold. But she and Mal can’t outrun their enemies for long.

The Darkling is more determined than ever to claim Alina’s magic and use it to take the Ravkan throne. With nowhere else to turn, Alina enlists the help of an infamous privateer and sets out to lead the Grisha army.

But as the truth of Alina’s destiny unfolds, she slips deeper into the Darkling’s deadly game of forbidden magic, and further away from her humanity. To save her country, Alina will have to choose between her power and the love she thought would always be her shelter. No victory can come without sacrifice–and only she can face the oncoming storm.

Cover Rating: ★★★★★ • 5 / 5 stars

I love, love, love this cover. I know that it isn’t the original Siege and Storm cover, that it’s another edition, but I honestly prefer this cover. It’s far more unique than the original, even with its relative simplicity. (Then again, the first covers for the Shadow and Bone trilogy were pretty simple, too.)

I love the colors on this one the most, which is why I chose to highlight this cover over the other two in the trilogy. (The others are beautiful too, though.) I just really like blues, greens, and in-betweens, and this cover has a lot of that. And the good magic against the black background is just *chef’s kiss*. Who’s excited for Season 2?

What are really awesome covers that you’ve recently discovered? How about your all-time favorites? Have you read any of the books that I highlighted?

Thank you so much for reading and have an amazing day/night! See you on the flip side for more bookish things.

See you later ~Mar

Weekly Wrap-Up: 1/23 – 1/29

Good [insert time of day of your choice here]! It’s the start of a new week, so it’s time to wrap up the past one. It’s time for a Weekly Wrap-Up.

This past week I posted a lot more, even despite the medical stuff I had going on, so I’m super satisfied with what I was able to do. I did so many posts, participated in some features/memes, and even double posted on a few days.

So, without further ado, let’s get into it.

Monday 1/23: Majestic Monday #8

This past Monday, I did one post – Majestic Monday. Majestic Monday is when I admire three pretty book covers that I’ve come across in the interim. Because pretty covers deserve recognition! If you missed the post, you can check it out here, to look at the books that I highlighted.

Tuesday 1/24: Spinning Silver Review

On Tuesday, I finally managed to get my review out for Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik. It was a truly fantastic novel that I definitely recommend. Fantasy, winter vibes, and fairies done right. What more could you ask for?

If you want to read the full review, you can read it here.

Wednesday 1/25: Shelf Control #9, WWW Wednesday #2

This was a double post day. The second one during the week, in fact! (The first was Monday, cuz I posted my last Weekly Wrap-Up for the week before then, too.)

Wednesday I posted my usual contributions to participating on the two Wednesday features I take part in. Shelf Control is a feature hosted by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies, and WWW Wednesday is a feature hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words.

I posted for both of them last week. You can read my Shelf Control post host here and you can check out my WWW Wednesday post here.

Thursday 1/26: Scarlet Review

Thursday, I did another book review, but this was a retrospective one. A retrospective book review is when I skim through a book I read in the recent years before I had a blog, and determine whether I like it as much as I did when I originally read it.

This time I did Scarlet, the second book in The Lunar Chronicles, written by Marissa Meyer. If you’re interested and you missed it, you can read the review here.

Friday 1/27: First Lines Friday #2

First Lines Friday is another meme that I’ve started taking part in very recently. It’s a fun little thing (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words, but I saw it on One Book More.

I posted my second contribution this past Friday. You can read it here if you missed it and are interested in checking out my post

Sunday 1/29: Deeplight Review

Yesterday, I posted yet another book review, this one on another book by an author I’d read earlier in January. That’s right – it was Deeplight by Frances Hardinge.

Deeplight is an unsettling, dark fantasy with both Frankenstein and Subnautica elements to it. Go read it if you like darker stuff, it’s pretty good. Check out my full review here, if you missed it.

Goals for the Week of 1/29 – 2/5

This week I did a lot of what I wanted. I was able to do all of my usual weekly posts and several book reviews. I also started looking into some stuff to make my blog even better. Due to some stuff going on, though, I wasn’t able to start a new post series that I was interested in doing.

So this week, my goals are:

Majestic Monday
Shelf Control
WWW Wednesday
First Lines Friday
a few book reviews
the new thing that I wanted to do last week that I wasn’t able to

Annnd that’s all for this Weekly Wrap-Up! As I said, did a lot, double posted, read a lot of books. Had a lot of fun doing it too.

