Red (Taylor’s Version) Book Tag

I think I’ve forgotten how to write a blog post.

I have some ideas (by which i mean only-titled-drafts of course) but putting them into words is another matter entirely. It used to come naturally, but then I give it a break and that spark is just… gone? Like hello didn’t anybody teach you it’s rude to just get up and leave like that? I sifted through at least 4 different intros before deciding I’ll just inform you guys about my latest existential crisis and declare that my eloquent introduction to this post. A round of applause for my amazing critical thinking skills please.

Ok so. I found this tag over at Georgia’s blog and since my coping mechanism includes blasting taylor swift on the speakers, it seems perfect for my life situation really.

State Of Grace – Best Opening Book In A Series

We are alone with our changing minds
We fall in love ’til it hurts or bleeds, or fades in time

Fable by Adrienne Young

This is literally the first question and I’m already cheating but we don’t talk about bruno my nefarious habits loudly ok? So this isn’t actually a series (um. i haven’t completed any series in a year. so.) but a duology and I found the first book better than the second. Anyway I don’t know how anyone of you can pass up this HOOKing (get it??) pirate adventure.

Red – a book that makes you feel a whole spectrum of emotion

Forgetting him was like tryin’ know somebody you never met
But loving him was red

Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong

See when I said this book was an emo rollercoaster I really meant it. It made me feel emotions I did not even know existed. I was giggling one moment, shocked-with-my-jaw-hanging-open the next, tearing up and then laughing through my tears. Quite the ~experience~

Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Yeah like there was the all consuming pity for Elle, then anger on her behalf (and *ahem* possibly murderous feelings towards her stopmom and stepsister), then the nail biting tension and of course the happily ever after.

Treacherous – a slow book that you ended up loving

And I’d be smart to walk away
But you’re quicksand

We Hunt The Flame by Hafsah Faizal

This was loooong and sloooow. And the sequence went like desert desert desert bang fighting desert desert. A very tempting DNF for sure. Yet I loved it for some reason? (the reason being: plenty of banter, moral greyness, knife to throat, enemies to lovers slow burn)

I Knew You Were Trouble – a book you knew would be bad and ended up being bad

I knew you were trouble when you walked in
So shame on me now

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Barnes

After the overhyped jumble The Inheritance Games was (oh how i wish it had been a standalone), I did not have high hopes for the sequel. But somehow it managed to be even worse than I had thought? The romance had me gagging and the plot was weakly tied up.

All Too Well – the book that has stayed with you the most

Is this a sign from the universe? I am not able to pick a book for the signature song of the album?? What sorcery is this?

22 – coming of age book

It feels like a perfect night
For breakfast at midnight
To fall in love with strangers

In Deeper Waters by FT Lukens

I felt like most people would choose a contemporary for this prompt, so I went with a fantasy instead (away from the crowd am i right?). Anyway. This one is a sea adventure with mermen and royalty and court politics – highly recommend!

I Almost Do – the one you keep almost reading and don’t

That I can’t say “Hello” to you
And risk another goodbye

The Red Palace by June Hur

Does it make sense that even though it’s been only three months since this book got published, it seems like I have had it on my tbr forever? Like everytime I see a glowing review, I promise people that I am going to read it real soon PLUS its sitting ready on my kindle but I still haven’t got to it? Oops.

Stay Stay Stay – a book everyone dislikes but you love

Stay, stay, stay
I’ve been loving you for quite some time, time, time

Portrait Of A Thief by Grace D Li

It’d be a bit of a stretch to say EVERYONE dislikes this, and also a stretch to say I LOVE it, buut yeah pretty close I guess? I’ve been seeing negative reviews upon negative reviews and while I 100% agree with some of the flaws pointed out, there was a lot of good too.

The Last Time – what was the last book you read?

Find myself at your door
Just like all those times before
I’m not sure how I got there
All roads, they lead me here

The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe

This was definitely much darker and grittier than I was expecting, and it ended up being a bit of a disappointment. There were no sub-plots at all, and the entire focus was on one and one character only- not saying that’s necessarily bad, but it didn’t feel right to me.

Holy Ground – a fan-favorite book

Back to a first glance feeling on New York time
Back when you fit my poems like a perfect rhyme

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

I randomly went through my goodreads shelves looking for hyped up books and this one was the first I found. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a review of this book that is not some starry eyed fan gushing about the wonder this story is. So. My expectations are sky high.

