Tag: monthly wrap ups

[Monthly Wrap Ups] June ’19

Posted on by anewbookishbeginning

June was kinda busy!

  1. A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab (4 Stars)
  2. Nyxia Unleashed by Scott Reintgen (4 Stars)
  3. Alex Approximately by Jenn Bennett (5 Stars)
  4. This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith (3 Stars)
  5. Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry (5 Stars)
  6. Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring by Angela Cervantes (4 Stars)
  7. Watchdog by Will McIntosh (4 Stars)
  8. Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes (5 Stars)

Best of the Month

Storm Runner
Absolutely amazing. I was required to read this for one of my grad-MLS classes. I’m a big Percy Jackson fan, so the premise of the story definitely sounded interesting. While it had a ton of similarities to PJ, it totally held its own ground. Zane and his group of friends are great. I loved learning new (for me) mythology and all about the Mayan gods. I listened to an audiobook, so this took me a while to read, and when I cracked open the book, I was beyond shocked to learn how a lot of the names were spelled. Do yourself a favor and check out the glossary. I love that the entire cast of characters are HIspanic; I think it’s a fresh diverse cast without beating you over the head with it – I mean, the story is about Mayan gods, so of course they’re Hispanic, but it works. It flows. The story was a little slow to start off, but once it started, it didn’t stop. I was on the edge of my seat a large majority of the story. I very much enjoyed this and can’t wait for the sequel!

To Read in July

  1. Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
  2. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
  3. Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
  4. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
  5. Series of Unfortunate Events (The Ersatz Elevator) by Lemony Snickett
  6. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
  7. Dodger by Terry Pratchett
  8. Walk the Edge by Katie McGarry
  9. Long Way Home by Katie McGarry

Typically I make a long list of “to-reads” and then don’t read any of them – but all but the last two are for school, so I have to. Which means I’ll have reviews for all of them (plus Harry Potter, Twilight, The Fault in Our Stars, The Rainbow Fish, She Persisted, Percy Jackson, Illuminae (again =\), and A Monster Calls, all things I’ve read previously).

[Monthly Wrap Ups] May ’19

Posted on by anewbookishbeginning

Even though school was done, May seemed to be a lull for me. I only read two books – I started several, but didn’t finish very many.

  1. Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (5 Stars)
  2. Nyxia by Scott Reintgen (4 Stars)

Best of the Month

Aurora Rising
Wowowowow. We been knew I was gonna love this, but I’m still blown away. It will be a long and painful wait for book 2. Jay and Amie have beautifully captured the spirit of a new found family, and I wish I was friends with all of them. The whole Squad is absolutely perfect. I laughed out loud more than once. I squeed. I had to put the book down a couple of times to control my emotions. I guessed a plot twist, but not due to Amie and Jay’s writing – it really was me just getting lucky about something. I have about 5 different ships? And honestly – all plausible if you stretch the truth a little bit. The science fiction was developed well, in my opinion. I really liked the explanation of the Maker. I absolutely loved Kal and Fin. The imagery was very vivid in some places – some beautiful, some gruesome. You can probably guess who wrote which imagery. But this is definitely something that I will become obsessed with. I can’t wait for more people to devour it and produce content for me. Please do me a favor, and pick this book up. Don’t listen to any potential nay-sayers.

To Read in June

  1. A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab (Already finished)
  2. A Gathering of Shadows by V. E. Schwab
  3. A Conjuring of Light by V. E. Schwab
  4. Nyxia Unleashed by Scott Reintgen
  5. Nyxia Uprising by Scott Reintgen
  6. A heap of juvenile books because I’m in a Children’s/Youth lit class this summer and we have to read 30 books. So, stay tuned.

[Monthly Wrap Ups] March ’19

Posted on by anewbookishbeginning

I’m pretty proud of my reads this month. All novels.

  1. The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi (3 stars)
  2. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (4 stars)
  3. Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner (5 stars)
  4. Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd (3 stars)
  5. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (4 stars)
  6. The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee (4 stars)
  7. Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas (4 stars)

Best of the Month

Unearthed
God, this book was very good. I loved each of the puzzles, and unlike The Gilded Wolves, the puzzles felt more natural to the story and not forced. The way to figure them out was great, and I loved how much Amelia had to help even when Jules should’ve been the brains in the situation. Just when our heroes felt safe, a new threat approached. I was on the edge of my seat every time I picked this book up. The last 50 pages or so were just scary enough that my tummy started hurting. And the last paragraph was shocking. Something I never would’ve expected, and I’m so grateful I already own the second book and didn’t read Unearthed 6 months ago when I first got it and would’ve had to wait for Undying. This is excellent and Kaufman and Spooner prove again that science fiction YA is absolutely what they should be doing for day jobs night jobs all jobs.

To read in April

  1. Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
  2. When the Sky Fell on Splendor by Emily Henry
  3. Undying by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
  4. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
  5. Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
  6. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
  7. Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller
  8. Once and Future Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy
  9. Wicked Saints by Emily Duncan
  10. Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith

[Monthly Wrap-Ups] January ’19

Posted on by anewbookishbeginning

With my new job, school, and new plucky attitude, I was fortunate to read a lot more in this month than I usually do! Hopefully this trend continues, but here’s what I’ve read in January.

  1. Jane, the Fox, and Me by Fanny Britt (3 stars)
  2. Divergent by Veronica Roth (4.5 stars)
  3. Warcross by Marie Lu (4 stars)
  4. Batman: NightWalker by Marie Lu (4.5 stars)
  5. The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner (3 stars)
  6. Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo (4 stars)
  7. Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas (4 stars)
  8. King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo (4.5 stars)
  9. TBH, This is SO Awkward by Lisa Greenwald (3 stars – Juv)
  10. TBH, This May Be TMI by Lisa Greenwald (3 stars – Juv)

To be fair, if you looked at my goodreads, I have not included those last two books, but I did read them, so they’re listed here!

Best of the Month:

Divergent.
I cannot believe it took me this long to read this book? Absolutely brilliant. It took me back to the days of the Hunger Games – it has a similar vibe. Roth’s ability to world build is truly incredible. I fell in love with Tris quickly. She wasn’t immediately strong – she had to fight, and she has to over come obstacles, but she’s great. I’d follow Four to the ends of the Earth, of COURSE. The ending was gut wrenching and just resolved enough that I almost didn’t read the next one, just out of safety for my own heart, but I am more than half way through Insurgent, now, and let me tell you, my rating is not as favorable as this one. I’ve got words.

To Read in February:

  • Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
  • Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
  • Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas
  • Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas
  • Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
  • Undying by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
  • The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
  • The Wicked King by Holly Black
  • The Unlucky Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten