Top 10 Books I Hope Santa Brings

It’s Top Ten Tuesday time!

If you’re unaware, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly original feature created by The Broke and the Bookish, and it’s now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week there’s a new Top Ten theme that the blogger responds to with their own list of answers.

This week’s theme is… *drumroll please*…

Books I Hope Santa Brings

I actually have a Christmas list I make for my mom... Err... I mean SANTA every year, so this one was super easy.

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An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

I just want book one, three, and four of this series, as they're in matching hardcovers. However, I was hoping for a boxset of all of these. I am unsure if that will happen, so I told "Santa" to not worry about this series. We'll see if "Santa" listened.

 Wolfsong by TJ Klune

I have the first three books in this series on Kindle and the last book in paperback. *sigh*

The Kinder Poison by Natalie Mae

I asked "Santa" for this one because I've heard it compared to Aveyard's Red Queen series. Yessss.

Dark Age by Pierce Brown

I still haven't read the Red Rising spinoff books. I'd like to binge them when they're all out.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Haven't read this series, and I think I might like it. Or maybe not. It has pretty fan art, however, and I want to look at it without fear of spoilers.

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I've read this already. I can't decide if I want a hardcover copy, though. I feel like FairyLoot may be getting special editions, so I kind of hope I don't get it in a way.

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

I just feel very in the mood for this one now. I doubt "Santa" buys this for me, though. "Santa" doesn't like snakes.

Jade City by Fonda Lee

I've heard very good things about this series, and I want to give it a try. However, I bought a cheap Kindle copy, so no biggie if I don't get the hardcover. I can see if I enjoy the content before I invest in $30 adult fiction books.

Morning Star by Pierce Brown

I've been asking for a hardcover of this book for years.

Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I've read this series already, but I want the new covers. The cover redesign for the series was definitely for the best. I also need like 70% of JLA's books in physical form. I've read a lot of them as ebooks and library copies, but I'm a collector. I needs my pretties.

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Alright, there you have it. My list of books I hope Santa brings me this Christmas. What did you put on your list? Let me know in the comments section.

Review: Everless by Sara Holland

Everless

Sara Holland

(Everless #1)

Publication Date: January 2, 2018

Hardcover, 362 pages, HarperTeen

Genres: YA, Fantasy

Goodreads

No one resents the Gerlings more than Jules Ember. A decade ago, she and her father were servants at Everless, the Gerlings’ palatial estate, until a fateful accident forced them to flee in the dead of night. When Jules discovers that her father is dying, she knows that she must return to Everless to earn more time for him before she loses him forever.

But going back to Everless brings more danger—and temptation—than Jules could have ever imagined. Soon she’s caught in a tangle of violent secrets and finds her heart torn between two people she thought she’d never see again. Her decisions have the power to change her fate—and the fate of time itself.

My Review

Everless is a YA fantasy centered around blood being the ultimate currency and what happens to the poor when the wealthy hoard it. There's also a bit of magic and mystery to the story as well. Honestly, this book reads a lot like a young adult fairytale retelling, even though it isn't one.

The main character of Everless, Jules, is, unfortunately, not super special in terms of personality, though she does have a secret ability. Jules mostly comes across as an average young adult fantasy female protagonist. Despite this, the story was fun to read and quick to fly through.

As for the other characters, there weren't very many that actually stood out. I did enjoy the love interest switch, though I wanted more from both boys in terms of personality, just like Jules. The side characters were soft and charming, and Jules' father and her friends were nice. They simply weren't as involved in the story as they could have been. I think all of these character issues could have been solved with another 100 pages added to the book to really delve into who these fictional people are.

Continuing on the idea that there needed to be more pages was the plot of the book. Sometimes it felt like a fever dream and wasn't explained very well. (More pages would've helped flush things out.) Also, the "ending twist" was predictable, but I did like the cliffhanger. I may or may not pick up book two. It just depends on when/if I get around to buying a copy.

Overall, it's an intriguing world that could have been a lot darker if the author had explained things in depth or slowed things down a lot more to make the story truly devious and fascinating. After all, a world built on blood currency is rather grim.

*Note: I purchased a copy of this book for myself. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

 

Top 10 Books On My Winter 2020-2021 TBR

It’s Top Ten Tuesday time!

If you’re unaware, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly original feature created by The Broke and the Bookish, and it’s now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week there’s a new Top Ten theme that the blogger responds to with their own list of answers.

This week’s theme is… *drumroll please*…

My Winter TBR

Some of these books have been on my TBR for a very long time. I hope I can finish a few of the older titles before 2020 ends.