Thanks so much for reading, and have an excellent day/night! Join me next post for more bookish things!

See ya. ~Mar

Majestic Monday #8: The House Witch, Gideon the Ninth, For the Wolf

It’s still Monday, but I wanted to start strong. And since it’s Monday, it’s time to look at awesome book covers. That’s right, here it is: another Majestic Monday post!

This week, the three book covers that I’m highlighting are The House Witch by Delemhach, Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, and For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten.

The House Witch (Book #1) by Delemhach

A heartwarming and humorous blend of fantasy, romance, and mystery featuring a witch with domestic powers and the royal household he serves…dinner.

When Finlay Ashowan joins the staff of the King and Queen of Daxaria, he’s an enigma. No one knows where he comes from or how he came to be where he is, which suits Fin just fine. He’s satisfied simply serving as the royal cook, keeping nosy passersby out of his kitchen, and concocting some truly uncanny meals.

But Fin’s secret identity doesn’t stay hidden for long. After all, it’s not every day a house witch and his kitten familiar, Kraken, take to meddling in imperial affairs. As his powers are gradually discovered by the court, Fin finds himself involved in a slew of intrigues: going head-to-head with knights with less-than-chivalrous intentions, helping to protect the pregnant queen, fending off the ire of the royal mage, and uncovering a spy in the castle. And that’s only the beginning—because Fin’s past is catching up with him just as his love life is getting complicated . . .

Filled with fascinating characters, courtly intrigue, political machinations, delicious cuisines, cuddly companions, magical hijinks, and will-they-won’t-they romance, The House Witch is the first in a captivating new series, guaranteed to satisfy the tastes of any listener.

The first volume of the hit romantic-fantasy series—with more than a million views on Royal Road!
The House Witch: Plot Synopsis

Now, even though I DNF-ed this last year, I can acknowledge that it has a beautiful cover, even if the book itself wasn’t for me.

I love the way that the foodstuff looks, and the way that Fin’s magic swirls around the broom and the kitchenware. And Kraken the cat looks so furry and adorable! It’s no wonder that this book cover attracted me, honestly. It’s gorgeously drawn.

Cover Rating: ★★★★☆ • 4 / 5 stars

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.
Gideon the Ninth: Plot Synopsis

I will admit, this isn’t exactly a pretty cover, but I think that it’s a great one nonetheless. Now,I haven’t had the pleasure of reading this (yet), but I can imagine that this captures the novel’s vibe pretty well.

I love the black backdrop and all of the skeletons everywhere on the cover. My favorite thing, though, has to be the font of the title. I just love the way that it looks, and how it stands out so much compared to the rest of the cover.

Cover Rating: ★★★★✯ • 4.5 / 5 stars

For the Wolf (The Wilderwood #1) by Hannah Whitten

The first daughter is for the Throne. The second daughter is for the Wolf.

For fans of Uprooted and The Bear and the Nightingale comes a dark, sweeping debut fantasy novel about a young woman who must be sacrificed to the legendary Wolf of the Wood to save her kingdom. But not all legends are true, and the Wolf isn’t the only danger lurking in the Wilderwood.

As the only Second Daughter born in centuries, Red has one purpose-to be sacrificed to the Wolf in the Wood in the hope he’ll return the world’s captured gods.

Red is almost relieved to go. Plagued by a dangerous power she can’t control, at least she knows that in the Wilderwood, she can’t hurt those she loves. Again.

But the legends lie. The Wolf is a man, not a monster. Her magic is a calling, not a curse. And if she doesn’t learn how to use it, the monsters the gods have become will swallow the Wilderwood-and her world-whole.
For the Wolf: Plot Synopsis

First off, I love how wintery this background looks. I love the way the bare black and white trees are drawn, as well. I also really like the wintery background because of how it contrasts Red’s red cloak.

The shadowy castle and sword also looks cool, especially since Red’s face is shadowed too. As someone who hasn’t read this book either, I wonder if there’s some correlation there, or if it is merely an artistic choice? Nonetheless, it’s a fantastic cover.

Cover Rating: ★★★★✯ • 4.5 / 5 stars

What did you guys think of these covers? Which one did you like best? Did any of them (and/or their synopsis’) give you any interest in reading them? (Or have you read any of these books already?)

Thank you so much for joining me, and have a great day/night! Tune in next time for more bookish things. And join me next week for another Majestic Monday!

~ Mar ~

Weekly Wrap-Up: 1/16 – 1/22

And here we are! Another week, another Weekly Wrap-Up!

This week, I tried participating in a couple of new memes/features. It was tons of fun! I’ll definitely keep up with them. It’s also been a week filled with The Lunar Chronicles posts, courtesy of one of the books I’m currently reading, and me attempting to be “very subtle” with buildup, haha.

But yeah, it was a pretty great week, even if I would’ve liked to get at least one more post, er, posted. But I tried some new stuff too, so that has softened the blow a bit. (Though that was entirely my own fault. I spent a little bit (read: I actually mean a lot) more of my free time than I should’ve, reading fanfiction. …No regrets though, honestly. (Good) Fanfiction is fantastic.)

So now, without further ado, I’m gonna break down the past week on The Blog That Nobody Knows!

Tuesday 1/17: Majestic Monday Tuesday #7

It’d been a couple of weeks, and since I’ve kindled a desire to be more proactive and consistent, I decided to do another Majestic Monday.

Majestic Monday (or Tuesday in this case, cuz I posted late *cough*) is when I admire three pretty book covers that I’ve come across in the interim. Because pretty covers deserve recognition! If you missed the post, you can check it out here.

Wednesday 1/18: WWW Wednesday #1

On Wednesday, I decided to start participating in another feature. It’s hosted by the blog, Taking on a World of Words, and is a thing that happens every Wednesday.

If you missed the post and wanna know what the 3 Ws are, you can read it here! (And you can also check out the original potter’s post. Cuz I link everything, as you shall see.)

Thursday 1/19: Cinder Review

On Thursday, I reviewed Cinder, the first novel in The Lunar Chronicles series, by Marissa Meyer. It’s an utterly fantastic book, and part of an even more fantastic series. If you like fairytales (and fairytale retellings) then this is the book for you!

It’s also an awesome science fantasy, so if you’re into that as well, definitely check it out! If you missed the review, you can read it here!

Friday 1/20: First Line Fridays #1

First Line Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers, (formerly) hosted by Wandering Words. It’s where you post the first line of a book, and then have your readers try to guess what book it is, before revealing what book it is.

It was the other of the new things that I wanted to try out this week, and I also loved it. So yes, I will be doing it again, haha. If you missed my (very first) post, you can check it out here.

Goals for 1/23 – 1/29

Annnd that’s all for this week. Almost.

For about two or three weeks when I first started this post, I posted about my blogging goals for the next week. And then I stopped doing it because I got stressed or something, I don’t know.

But, I’ve decided to start doing it again! So yay, I can say I’m gonna do things, and then you guys can judge me and hold me accountable. Awesome. So looking forward to that. (Just kidding, it’s totally gonna be something to keep me motivated!)

So this week, my goals are:

(spoiler alert) post my Spinning Silver review
post another Majestic Monday
finish at least one book and post a review on it
do another Shelf Control, as well as particular in WWW Wednesday again
start this new series/feature I’ve been thinking about (a lot) on my blog
First Line Fridays again
at least one retrospective book review
…maybe something else, idk?

So yeah, that’s quite a few goals this week. But I actually think that it looks like more than it actually is – at least it feels like that to me (for whatever reason). Either way, I’m very excited about what’s to come.

As always, thank you all so very much for reading, and I hope you have an amazing day/night! Tune in next time for more bookish things.

~ Mar ~

Majestic Monday #7: Fire, The Gray Wolf Throne, The Wife Upstairs

It’s that time of the week again. (Er, technically it’s past that time of the week again. Whoops.) Yes, that time of the week where I pick out three pretty book covers to admire. Majestic Monday! (Or Tuesday, in today’s case. What can I say? I got really busy yesterday.)

This week, the three book covers I’m highlighting are Fire by Kristin Cashore, The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima, and The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins.

Fire (Graceling Realms #2) by Kristin Cashore

A breathtaking, marvelous Graceling Realm book from New York Times bestselling author Kristin Cashore.

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.

Exquisitely romantic, this companion to the highly praised Graceling has an entirely new cast of characters, save for one person who plays a pivotal role in both books. You don’t need to have read Graceling to love Fire. But if you haven’t, you’ll be dying to read it next.