Sad, Beautiful, Tragic – a book with any of these words in the title

Long handwritten note
Deep in your pocket
Words, how little they mean
When you’re a little too late

Beautiful People Where Are You by Sally Rooney

Oof well I haven’t read this one either but I’ve heard loads about it! Someday maybe *fingers crossed*

The Lucky One – a book about fame

Now it’s big black cars and Riviera views
And your lover in the foyer doesn’t even know you
And your secrets end up splashed on the news front page

If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales and Cale Dietrich

Everyone knows fame and boy bands go hand in hand. If this gets out deals with all the things that come in a package with being a teenage heartthrob – and not all of them are autographs and selfies.

Everything Has Changed – a book that changed how you view something

All I know is you held the door
You’ll be mine and I’ll be yours
All I know since yesterday
Is everything has changed

The Wave by Morton Rhue

It’s a short read, but so much learning is stuffed between those pages like?? It’s eerie that I used to be as skeptical about nazis as the students in the book (because how could someone with an ounce of common sense support that man?) but this book showed me how very possible and realistic it was to “brainwash” people.

Starlight – a book that makes you feel warm and cozy and magical

Don’t you see the starlight, starlight
Don’t you dream impossible things

The House In The Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

To those of you who thought I’d finally gotten over rambling about this book in every other post, the joke’s on you ha! Yeah no I very much have not forgotten what a delight this gem of a book was. Puppy eyes emoji in book form.

The Moment I Knew – a book that looks happier than it actually is

But there was one thing missing
And that was the moment I knew

Heartstopper Volumes 1-4 by Alice Oseman

I was taken by surprise when what appeared like a cute fluffy contemporary delved into several heavy topics BUT that doesn’t mean I love my boys any less.

Come Back, Be Here – a book series you want to make a resurgence OR a book series you want to be finished/the author to come back to

Taxi cabs and busy streets
That never bring you back to me
I can’t help but wish you took me with you

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Choksi

Series are intimidating. Ok yeah I know I enjoyed the first book, but something about actually continuing the series and maybe finishing it makes me want to run in the opposite direction. And that wouldn’t do at all right?? Who would write this lovely blog right here?

With that we’re done! I skipped some of the prompts, so if you’re interested in doing the tag you can find the entire prompt list over on Georgia’s blog (linked above). I’m not tagging anyone but feel free to do this on your blog, I’d love to read your answers!!

What’s your favourite song from Red? Have you read any of these books? Which is a book that made you feel a whole spectrum of emotions? (And can someone yell at me to read The Red Palace?) Let’s chat in the comments!

~Rachel

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The Christmas Song Book Tag

Dashing through the snow, in a one horse open sleigh, o’er the fields we go, laughing all the way…

Am I the only one who has christmas jingles stuck in my head since the past couple of days? I mean I literally cannot seem to get rid of them and my mind unhelpfully supplies them at the oddest of times. Trying to recall the periodic table? “jingle bells jingle bells” Trying to square 33 mentally? “we wish you a merry christmas and a happy new year” See what I mean?

I’m also eating plum cake as I type this, so the conclusion is that the christmas vibes have totally settled in over here.

Anyway. We’ve got a very appropriate tag for this wondrous occasion – The Christmas Song book tag! I saw this tag on Maddie’s blog, and it looked fun so here we are!

“You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch“

~ Name a villainous character you can’t help but love ~

Kaz Brekker, though I’d never for the life of me call him ‘villainous’. And also Nasir Ghameq (i’m sorry but he’s an assassin so… but I love him okay?)

“All I Want For Christmas Is You“

~ Which book to you most hope to see under your Christmas tree? ~

I’m surprised by how easy this was to answer. The book I’m craving most at the moment is Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong (under a metaphorical tree because we don’t really celebrate christmas that much) because of obvious reasons that I dare not elaborate without bursting into tears all over again.

“Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”

~Name a character that overcomes major obstacles and learns to believe in themselves ~

Um okay literally almost every main character? But since I’m bound by the unwritten rules of book tags, I’ll pick Archie from This Last Adventure by Ryan Dalton. It’s about how he handles his grandfather’s growing memory loss due to Alzheimer’s so obstacles? There’s a lot of them. (but more about that in my review later)

“Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”

~Which character do you think would be on the top of the naughty and nice list?~

Naughty list, let’s see. The Darkling? I mean, I finished King of Scars yesterday so he’s the first one to come to mind, and rightfully. (*wagging finger* no gifts for you kirigan)

Look there are a lot of competitors for the nice list okay? But again, remember the unwritten rules of book tags? Yeah, i thought so. Once again I’d pick from King Of Scars, and it’d be Matthias. (i thought i was over him, but then Bardugo had to go write this duology)

“Frosty the Snowman”

~Which book just melts your heart?~

To answer your unasked question (but you were going to ask, hmm?), no it’s not a contemporary. The House In The Cerulean Sea seriously has so much feeling; believe me when I say Klune’s a magician.

Klune: *writes House In The Cerulean Sea*
Me: *while reading it* omg so adorable, my heart *eyes well up*
Klune: oh you think i’m only good at making people cry? challenge accepted *writes the Extraordinaries trilogy*
Me: *while reading it* omg. omg. what. wh- *undignified giggles and snorts*
Klune: the show’s not over yet! *writes Under The Whispering Door*
Me: *buys a copy as soon as it is out but is too afraid to read it and have her heart shattered* (don’t worry I’ll get to it. eventually.)

“Feliz Navidad”

~ Choose a book that takes place in a country other than your own ~

Yeah no this is too easy, hardly any book I read nowadays is set in India. Let’s go with We Are Not Free by Traci Chee, which is set in America after the bombing of the Pearl Harbour.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year”

~Which holiday themed book do you use to spread the Christmas joy?~

I haven’t read a lot of Christmassy books, but The Miracle Of Ebenezer Street is one I distinctly remember. There’s so much christmas merriment! and joy! and cheer!

“Sleigh Ride”

~Which fictional character would you choose to spend the holidays with (doesn’t have to be a love interest!)~

I’d love to have some cheerful and sarcastic characters around so – Aideen (from Not My Problem), Jesper (Six of Crows), Nikolai (King of Scars) and such would be my top picks.

“Baby its cold outside”

~Which book that you didn’t like would you sacrifice to a fire to warm yourself up in the cold?~

As much as I would like to gasp and say “oh no i’d never do that to a book!!”, I unfortunately have had the (dis)honour of having read The Young Elites by Marie Lu, and I despise it with all my heart so into the flames it goes. (it’s probably best that I don’t own a physical copy of this)

“Do you hear what i hear”

~Which book do you think everyone should read?~

Now that. Is. Hard. You want me to rattle off a list of my favourites? Or recommend a book that will magically make non-readers readers? (it doesn’t exist sorry) Or maybe a book that people of all ages, and fans of all genres will love? (that doesn’t exist either)

So very graciously, we are going to skip this question and not talk about it. (and yes I run away from problems instead of facing them) don’t tell a soul.

i tag…

Amber @EscapeLifeInThePages || Georgia @Lost In Neverland || Saima @Stories With Saima

Which book do you hope to see under your Christmas tree? Which is your favourite Christmas-themed book? Let me know in the comments!!

~ Rachel

The End Of The Year Book Tag // ft. a fraction of my tbr for 2022!

‘Tis that time of the year, folks! Okay wait no, that doesn’t sound right. I would be saying that if I’d been blogging for decades (or maybe even a couple of years) and this was my 17^th time doing this annual tag. Far from it; it’s actually my first time. *sigh* So much for that one line. I’ll go with my usual “hey guys” next time.

Anyway, we have some brilliant bookish questions to answer, so let’s get started, shall we?

~Are there any books you started this year that you still need to finish?~

At the time of writing, I am currently reading Not My Problem and King Of Scars. I am almost 60% in the former, but have read only a few pages of the latter. But I definitely hope to finish both in a few days.

~Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?~

Umm not really. But I do feel obliged to mention a couple of books with autumn vibes, so we are going to go with Small Spaces and The Haunting Of Aveline Jones.

~Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?~

If This Gets Out is the last 2021 release I’m waiting for.

~What are three books you want to get to before the end of the year?~

*nervous chuckle* sooo that’s a difficult one because there are at least a million books I want to read in 2021 (or what’s left of it), you know, books I said I would read this year for sure but never got to them, books on my shelves collecting dust… but that’s a depressing line of thought so let’s move on.

I picked 3 books from my “asap tbr”, which I would very much like to get to immediately, if circumstances allow it. (by which I mean if I somehow manage to acquire a copy of OVE) All 3 are sequels of some sort, and I guess I want to read them this year so that sometime far away in the future (read: next year) I can say that I finished such-and-such series in 2021.

~ is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favorite of the year? ~

Well saying the favourite would be a bit of a stretch, since that spot (and a few spots below it as well) has already been occupied… but yeah I guess there can be a couple additions to my top 10? But also. I’ve learnt that books can surprise you when you least expect it, so no promises.

~ Have you already started making reading plans for 2022? ~

Not plans per say, but of course I’ve a huge tbr laid out for the initial months of 2022. There are SO many amazing releases (just LOOK at those covers!!) coming out next year, and also I have quite a lot of backlist books (books released in 2021 and before) that I want to read, so my tbr is a mix of all these. But (i feel like all of my answers have this ‘but’ element??) then again, who follows tbrs over here right?

Is there a 2021 release you’re still waiting for? Which are your most anticipated 2022 releases? Let me know in the comments!

~ Rachel

3 Bookish Things Tag + The Feelings Book Tag

Hey people!

My exams got over today!! So I am hoping I’ll have a little more free time to devote to books and to this blog for a while before life catches up again (though to be fair I have managed my blog pretty well during this trying period. Scheduling ROCKS.)

I am always looking to diversify my content, and when I realized I haven’t done tags, awards or anything of the sort since quite some time, I thought I’d catch up! We have two tags in hand today, so let’s get started!

The 3 Bookish Things Tag

I saw this one on Madeline’s blog and it looks so much fun. I got lots of new recs from her post, so I am hoping you’ll get some from mine as well. As always, the cover images will take you to the goodreads page of a particular book!

1. TJ Klune (Author of The House In The Cerulean Sea)
2. Grace Lin (Author of Where The Mountain Meets The Moon)
3. Markus Zusak (Author of The Book Thief)

1. A Series Of Unfortunate Events (Well, still watching this one)
2. The Babysitters Club (it was good, though a little over-dramatic, if I do say so myself)
3. The Worst Witch (this was superb, but it did get a little repetitive after the first season)

Hmm I don’t really binge a lot of series (especially not in one day or one sitting) so there is only one answer for this. The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare

Just a clarification, I have chosen these three characters from recent reads, and they are in no way my only favourite characters. (had to say it in case any of them are reading this 👀)

1. Glerk and Fyrian from A Girl Who Drank The Moon by Kelly Barnhill (yes they are technically two but you can’t stop me)
2. Julian from Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
3. The “buffalo boy” from Where The Mountain Meets The Moon

1. Under The Whispering Door by TJ Klune (this is my MOST anticipated 2021 release, and I am looking forward to reading it as soon as it comes out!)
2. King Of Scars by Leigh Bardugo (I had ordered this a while back, and my copy arrived just yesterday…and omg it is even more beautiful in real life!)
3. Aurora Burning by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (This is the most beautiful book cover ever, you can’t convince me otherwise)

1. A bookmark (duh)
2. My finger/hand (weird and uncomfortable, but efficient. And I don’t lose my hand as often as I lose a bookmark)
3. Those little tags on new clothes (honestly some of them are so pretty, once you cut out the barcode and price part ofcourse)

1. Matthias Helvar from Six Of Crows isn’t as bad as most of the SoC fandom makes him out to be. Like he was raised in a stereotypical environment and sincerely wants to change?? In fact, he might have been one of my favourite characters in the duology (along with Kaz and Inej obviously)

2. The Infinity Courts by Akemi Dawn Bowman was infinitely boring. I totally get that the concept was cool, but did you not pay attention to the repetitiveness?

3. An Ember In The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir is quite overrated. Of course, it was a decent book, but I don’t understand all that hype.

1. To complete my GR goal of 65 books. I think I am doing pretty well on that, I am currently 7 books ahead of schedule.
2. I was doing some stats the other day, and found that fantasy is making up more than 85% of my reading. So my goal is to read more of other genres too, especially sci-fi and historical fiction.
3. Review at least half of the books I read, either on my blog, or on Goodreads.

I tag:

Aria @Book Nook Bits

M @Inking and Thinking

Kaya @A Fictional Bookworm

April @Booked Till Midnight

The Feelings Book Tag

I was tagged for this by Rania @Rania’s Rambling Reads! Shout-out to her!!

Rules:

• Thank the blogger who nominated you and give a link to the blog.
• Answer the 5 feelings given to you.
• Write the reason in 5 to 6 lines of why does that particular book come under that feeling.
• Nominate between 5-12 other bloggers.
• Give your nominees 5 feelings too.
• Notify your nominees once you’ve uploaded your post.

Rania’s prompts:

A Book You Had To Stop Reading Because You Got Second Hand Embarrassment

Like I didn’t necessarily stop reading it as such, but omg, I got so much second hand embarrassment from Bloody Spade. We have this cat-boy Iori as one of our mc, and sometimes he reminded me of a bratty 10 year old (there was literally a scene where he throws a tantrum and runs away, only to come back a little while later) and made me cringe inwardly. But I still love him with all my heart.

A Book That Gave You Butterflies

We talking about happy butterflies? Or nervous ones? Or something else entirely?? Anyway, that pure tension and anticipation in Supernova definitely matches with this.

A book with a ship you will support till the day you die

Okay, that is quite intense. But if I had to choose, I’d say Kanej from Six Of Crows.

A book you knew you would love after reading the first chapter

I am cheating a little here because I knew I would love this book even before starting it. But still, it starts right in the middle of an action sequence, and for me that is the perfect beginning to any book.

A book you knew you would hate but read it anyways

Nope. I do not do that. However, I was to bend the prompt slightly, The Girl Who Drank The Moon was something I thought I’d dislike after reading the first few chapters, but I ended up liking it afterwards.

Here are my five questions!

• A book which blew your mind?
• A book which gave you nightmares?
• A book that made you think and reflect? (on existence, deeper meaning of life etc)
• A book you rolled your eyes at?
• A book that has been etched into your memory?

And the five people I tag!

Birdie @ Birdie’s Booktopia

Janhavi @ A Cottage of Words

Pheonix @ Books With Wings

Emily @ Frappes and Fiction

Sofii @ A Book A Thought

What are your bookish goals for the year? Which is your most anticipated release of 2021? Let me know in the comments!

The Mid-Year Book Freak Out Tag 2021

Is it weird that ever since I became a blogger, I’ve wanted to do the Mid Year Freak Out Tag without knowing what exactly it is? Yes, definitely weird🙃 But now that has changed since I did my homework and read lots of Mid Year Freak Out posts by other bloggers from previous years.

True to the name of this post, I am freaking out. Like seriously, when did time sprout wings? Just yesterday I was getting tired of the new year wishes and memes, and we are halfway through already? Whoa.

Till 25th June, I’ve read 37 books and a total of 14348 pages which are both mind blowing, when compared to previous years (I didn’t track my reading before this year, but I know I got nowhere close to these figures). I am doing quite good on my goodreads goal of 65 books, considering that I am 6 books ahead of schedule. Without further ado, let’s start with the tag!

Best Books So Far In 2021

Surprise surprise! Six Of Crows and The House In The Cerulean Sea. Linked below are my reviews for the same.

Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo | Book Review || Book Review: The House In The Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

Best Sequels In 2021

Supernova was by far the best book in the Renegades trilogy! Read my review here

I love the Aurora Cycle series with all my heart, but somehow Aurora Burning was even better than Aurora Rising! Aurora Burning by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff | Review

Crooked Kingdom does not need any explanation as to why I am willing to die over it. Period.

New Releases I Want To Read

There are SO many of them, but I’ll go with the top 3.

Most Anticipated Release For The Second Half Of 2021

Definitely Aurora’s End, the final book in the Aurora Cycle duology-soon-to-be-a-trilogy. After THAT cliffhanger in Aurora Burning (which is THE worst cliffhanger in the history of cliffhangers, if I do say so myself) I can’t wait to see how this turns out. (Also, can we please scream about THAT GORGEOUS COVER?!)

Biggest Disappointment of 2021

There have been quite a few books that did not live up to my expectations, but the one that hurt the most has to be The Infinity Courts. I rated it 1.5 stars. Shocking, isn’t it? What’s more is that this book had so much potential with such a cool concept *cue the sighing and head shaking* Read my review here.

Biggest Surprises Of 2021

Malamander and Book Scavenger. Both these lovely books reminded me why I love middle grade so much. Linked below are my reviews!

Book Review: Malamander by Thomas Taylor || Book Scavenger by Jennifer Bertman || Mini-review, some art, and a little “book scavenger” game of my own!

Favourite New Authors

Well, Leigh Bardugo and Marissa Meyer probably?

Book That Made You Cry

The House In The Cerulean Sea all the way. It takes a lot for a book to make me cry, and this one had it all and much more.

Book That Made You Happy

Is it cheating if I say The House In The Cerulean Sea again? Because yes, this book gave me ALL the feels. I laughed, I cried, I smiled through my tears.

Most Beautiful Books You Got In 2021

These were both part of my birthday book haul. I am currently reading The Girl Who Drank The Moon.

Books You Need To Read By The End Of 2021

I just picked some books from the top of my head, and though I definitely want to read these books asap, they are in no way the only books I want to read this year. Also if you’ve read any of these, I’d love to hear your opinion!

Which are your best reads of 2021 so far? What are some new releases that you haven’t read yet but want to? Let me know in the comments, and feel free to link your mid year freak out post if you’ve made one!

Get To Know The Fantasy Reader Tag

Hello everyone!

I’ve been having so many great (and mostly original) ideas for blog posts, but somehow I have lost the energy to form coherent words from my thoughts and type them out (hence the 18 barely-started-except -for-the-heading drafts just sitting there staring at me). It is at this time tags come to my rescue (cue heroic tune).

I was looking for tags related to fantasy (since its Wyrd And Wonder month) and I came across this one at Chonky books and it looked fun, so I decided to do it! Let’s get started!!

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Rules:

• Make sure you give credit to the original creators of this tag – this tag was originally created by Bree Hill.
• If you want to, pingback to the post you first saw this tag
• Have fun!

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What is your fantasy origin story? (The first fantasy you read)

Huh I never thought about this actually. I guess it must be either Harry Potter or Charlie Bone or something.

If you could be the hero/heroine in a fantasy novel, who would be the author and what’s one trope you’d insist be in the story?

Well, since we’re already talking about dreams coming true, I think I would very much like to become the author of this fantasy novel😂. The one trope that just HAS to be there would be found family, or ragtag crew of mifits.

What is a fantasy series you’ve read this year, that you want more people to read?

My favourite fantasy series this year so far are the Six of Crows duology and the Aurora Cycle duology-soon-to-be-a-trilogy, but I guess a lot of people have read them already since they are pretty popular. So I’ll go with the Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend, which was one of my favourite fantasy series last year. It is so underrated and underhyped, but I’m sure you’ll love it if you just read it.

What is your favourite fantasy subgenre?

I can’t really name a favourite, it all depends on how it is executed. But in general I like futuristic, dystopian, epic, MG and YA fantasy. And I also enjoy the occasional mythological fantasy, especially Indian (Amish Tripathy’s novels are fab!!) and Greek.

What sub-genre have you not read much from?

A lot of them actually😅. I haven’t read any fairytale retellings, and I have read very little of Paranormal Fantasy and Medieval Fantasy.

Who is one of your auto-buy fantasy authors?

I don’t buy books just because I like other books by that author (I used to do that but ended up disappointed most of the time) so I can’t answer this one.

How do you typically find fantasy recommendations? (Goodreads, Youtube, Podcasts, Instagram…)

Mostly I get recs from my fellow bloggers’ posts (thank you, y’all!) though since I have joined Goodreads I get some good fantasy recs based on my tastes from there too.

What is an upcoming fantasy release that you’re excited for?

Aurora’s End (the final book in the Aurora Cycle trilogy) which is releasing in September and Keeper of the Lost Cities 9 (still untitled, but 9the final book in the KOTLC series) which comes out in November.

What is one misconception about fantasy that you’d like to lay to rest?

All fantasy is not magic spells and goblins and fairies. Yes, it does have some magical or supernatural element, but it is still very different from a fairy tale. (Go read Six Of Crows if you doubt me!)

If someone had never read a fantasy before and asked you to recommend the first 3 books that come to mind as places to start, what would those recommendations be?

Hmm…I’d say Divergent, Percy Jackson and any Cassandra Clare would be a good place to start…? They are all quite different from each other, so you can try them out and see what sticks.

Who is the most recent fantasy reading content creator you came across and would like to shout out?

Not a content creator, but I would like to tell you about Wyrd And Wonder, which is “an annual geekout about all things fantasy”. And that’s right, its taking place in May, right now! Oh, and its not too late to sign up even now (click here for all the details!).

I tag Ashmita @the fictional journal || Cherelle @a bolt out of the book || Kristin Kraves Books

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Another thing before ending this post – did y’all see that my blog has a brand-new blog button now? All the credit goes to Evin @A Curly Sue’s Ramblings. Thank you Evin for the stunning blog button!!