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Master of One by Jaida Jones & Danielle Bennett

I've waited on this one an extra long time since it's coming in a subscription box A MONTH AFTER its publication date. Why are book boxes including books that aren't releasing in the appropriate month? It totally messes with my preorders.

Winterspell by Claire Legrand

A book I've had on my TBR for years. I'd like to finally read it in the appropriate season.

Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh

This is technically a re-read, but I want to read the entire series for the first time. Thus, I need to re-read book one to remember what the heck happened.

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

I have issues with the main couple of this series, so this will be my third time attempting to read this. I just don't like Rhys and Feyre. However, I have a feeling I'll really enjoy the side characters, and I want to read the spinoffs.

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

I know this one will be good, I just need to read it.

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

The trilogy is finally complete. It's time for me to binge.

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

I'm 100 pages into this one. I'd like to finish it before spring.

Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty

I loved the first book in the series, but I haven't had the time to dedicate to re-reading book one and then reading this one and book three. It will happen in early 2021, though.

Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell

Doesn't release until February, but I want it bad.

United by Melissa Landers

This has been on my TBR for years. I had a 2020 goal to read as many series finales that I could for books I own physical copies of. United was one of them.

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Alright, there you have it. My Winter 2020-2021 TBR. What did you put on your list? Let me know in the comments section.

Review: Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift

Cast in Firelight

Dana Swift

(Wickery #1)

Publication Date: January 19, 2021

Hardcover, 448 pages, Delacorte Press

Genres: YA, Fantasy

Goodreads

The first book in an epic, heart-pounding fantasy duology about two royal heirs betrothed to be married, but whose loyalties are torn, and a ruthless enemy who threatens their world, perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Hafsah Faizal, and Renée Ahdieh.

Adraa is the royal heir of Belwar, a talented witch on the cusp of taking her royal ceremony test, and a girl who just wants to prove her worth to her people.

Jatin is the royal heir to Naupure, a competitive wizard who's mastered all nine colors of magic, and a boy anxious to return home for the first time since he was a child.

Together, their arranged marriage will unite two of Wickery's most powerful kingdoms. But after years of rivalry from afar, Adraa and Jatin only agree on one thing: their reunion will be anything but sweet.

Only, destiny has other plans and with the criminal underbelly of Belwar suddenly making a move for control, their paths cross...and neither realizes who the other is, adopting separate secret identities instead.

Between dodging deathly spells and keeping their true selves hidden, the pair must learn to put their trust in the other if either is to uncover the real threat. Now Wickery's fate is in the hands of rivals..? Fiancées..? Partners..? Whatever they are, it's complicated and bound for greatness or destruction.

My Review

Arranged marriages, unique fantasy magic, and an enemies-to-lovers romance? Yes, please! Cast in Firelight is perfect for YA fans who want more fictional lands and sassy characters in their lives.

Cast in Firelight actually reminds me a lot of the Dark Caravan Cycle by Heather Demetrios and the show Avatar: The Last Airbender. There’s a lot of color magic based on the four elements or similar concepts. Like the Dark Caravan books, this one has an atmospheric setting with a world full of those unique magic users. Although, I do have to say that the magic system is pretty loose in terms of what limitations people have. It’s not a major complaint, as Swift does a good job of moving the plot along in a way that has me focusing on the coming events versus how high someone’s power level is. It’s very similar to Avatar in that way.

The main characters and narrators of the book are Adraa and Jatin, and both are magic users. The two are childhood nemeses put in an arranged marriage by their parents. A recipe for a tension-filled romance. Adraa, the heroine, starts the story as a somewhat mediocre character. In fact the beginning had me believing all of the characters were super naïve and that this book would read as more of a younger, early teens YA. You start believing Adraa’s like every other YA fantasy heroine because of the narrative tone, but that’s because as a reader you don’t know all her secrets yet. And boy, those secrets really drive the storyline somewhere I didn’t expect. Adraa is a full-fledged bada$$.

As for Jatin, he seemed like that arrogant prince set up in every other YA novel as well, but he really just wants to be loved. Aww… The dynamic between these two characters through the entire middle of the book was so fun and simultaneously frustrating. I very much enjoyed all the angst, and I wish it could have gone on longer and not been resolved so easily. Though both characters had good heads on their shoulders and didn’t blow things out of proportion when major secrets were revealed. Good for them.

The side characters were also interesting. However, I was hoping there would be more page-time for them. There were glimpses of other characters’ relationships with Adraa and Jatin, but it would have been nice to get a little more interaction, especially with the two guards, Riya and Kalyan.

Tying into the side characters, is the ending of the story. There’s isn’t really a cliffhanger to this first duology installment, which I feel was a bit of a mistake—the final pages could have been stronger if it had cut off more abruptly. Yet even so, there are some important conversations between family members that did give the story a bit of a boost. It also made me happy to see living parents who love their kids. We don’t get a lot of that in YA fantasy these days.

All in all, Cast in Firelight is a super fun time. It has a fascinating magic system with two complex characters who I very much want to see succeed. I’m definitely looking forward to book two!

*Note: I received a copy of this book to review from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion/review.

 

November Wrap-Up & December TBR

November has been an interesting month. It started out busy, but now things have slowed down quite a bit. I’ve been reading more this month than I did in October, and I’ve finished some big books that have been taking up too much time. This means December is free for impulse reading. Yay!

In this wrap-up, I’ll list the books I read, the books I reviewed, the books I bought/received, and my TBR for next month. Now, let’s get this bookish party started!

Books Read in November 

A Game of Thrones: 4 stars
The Bridge Kingdom: 4 stars
The Traitor Queen: 4 stars
The Blood Spell: 3 stars
Kingdom of the Wicked: 4 stars (my review)
The Name of the Wind: 3 stars
Let the Wind Rise: 3 stars

I read seven books this month. All of them except one were physical books. The ebook was The Name of the Wind, my book club’s autumn pick. It was a doozy to get through. I think it took me almost an entire month. A Game of Thrones was also one that took me a long time, but that was out of choice. I’m reading one A Song of Ice and Fire book per year. Hopefully, that will give Martin enough time to finish writing the sixth and seventh books (lol), so I can get a decent ending to the series.

Other than those chunkers, the other reads were kind of just books I picked up on a whim. Though, Let the Wind Rise is a last-book-in-series that I want to read before the end of 2020. Oh, and two books were books I’d owned physical copies of prior to 2020: A Game of Thrones and Let the Wind Rise. Also, I’m still very behind on book reviews. None of them are for publishers, so I’m okay with being behind yet again.

Books Bought/Received in November

I didn’t buy any books in the month of November that didn’t come in one of my subscription boxes. Well, I take that back. I didn’t spend any money on books in November. I actually got two ebooks for free: Realm of Knights by Jennifer Anne Davis and The Maiden Ship by Michelle Ryckman. Realm of Knights was free on Kindle, and I ended up getting a $5 spending credit from Amazon that I used on The Maiden Ship.

Other than those two, my Baecrate order of The Bridge Kingdom duology came in, and my October FairyLoot and November Owlcrate boxes arrived. I’m not sure if I’m keeping the November Owlcrate book, Among the Beast and Briars. It’s pretty, but the box and book itself just sound so mediocre. The October FairyLoot was Kingdom of the Wicked, which I’ve already read and enjoyed. The copy is beautiful too. Oh, I did buy some book fanart this month. A lot of From Blood and Ash art, a Daenerys art piece, and one piece of Throne of Glass art. I’ll share them sometime in a separate post.

Currently Obsessed With

There wasn’t anything major to obsess over in the month of November. The biggest thing was the series finale of Supernatural, which I thought was okay. Some people are super p*ssed about it, but I liked most of it. There were simply some nitpicks that the production and writing teams should’ve fixed, in my opinion. I’m just glad Jensen Ackles can now move on to The Boys. I’m super excited to see his superhero suit.
 

My mom and I also finished watching Buffy and Angel. Since this was the first time she watched both shows, she got to see the ending for the first time as well. She wasn’t super satisfied with either of them. I understand that for Angel, but I thought Buffy had a good ending. And finally, The Office is coming off Netflix at the end of December, so I’m re-watching the show for maybe the last time in a long while. 

Currently Reading/December TBR

I only have one book that I need to read this month, Cast in Firelight (not pictured), since it’s a review copy. And, since I have the 2020 goal to read as many endings to series as possible, I’d like to finish United by Melissa Landers. Other than those two, I have A Warm Heart in Winter, A Court of Mist and Fury, and Lady Midnight on my list. ACOMAF and LM are ones I’ve started already, but I just can’t seem to get through, even though I really want to. ACOMAF because, while I don’t like the main couple, I think I’ll really like the side characters and the spinoffs. For LM, I just want to see if I can get back into the Shadowhunter world, especially since I enjoy Magnus and Alec.

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Okay, well, that’s the month of November, plus some December sneak peeks, all wrapped up into one post. Do you have a wrap-up post for this month? If so, share in the comments!