Out of all five Graceling books, my favorite cover is Fire’s, though they’re all very beautiful. I really like how Fire’s hair simultaneously looks like hair and fire, and how the golden arrows cross behind the book’s title.

Honestly, I really just like how all the colors look together in general, and how the reds of Fire’s hair contrast with the blue, white, and gold of the town at the bottom.

Cover Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 • 5 / 5 flames

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

An epic tale of fierce loyalty, unbearable sacrifice, and the heartless hand of fate.

Han Alister thought he had already lost everyone he loved. But when he finds his friend Rebecca Morley near death in the Spirit Mountains, Han knows that nothing matters more than saving her. The costs of his efforts are steep, but nothing can prepare him for what he soon discovers: the beautiful, mysterious girl he knew as Rebecca is none other than Raisa ana’Marianna, heir to the Queendom of the Fells. Han is hurt and betrayed. He knows he has no future with a blueblood. And, as far as he’s concerned, the princess’s family as good as killed his own mother and sister. But if Han is to fulfill his end of an old bargain, he must do everything in his power to see Raisa crowned queen.

Meanwhile, some people will stop at nothing to prevent Raisa from ascending. With each attempt on her life, she wonders how long it will be before her enemies succeed. Her heart tells her that the thief-turned-wizard Han Alister can be trusted. She wants to believe it-he’s saved her life more than once. But with danger coming at her from every direction, Raisa can only rely on her wits and her iron-hard will to survive-and even that might not be enough.

Much like the Graceling Realms, I like all of the covers from the Seven Realms series, but this one is my favorite. If you’ve been following me for awhile, you know how much I like purple hues on my cover. And that’s the main reason why I like it best out of the four.

But I also really like the design of the Gray Wolf Crown. I like the shade of silver-gray, the triangular spaces within the points of the crown, and the wolf on the bottom. (I like wolves.) But I also like the way the mountains and mist look beneath the crown, as well as how the overcast sky appears. So pretty.

Cover Rating: 🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺 • 4 adult gray wolves and 1 gray wolf cub (aka: a 4.5 / 5 rating)

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

A delicious twist on a Gothic classic, The Wife Upstairs pairs Southern charm with atmospheric domestic suspense, perfect for fans of B.A. Paris and Megan Miranda.

Meet Jane. Newly arrived to Birmingham, Alabama, Jane is a broke dog-walker in Thornfield Estates––a gated community full of McMansions, shiny SUVs, and bored housewives. The kind of place where no one will notice if Jane lifts the discarded tchotchkes and jewelry off the side tables of her well-heeled clients. Where no one will think to ask if Jane is her real name.

But her luck changes when she meets Eddie Rochester. Recently widowed, Eddie is Thornfield Estates’ most mysterious resident. His wife, Bea, drowned in a boating accident with her best friend, their bodies lost to the deep. Jane can’t help but see an opportunity in Eddie––not only is he rich, brooding, and handsome, he could also offer her the kind of protection she’s always yearned for.

Yet as Jane and Eddie fall for each other, Jane is increasingly haunted by the legend of Bea, an ambitious beauty with a rags-to-riches origin story, who launched a wildly successful southern lifestyle brand. How can she, plain Jane, ever measure up? And can she win Eddie’s heart before her past––or his––catches up to her?

With delicious suspense, incisive wit, and a fresh, feminist sensibility, The Wife Upstairs flips the script on a timeless tale of forbidden romance, ill-advised attraction, and a wife who just won’t stay buried. In this vivid reimagining of one of literature’s most twisted love triangles, which Mrs. Rochester will get her happy ending?

Finally! A non-SFF novel makes its way onto my semiweekly pretty book covers list! Because contemporary books can have gorgeous covers too, and this one shows that.

This modern retelling of Jane Eyre has a very nice cover, as I’ve mentioned. I love the blue wallpaper with pink flowers, and how starkly the white banister stands out against it. And the black text of the title really stands out. I love how “innocent” it all looks, contrasted with the insidious sounding title. It’s such a good cover, especially if you’ve read the original Jane Eyre.