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Are you a big fantasy reader? Any great fantasy recs for me? What is an upcoming fantasy release that you’re really excited for? Chat with me in the comments!

20 Questions Book Tag

Hey there, I am doing a tag today! I was tagged for this by Georgia @Lost In Neverland. Thank you so much Georgia for tagging me, this looks so much fun!

1. How many books is too many books in a series?

Earlier I would probably have said that 7 or 8 is the limit for me, but now that I have found favourite series which have 9+ books (looking at you KOTLC!), I can only say that if the author can make it interesting, no number of books are too many books in a series.

2. How do you feel about cliffhangers?

Ah, cliffhanger, my old frenemy! Cliffhangers definitely encourage readers to pick up the next book in the series, though WHY CAN’T A WHOLE SERIES BY REALEASED ALL AT ONCE SO I DON’T HAVE TOO GO THROUGH THE PAIN OF WAITING?!

3. Hardback or paperback?

Paperbacks! I love hardcovers too, but I find paperbacks more comfortable to hold while reading, and also while stacking on my bookshelf.

4. Favourite book?

The question I was dreading is finally here! Ahem…(don’t worry I am not going to go into my usual monologue of how ‘its unfair to the other books’😂) so it is for questions like these that I have updated my “About Me” page. It now includes a (rather long) list of some of my favourite books and movies. You can find it HERE. And of course, all my favourite books are there in my profile on Goodreads, so go check that out as well!

5. Least Favourite Book?

Eh I don’t really know. But the most recent book that I disliked was The Middler.

6. Love triangles, yes or no?

Mostly, no. But it depends how it works out.

7. The most recent book you just couldn’t finish?

I don’t remember dnf’ing a book recently, but last year I was reading this book “It’s all about Treo” which revolved around a military dog, and it was all right at first, but then I lost interest and dropped it for something else instead.

8. A book you’re currently reading?

I am nearly finished with Book Scavenger by Jennifer Bertman.

9. Last book you recommended to someone?

Well I have forever been recommending Six Of Crows on my blog, so I think that counts!

10. Oldest book you’ve read?

According to Goodreads, it is The Mysterious Affair At Styles by Agatha Christie. It was published in the year 1920.

11. Newest book you’ve read?

A Wilder Magic by Juliana Brandt. I received an ARC.

12. Favourite Author?

Abstain🤐

14. A book you disliked that everyone else seems to love?

An Ember In the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. I don’t think I have ever come across a negative review for this. And though ‘disliked’ is a strong word, I certainly did not like it as much as I had expected to.

15. Bookmarks or dog ears?

Bookmarks, of course! *looks horrified* I would NEVER dog-ear my precious lovelies!!

16. A book you can always reread?

Well I am not such a fan of rereading…

17. Can you read while listening to music?

I haven’t tried to, but I don’t think I will be able to.

18. One POV or multiple POVs?

Recently I have discovered my love for books with multiple POVs *cues Six Of Crows and Aurora Burning and Unlocked and Renegades*

19. Do you read a book in one sitting or in multiple days?

How I wish I could read them all in one sitting!! But sadly, no, it takes me about 4-5 days to finish a medium sized book.

20. Who do you tag?

April @Booked Till Midnight

Madeline @The Bookish Mutant

Laura @The Corner Of Laura

Which book are you currently reading? Which are the oldest and the newest books you’ve read? Chat with me in the comments!

Julie and the Phantoms Book Tag

Four months into 2021, and I am doing my first tag of the year! Yeah, I know apologies are due. All of you amazing people have tagged me for so many amazing tags, and I love you for that, but I am really sorry that I wasn’t able to do them. I stopped doing tags and awards completely in December last year, as I felt that my blog was becoming flooded with them. But I have decided to start posting tags once in a while from now on. So I found this tag at Living, Loving and Reading, and I have had Julie and the Phantoms on my Netflix watchlist since ages (I really should watch it soon), so I thought, why not?

Rules

•  Link back to the original post (and also Sarah’s booktube account)!!
•  Thank whoever tagged you!!
•  Answer the prompts!!
•  Tag some friends to share the awesomeness!!
•  Go watch Julie and the Phantoms on Netflix (and sing every song like it’s your last performance on stage)!!

I just got this as part of my birthday book haul, and I have also recently discovered my love for novels set in space (thanks to the Aurora cycle) so Skyward by Brandon Sanderson is pretty high up on my TBR.

