We need a bit of hope in the world, especially during these uncertain times. I’m sure this year is kicking all our butts, and reading has been a nice escape for me. This book tag was a lot of fun to write. Thanks to Soulful Thoughts for tagging everyone. Everyone who reads this can consider themselves tagged. Remember to tag me back and I can’t wait to read all your answers!
1. A book world you would like to escape to: Hogwarts
I will forever be waiting for my Hogwarts letter. Always. This is the series I turn to for comfort, and I love rereading it when I’m in a reading slump. I also like to re-watch the movies when I need a reminder.
2. A romance that left you all mushy inside: Beach Read by Emily Henry
This was a much heavier romance book than I expected, both from the cover and from the synopsis. It was all very misleading, but in a good way. I thought about this book a lot as I was reading it, and for some time after. You can read my review here.
3. A friendship we should all aspire to have: Nate and Amy in The Existence of Amy by Lana Grace Riva
We would all be lucky to have a friend like Nate. Nate did things for Amy that I wondered if I would ever do for someone I work with. I think I would only go so far to help my husband and kids, and maybe my sister. Honestly, there is maybe only one work friend who I might go that far for. Am I a terrible person? Maybe. Go read my review for this book here.
Picture taken by me.
4. Intermission! Insert the cutest picture of your pet or the cutest animal you can find.
Meet Leah, my nine year old husky 🙂 She was named during my Twilight phase after the only female wolf in the pack. Don’t judge me!
5. A character in a leadership role that inspires you.
Even though this wasn’t an amazing read for me, I still consider Samiah to be a great role model for little girls and grown women alike. Samiah taught the girls she mentored that the color of their skin did not determine the career they should follow, and that they should work hard and do what they were passionate about. I was also inspired by the fact that Samiah went back to school as an adult to obtain another degree in the field she loved, as opposed to the degree she first got in order to please her parents. You can read my review here.
This story spoke of resurrection, and this is something that I’ve always wanted to believe in so badly. It gave me hope that maybe those who love us never really leave us, and their souls will always find us again.
7. (Optional) Tag People.
If you are reading this consider yourself tagged, and remember to tag me back. I want to see all your answers!
Disclaimer: All opinions on this blog are my own. If you are interested in purchasing any of these books, please consider using my Amazon affiliate link by clicking on the pictures and/or links and I will receive a small fee, but your book will still cost the same.
For fans of: The Hunger Games, Ash Princess, The Selection, rebellion trope, competition trope
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Emry is a Royal – a princess of Enlennd. As is tradition, she must have a knight at her side as her protector. The only way to appoint one is through The Trials. Her Challengers from the five regions of Enlennd must compete for the infamous title of Princess’s Knight. The problem, though, is that the people of Enlennd are split into two categories: Rioters and Royals. Finding the perfect knight may be the last of her worries. War is coming to Enlennd.
Declan is a Rioter. An upriser. An anarchist. He mistrusts the Jewels – the sovereign family of Enlennd. Yet, he is offering himself up as a Challenger in The Trials. The Mistress, leader of the Rioters, has a mission for him. The first step is for him to become the Princess’s Knight. He is ready for the task, until he actually meets Emry and discovers that betraying her would be much more difficult than he’d thought.
My Review:
Those who were covered in filth tended to be frowned upon by those who could afford to never get dirty”
I really enjoyed the unique magic system in this book, my favorite part being the fact that the person’s eye color determined what powers they had. Emry, the main female character, had gray eyes and the coolest powers in my opinion. I did feel like the story needed a bit more scene setting and descriptions of the characters’ surroundings as we switched from one scene to another.
I loved how fierce and brave Emry was, and how she loved her sister and her kingdom. Declan was smart and cunning, and he complemented Emry’s personality well, they made a great pair. I enjoyed the romance between them, but I was glad it did not completely take over the plot. The plot was very character driven, which I liked. I also enjoyed how the story was told through different characters’ points of views.
The history lesson in the beginning of the book was very useful, and it helped to keep the amount of info dumping minimal throughout the rest of the story. The book was fast paced and action packed after that, and I really enjoyed the tournament, since the competition based trope is one of my favorites. There were some unexpected plots twists, which kept me on my toes. I did feel like the ending was a bit rushed, but other than that this was a great YA/Fantasy story. I highly recommend it, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
Disclaimer: A signed copy of this book was provided to me for free by the author in an Instagram Giveaway. I was not paid for this review, and all opinions are my own. If you are interested in purchasing this book, please consider using my Amazon affiliate link (by clicking on the top or bottom pictures) and helping a fellow book blogger out 🙂 I will receive a small fee from Amazon, but your book will still cost the same.
Even though I do read a variety of genres, my favorite series are all in the Fantasy/ Paranormal/ Sci-Fi range. Maybe it’s because other genres tend to only include stand-alone books? Most of these are YA/Fantasy, with the exception of Illuminae which is considered YA/Sci-Fi and The Night Prowler series which is Adult Paranormal Romance. A Court of Thorns and Roses and the Throne of Glass series are considered High Fantasy, and they are not YA. There are other series I did not include here (Aurora Rising and Six of Crows to name a few) and this is because they are not completed yet; I’m still waiting on a few books to be released from those.
It would be very hard for me to pick a certain favorite out of all of these or to number them in most favorite to least, so I decided to talk about them in no particular order. Also, I cannot summarize any of these series accurately without giving away a whole lot of spoilers, so I’m posting a synopsis of the first book for each of them, and giving you a mini review for each. These are the books that I proudly display on my shelves and own in several formats. Their quotes fill the walls of my home, my journals, and my phone. If you haven’t read these I hope you give some of them a try and then let me know what your thoughts were. If you have read them, let me know your opinions in the comments!
P.S. I’ve talked enough about the Harry Potter series so I didn’t include it here. We all know Harry Potter is life. (click on the link to read my Harry Potter Booktag post)
Disclaimer: All opinions on this blog are my own. If you are interested in purchasing any of these books, please consider using my Amazon affiliate link by clicking on the pictures or links.
This series is comprised of seven amazing books. Empire of Storms (#5) is my favorite out of all of them, as it’s the one where Celaena (the main character) has the most character growth and there is also a lot of action. I did hate the cliff-hanger ending since I had to wait more than a year for the last book, Kingdom of Ash, to be released. The book I did not care much for in this series was Tower of Dawn (#6) because it was about my least favorite character, Chaol. Maas did do a great job with the series finale, giving every character and side story the necessary closure. I enjoyed the different character points of views, the playful banter and dialogue, and the complex plot. Be warned that even though this series seems to be advertised as YA, it’s NOT, as it includes very explicit sex scenes.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king’s champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.
The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass—and it’s there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena’s fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.
A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas
Since we are already on the topic of Sarah J. Maas books here is another one of her series which has become one of my favorites of all time. The series includes three books and a short novella. My favorite book of the series is A Court of Mist and Fury (#2) since this is the one where the main character Feyre has the most character development and revelations. There is also a major plot twist in this one, and we are introduced to a group of amazing characters who improved the story tremendously. I enjoyed the entertaining dialogue in between the characters, the romantic aspect, and how each character was unique and could probably star in their own story. Maas is actually releasing a spin-off of this series in the near future, which will star some of these side characters that I fell in love with. Be warned that even though this series seems to be advertised as YA, it’s NOT, as it includes very explicit sex scenes.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Feyre’s survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price …
Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jeweled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre’s presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.
This series is comprised of four amazing books and three novellas. My favorite book in the series was Cress (#3) because Cress is such a sweet endearing character and I just wanted to root for her. Also, my favorite male character was Thorne, or Captain Thorne, as he liked to be called. I really enjoyed the group dynamics between the eight main characters, how the stories were all interconnected, and the different points of views.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Sixteen-year-old Cinder is considered a technological mistake by most of society and a burden by her stepmother. Being cyborg does have its benefits, though: Cinder’s brain interference has given her an uncanny ability to fix things (robots, hovers, her own malfunctioning parts), making her the best mechanic in New Beijing. This reputation brings Prince Kai himself to her weekly market booth, needing her to repair a broken android before the annual ball. He jokingly calls it “a matter of national security,” but Cinder suspects it’s more serious than he’s letting on.
Although eager to impress the prince, Cinder’s intentions are derailed when her younger stepsister, and only human friend, is infected with the fatal plague that’s been devastating Earth for a decade. Blaming Cinder for her daughter’s illness, Cinder’s stepmother volunteers her body for plague research, an “honor” that no one has survived.
But it doesn’t take long for the scientists to discover something unusual about their new guinea pig. Something others would kill for.
I wrote a review of the second book in this series, The Wicked King, and of the last book (my favorite of the series) The Queen of Nothing. The Wicked King was a terrible cliff-hanger. I remember writing “I need therapy” on a sticky note when I was done, and it took me a while to type up my review into coherent sentences and thoughts. I really loved how dark these books were, how strong the human main character Jude was, and I am a big fan of the enemies to lovers trope.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.
And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.
Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.
To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.
As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.
The Night Prowler Series by J.T. Geissinger
Picture from Goodreads. Get series on Amazon. Also available for free on Kindle Unlimited.