Cover Rating: 💍💍💍💍 • 4 / 5 engagement rings (uh oh, looks like someone’s hiding something…)

Have any of you guys read any of these books? What did you think of them, if you did? I’ve read the first Graceling Realms book, but not Fire or any of the others, and I’ve read and loved the whole of the Seven Realms series. I DNF-ed The Wife Upstairs a couple years ago, though.

Anyway, as always, thanks to everyone who joined me for a (very late) Majestic Monday! Tune in next time for more bookish things! Oh, and have a fantastic day/night!

~ Mar ~

Weekly Wrap-Up: 12/31 – 1/8

It’s been a bit (ei: a month) since the last time I did one of these, but since I’ve gotten my crap back together, I’ve decided to bring this back.

So without further ado, let’s get into the post. (Also, yes, I know this is technically nine days and not seven. … Shh, say nothing!)

Saturday 12/31: DNF’s of 2022, Five Star Books of 2022

On the left day of 2022, I did a double post after a several day hiatus. (I get busy around the holidays, okay?) These posts were concerning the books I read over the past year, specifically the ones that I DNF-ed and the ones that I gave five stars. If you’re interested and you missed them, you can check out the DNF post here and the five star books post here.

Sunday 1/1: Happy New Year

My New Year’s post was about… you guessed it, New Year’s! It was basically just a post wishing everyone a Happy New Year and going over my goals and stuff that I want to do in 2023. You can read the post here.

Monday 1/2: December 2022 Reading Wrap-Up, Majestic Monday #6

On the second day of the new year, I once again double posted. Firstly, I posted my December 2022 reading wrap-up, wherein I discussed my StoryGraph reading statistics from last month. Then, I posted the first Majestic Monday in like a month, but the sixth one chronologically. In this one, I highlighted A Coup of Tea by Casey Blair, The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty, and Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer. You can read the reading wrap-up here and the Majestic Monday post here.

Wednesday 1/4: 2022 Reading Wrap-Up, Shelf Control #7

On Wednesday, I did another double post. (I’m noticing a trend here, lol.) The first was my year of reading for 2022, where I go over the my 2022 StoryGraph stats as a whole, and the second post was another Shelf Control, where I talk about Haunting the Deep by Adriana Mather, the sequel to How to Hang a Witch. If you missed it, you can read my 2022 year in review here and the Shelf Control post here.

Sunday 1/8: Anticipated First Quarter Books

Yesterday, I finally posted my anticipated books… for the first quarter of 2023. So January, February, and March. There’s waaayy too many novels on it to list here in a compact manner, so just check it out here if you’re interested in new fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and contemporary novels coming out.

Majestic Monday #6: A Coup of Tea, Kingdom of Copper, Echo North

It’s been a while, since the last time we looked at pretty book covers. Four weeks – nearly a month.

That’s unacceptable. (Lol.)

It’s time to once again celebrate majestic book covers on Monday. I promise I didn’t forget or drop this weekly… thing. I just got ridiculously busy during the second half of December because of the holidays. But, as I said, it’s been more than long enough – it’s time for another Majestic Monday!

This week, the three book covers I’m highlighting are: A Coup of Tea by Casey Blair, The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty, and Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer.

(NOTE: The pictures of the book covers and the headings beneath each one are linked to the books’ Goodreads pages if you want to check them out for yourselves. They are not affiliate links, or anything of the like. I just wanted to make it easier for those interested to check out the books that I highlight on the blog. Also, Majestic Monday is not a post series encouraging you to only read/buy books based on pretty covers – I just wanted to show of book covers that I think are pretty great.)

A Coup of Tea by Casey Blair

Series: Tea Princess Chronicles (Book #1)

Length: 402 pages

Genre: Gaslamp Fantasy, New Adult

Release Date: August 2, 2022

Book Description

When the fourth princess of Istalam is due to dedicate herself to a path serving the crown, she makes a choice that shocks everyone, herself most of all: She leaves.

In hiding and exiled from power, Miyara finds her place running a tea shop in a struggling community that sits on the edge of a magical disaster zone. But there’s more brewing under the surface of this city—hidden magic, and hidden machinations—that threaten all the people who’ve helped her make her own way.

Miyara may not be a princess anymore, but with a teapot in hand she’ll risk her newfound freedom to discover a more meaningful kind of power.

A Coup of Tea is the first book of the Tea Princess Chronicles, a cozy fantasy series full of magic tea, friendship, and lifting people up even when the odds seem impossible.