This was my first Christie book, and also my first crime novel. My father, who was a big Christie fan at the time, kept recommending this to me, but I was a little reluctant because this was something completely new to me. But it turned out to be so good, and it still remains one of my favourite crime novels.

Yeah, I was completely in the KOTLC zone then, and I think I read all the books by September, and then Unlocked got released in November, but I got to read it in January.

Yeah, I don’t speak about this a lot nowadays, but there was a time when I was totally fascinated by the HUGE twists in Jefferey Archer books, and Nothing Ventured is quite a favourite of mine.

Ha! You didn’t think I would write an entire post without mentioning SoC, did you? Anyway, I have always said that one of the major reasons I love the Six Of Crows duology is because it is really fast-paced and full of action. I mean, there aren’t many of the classic ‘combat’ scenes as such, but aren’t Kaz’s schemes a full-fledged war by themselves?😉 I will leave you to ponder on that.

Another KOTLC book! The entire series basically has pretty much the same characters, so my answer for this one would be the entire Keeper Of the Lost Cities series.

We love you Dex! You are the best friend there ever is!

I think I fell into a slump in the beginning of March, but somewhere in the middle I started reading Aurora Rising, and it got me out of my reading slump!

The Aurora Cycle is once again my answer! I have always said that the major reason this duology has me impressed is because of its amazing characters.

*spends half an hour staring into the book shelf before going with the one she had already thought of*

This was a very tough decision, believe me. (I am so sorry Kal, I know your face looks gorgeous on the cover, but I didn’t want all these people thinking I have become obsessed with the Aurora Cycle, which I actually have, but anyway I love the Burning cover, and I am so sorry not for choosing you).

I know there is this weird golden circle, some medal or something, in the image, but that is not there in the paperback copy that I have, and yeah, the book looks so much better without it. Also, I still haven’t read this, and I need to read it soon.

Uhh…I really can’t decide as such. There’s Kaz-Inej from SoC, Laia-Keenan from An Ember In the Ashes (Yeah, they seem a better fit than Laia-Elias), oh and Nova-Adrian from Renegades.

Nah, I really don’t have an answer to this, sorry!

Look, I am not the kind of person who cries after the end of most books. It takes a LOT for a book to affect me so much, as to make me cry. So I am not blaming the books, I am blaming myself. I might have been close to tears in a couple of books, but that has not happened recently, so I don’t really remember.

Marcus from AEITA. That guy disgusts me so much that I love hating him.

I had got goosebumps while reading this. I am not a big fan of the horror genre in general, and even the smallest think spooks me out, so its no big deal actually.

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Since I have not seen many people do this tag, I am going to tag some of my friends :

Ahaana @Windows To Worlds

Ashmita @the fictional journal

April @ booked till midnight

Nehal @Books and Words

Madeline @ The bookish mutant

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Have you seen Julie And The Phantoms? Or have you listened to these songs? What about the books I mentioned…have you read any? Let me know in the comments!

Character Chat #5

Hello readers, and welcome to another Character Chat post! This is a weekly tag in which I will be asking a character-related question here on my blog. All you have to do is answer the question, either in the comments or on your own blog. To know all the details, click here.

Today’s Question –

A non-human (this can be an animal or a thing) character with a unique attitude?

Scratch from The Crooked Sixpence. He is Ivy’s silver bell (yes, you heard me right, bell) and has a speech defect (which is helpful later) because of which he jumbles up all the words in a sentence. But every time he speaks, it is somehow uplifting for Ivy (and me!) and I liked the attachment he made with Ivy.

Now its your turn! Which non-human characters have you liked reading about?

Character Chat #4

Welcome to another Character Chat post! This is a weekly tag in which I will be asking a character-related question here on my blog. All you have to do is answer the question, either in the comments or on your own blog. To know all the details, click here.

Today’s Question –

A side character who you think should have been the main character / A side character you would like to know more about?

Brianna from How To Pack For The End Of The World by Michelle Falkoff. I finished this novel five minutes ago from the time of writing this post, which is why it is all I can think of right now. Anyway, Brianna is the main character’s roommate, who is mentioned in the book, like, only 2-3 times. The first time I was introduced to her she seemed kind of stuck up, with that nose-in-the-air vibe, but later she turned out to be really kind and sensitive, and also described all the problems she had dealt with, which made me curious about her.

Your turn now! Go ahead and rack your brains for side-characters who weren’t given enough attention!