For fans of: Dark Paranormal Romance, shape shifters, super powers, ancient tribes, alphas and mates trope
This is one of those underrated series that I never hear anything about, but I was completely captivated by it. It includes six books, but they are on average 300 pages each. Be warned it does contain explicit sex scenes. I enjoyed the different points of views, the fact that they shape shifted into panthers (which was very unique), the romance aspect, and the non-stop action. I’m really upset that after writing this series J.T. Geissinger switched to writing Romance and never wrote anything resembling this again.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
2013 winner Fantasy, Futuristic, & Paranormal’s Prism Award for Published Authors—Best First Book
Deep within the primeval forests of southern England, a race of beautiful, savage shape-shifters lives hidden from the everyday world. Bound together by ancient bloodlines and a ruthless code of secrecy that punishes traitors with death, the Ikati send their leader Leander on a mission to capture one raised outside the tribe before she can expose their secret. When Leander tracks the unsuspecting outsider to Southern California, the hardened warrior is prepared for a fight—but not for the effect the sensual young beauty has on his heart.
Jenna spent her childhood in hiding, on the run from someone—or something—her parents refused to discuss. She trusts no one, not since her father’s mysterious disappearance, not since her mother’s sudden death, and definitely not since she began exhibiting strange, superhuman abilities. When handsome, enigmatic Leander appears, promising answers to the mysteries that shroud her past, she knows she shouldn’t trust him either. But their connection is undeniable, and as powerful as the enemy hell-bent on destroying every one of their kind…
I thought I loved the books Jay Kristoff co-authored with Amie Kaufman, but this series written by him alone is absolutely amazing. The series includes three great books in which we get to witness the evolution of the main character, Mia. I really enjoyed how dark this series was, the animal companions, the witty dialogue, the sarcastic narrator, and the little history lesson footnotes along the way. Also, check out the audio books if you have the chance, they are narrated by my all time favorite narrator: Holter Graham. Here are the links to my reviews of Nevernight, Godsgrave, and Darkdawn.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
In a land where three suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a school of assassins, seeking vengeance against the powers who destroyed her family.
Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is barely able to escape her father’s failed rebellion with her life. Alone and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god, hunted by the Senate and her father’s former comrades. But her gift for speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer, and a future she never imagined.
Now, Mia is apprenticed to the deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic—the Red Church. If she bests her fellow students in contests of steel, poison and the subtle arts, she’ll be inducted among the Blades of the Lady of Blessed Murder, and one step closer to the vengeance she desires. But a killer is loose within the Church’s halls, the bloody secrets of Mia’s past return to haunt her, and a plot to bring down the entire congregation is unfolding in the shadows she so loves.
Will she even survive to initiation, let alone have her revenge?
This was such a unique series and the one that introduced me to the world of Sci-Fi, I had never read anything like it before. It is comprised of three books, and each book is made up of video transcripts, messages, emails, and various other files. I can’t really pick a favorite book in this one, but my favorite character was definitely AIDEN, the artificial intelligence in charge of the ships. Honestly, if these authors can give an A.I. a personality you can fall in love with then you know they can do anything. The format is really different, so I suggest the audio books if you have trouble adjusting. I enjoyed the unique formatting, the witty dialogue, the group dynamics, and the non-stop action.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the worst thing she’d ever been through. That was before her planet was invaded. Now, with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra are forced to fight their way onto one of the evacuating craft, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit. But the warship could be the least of their problems. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their biggest threat; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady plunges into a web of data hacking to get to the truth, it’s clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: Ezra. Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents–including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more–Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.
I love all the Shadowhunter books by Cassandra Clare, but this series has always stayed with me. I have quotes from these books all over my house, notebooks, and my phone. This series is comprised of three amazing books, and I cannot pick a favorite. I also cannot pick between Will and James, and admit Tessa had a very tough choice to make. I enjoyed the poetic language, the slow burn romance, and the friendships.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.
The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them…
This series is comprised of three wonderful books. I can’t really pick a favorite book or favorite character. I loved ALL of it and I cannot recommend it enough. I enjoyed the friendships between the main characters and side characters, the romance, and the unique world building.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious “errands”, she speaks many languages – not all of them human – and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.
When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?
Laini Taylor’s writing is so hypnotic and poetic that it has made me fall in love with all her series. This story is a duology. Both books were perfect, but my favorite was the first one. It was fun being introduced to this stange world and trying to piece the story together as I went. I enjoyed the mystery, the quoteable writing, and the romance.
Synopsis from Goodreads:
The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.
What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?
The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?
Dee’s Reading Tree 