Cover Rating: ★★★✯☆ • 3.5 / 5 stars

☕ I love the colors

☕ I love how the mist and steam floating around the teapot look magical, it really fits the theme of the novel

☕ I really like how the glow of the fireplace in the background looks as a backdrop to the teapot

☕ The swirls on the teapot are really pretty

The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty

Series: The Daevabad Trilogy (Book #2)

Length: 640 pages

Genre: Historical Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

Release Date: January 22, 2019

Book Description

Nahri’s life changed forever the moment she accidentally summoned Dara, a formidable, mysterious djinn, during one of her schemes. Whisked from her home in Cairo, she was thrust into the dazzling royal court of Daevabad—and quickly discovered she would need all her grifter instincts to survive there.

Now, with Daevabad entrenched in the dark aftermath of a devastating battle, Nahri must forge a new path for herself. But even as she embraces her heritage and the power it holds, she knows she’s been trapped in a gilded cage, watched by a king who rules from the throne that once belonged to her family—and one misstep will doom her tribe…

Meanwhile, Ali has been exiled for daring to defy his father. Hunted by assassins, adrift on the unforgiving copper sands of his ancestral land, he is forced to rely on the frightening abilities the marid—the unpredictable water spirits—have gifted him. But in doing so, he threatens to unearth a terrible secret his family has long kept buried.

And as a new century approaches and the djinn gather within Daevabad’s towering brass walls for celebrations, a threat brews unseen in the desolate north. It’s a force that would bring a storm of fire straight to the city’s gates… and one that seeks the aid of a warrior trapped between worlds, torn between a violent duty he can never escape and a peace he fears he will never deserve.

Cover Rating: ★★★★☆ • 4 / 5 stars

🏺 I love the blue and orange contrast of the city in the background, as well as how it resembles copper

🏺 I love the blue light shining down through the middle of the cover behind the title, and how it transforms into water (the ocean?) at the bottom

🏺 I really like the contrast between the natural beach on the bottom part of the cover versus the artificialness of the city covering the majority of the cover

Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer

Series: Echo North (Book #1)

Length: 403 pages

Genre: Fantasy, Fairytale/Folklore, YA

Release Date: January 15, 2019

Book Description

Echo Alkaev’s safe and carefully structured world falls apart when her father leaves for the city and mysteriously disappears. Believing he is lost forever, Echo is shocked to find him half-frozen in the winter forest six months later, guarded by a strange talking wolf—the same creature who attacked her as a child. The wolf presents Echo with an ultimatum: if she lives with him for one year, he will ensure her father makes it home safely. But there is more to the wolf than Echo realizes.

In his enchanted house beneath a mountain, each room must be sewn together to keep the home from unraveling, and something new and dark and strange lies behind every door. When centuries-old secrets unfold, Echo discovers a magical library full of books- turned-mirrors, and a young man named Hal who is trapped inside of them. As the year ticks by, the rooms begin to disappear and Echo must solve the mystery of the wolf’s enchantment before her time is up otherwise Echo, the wolf, and Hal will be lost forever.

Cover Rating: ★★★✯☆ • 3.5 / 5 stars

🐺 I adore the contrast of the white on royal blue, and how it’s just the two colors on the cover; it really makes both colors stand out a lot

🐺 I love how the wolves near the top of the cover, and the points of the compass and book below almost appear like old carvings

🐺 I really, really like the way the trees are drawn on the cover and how they almost appear to be overtaking it

Weekly Wrap-Up: 12/5 – 12/11

It’s the end of the week again, so it’s time for a reading wrap-up. I didn’t blog as much as I had wanted to, but sometimes that’s (unfortunately) just how life goes.

Fortunately, I did have the opportunity to post a few times this week, so let’s look back on the good times like those.

Tuesday 12/6: Majestic Monday

This Tuesday, I posted the thing where I talk about pretty book covers. This week I highlighted City of Lost Chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky, Ash & Embers by Jenna Wolfhart, and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. You can check out the full post here if you missed it.

Thursday 12/8: Winter Book Recommendations

This Thursday, I thought that it was time I give out a few of my (only) winter-themed book recommendations. I’m not gonna spoil it here – cuz I don’t want to ruin the point of the post itself – so you can read the whole thing here, if you’re curious.

Friday 12/9: The Will and the Wilds Review

On Friday, I finally posted another book review. This one was Charlie N. Holmberg’s The Will and the Wilds, a somewhat surreal, high fantasy, romance novel. It was a quick and interesting read, I totally recommend it for that reason alone, even if it wasn’t one of my favorites. (I’m also planning on reading more of this author’s books.) If you missed it, you can read my review here.

Sunday 12/11: Weekly Wrap-Up and General Goals for Next Week

Annnd, that’s it for this week. Like I said at the top, I didn’t post as much as I wanted to, but stuff happens. I also didn’t really meet any of my blogging goals the way that I wanted to, which is also unfortunate.

So, I’m not going to overtly state any goals like I have been, because life happens, and it also prevents me from being spontaneous if I get an idea to blog about something bookish in the middle of the week, or something.

So for this week, I’m not committing to anything, but I’d like to do a Shelf Control, post a couple book reviews, maaayybe a reading retrospective, and probably at least something else. So join me next time for more bookish things!

Majestic Monday #5: City of Lost Chances, Ashes and Embers, Addie LaRue

So, um… It’s time for another Majestic Monday!! On Monday! Because it’s totally still Monday. Right?!?

Anyway, Majestic Mondays are when this blog gushes over pretty book covers. Majestic covers, one might say. And the three books I’ve chosen this week are: City of Lost Chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky, Ash and Embers by Jenna Wolfhart, and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab.

City of Lost Chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Length: 545 pages

Genre: Fantasy

Release Date: December 8, 2022

Book Description

There has always been a darkness to Ilmar, but never more so than now. The city chafes under the heavy hand of the Palleseen occupation, the choke-hold of its criminal underworld, the boot of its factory owners, the weight of its wretched poor and the burden of its ancient curse.

What will be the spark that lights the conflagration?

Despite the city’s refugees, wanderers, murderers, madmen, fanatics and thieves, the catalyst, as always, will be the Anchorwood – that dark grove of trees, that primeval remnant, that portal, when the moon is full, to strange and distant shores.

Ilmar, some say, is the worst place in the world and the gateway to a thousand worse places.

Ilmar, City of Long Shadows.

City of Bad Decisions.

City of Last Chances.

Okay, to start off with, we all know how I like a trio of colors on a cover by now. We also know how much I like gold on covers. And we know that I like book covers where there are contrasting elements that are diametrically opposed to one another. And this cover has all of it, so it’s no wonder it’s on this list.

Cover Rating: ★★★★✯ • 4.5 / 5 stars

Ash and Embers by Jenna Wolfhart

Series: The Mist King [Book #2]

Length: 464 pages

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Release Date: December 1, 2022

Book Description

All her life, Tessa has lived in the cruel shadow of the wicked fae on the hill. And when she tried to fight back, she failed.

Now, she is trapped in the dungeons beneath Albyria. Cursed to wed King Oberon, she’ll be bound to her enemy’s side for eternity if she does not escape.

But someone far more dangerous haunts her dreams. The Mist King. He wants answers, but so does she.

And when the deadly mists begin creeping into the Kingdom of Light, it seems the impossible has happened. Oberon’s protective barrier has cracked.

That can only mean one thing. The Mist King is coming. The question is, is he coming to save her or to get his revenge?

So this is a second book in a series, but I just like this cover so much more than the first book. It has an old-fashioned key on it! With a rose on it! And I love old-fashioned keys! (And roses too.) The cover also has that contrasting black and yellow-gold, and we know how much I love that.

Cover Rating: ★★★✯☆ • 3.5 / 5 stars

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

Length: 434 pages

Genre: Historical Fantasy, Romance

Release Date: October 6, 2020

Book Description

A Life No One Will Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget.

France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever—and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.

Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.

But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.

Were three-for-three with the gold this week. And (technically) three-for-three on the black and gold. Wow. I must be in a black and gold mood this time around.

But what I really adore about this cover isn’t the black/gold pairing here; it’s the constellation in the background. I absolutely love constellations – I just think they’re so cool. I also like the font of the title. I like stencil fonts a lot.

Cover Rating: ★★★★✯ • 4.5 / 5 stars

Annnd, that’s all I got for you today! Have you read any of these books? (*cough* The Ones That Have Actually Been Released *cough*) What did you think of it? How do you feel about the covers? Join me next post for more bookish things!