February TBR, reading black authors

I quite like the idea of centering my TBR around a certain theme every month, even though I probably won’t be able to finish all the books I set out to read. I, like many others, am dedicating February to black authors and characters. Black history month is the perfect time to make sure I read enough stories from black perspectives, both in terms of authors and characters.

I aim to read a variety of genres and target audiences as well. Let’s take a look at the books I hope to read in February!

The Obelisk Gate (Broken Earth #2) by N.K. Jemisin
I started the Broken Earth trilogy in December 2018, and have been eager to continue ever since. Who knows why I’ve been putting the sequel off for so long. If I get lucky and have a lot of reading time in February, I might even aim to read the final book in the trilogy as well.

How to be Remy Cameron by Julian Winters
This book was actually on my January TBR but I didn’t get around to it. I had too many big books on my to-read list for the month and not enough time. Luckily, it fits perfectly for February as well. I hope I’ll love this just as much as his previous novel, Running With Lions.

A Blade So Black (Nightmare-Verse #1) by L.L. McKinney
I bought A Blade So Black in the same Amazon sale I’ve mentioned a few times this month. From what I can gather, it’s an Alice in Wonderland retelling – in which Alice is obviously a black girl. The cover looks absolutely epic, and even though I’m not a huge Alice in Wonderland fan, I can’t wait to read this.

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
I’ve seen this book on quite a few “best of 2019” lists which makes me even more excited to read it. The synopsis (and title) sound incredible, and the audiobook is available on Scribd. It’s also only 4 hours long!

The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus
I literally have no idea what this novel is about. I know it has an f/f relationship and it’s contemporary. I want to go into this not knowing what the expect from the story itself, and just be surprised by it.

The Wicker King by K. Ancrum
The Wicker King has been on my to-read list for ages, and I finally bought myself a copy in the sale I keep mentioning. One of the details I love most about this (before actually reading it) is that the story revolves around a boy with a degenerative hallucinatory disorder, and that as the hallucinations get worse, the pages of the book get blacker and blacker.

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I have another list on my Scribd account dedicated entirely to black authors and  black characters, so I might end up listening to a different book as well. Just in case I have more time to listen than to actually sit down and read a physical copy. I’m so excited for these books! Some of them I’ve been meaning to read for absolute ages.

Have you read any of these books? Which one should I pick up first?

10 books I recently bought and haven’t read yet

It’s time for another Top Ten Tuesday post, a weekly list hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Today’s topic is “most recent additions to my bookshelf”. I debated whether to take this literally and talk about the books I recently acquired, or to go the digital route and feature my to-read shelf on Goodreads. As you can tell from the title of the post, I chose the physical bookshelf. I might start a series in which I talk about the books I’ve added to my digital shelves at some point as well.

2019 ended with a huge book haul for me. I’d been pretty balanced in my book buying and reading last year, until Amazon (Germany) had a huge sale in November/December. I bought around 30 books, although some of them were ones I had already read. All of the books on this list were bought during that sale, as hardcovers were around €4 and paperbacks at times €3. Isn’t that insane? Here are 10 books I bought in November and haven’t read yet.

The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie
I’ve been interested in this fantasy novel ever since it was announced. It’s quite a recent release as well, which is why I was surprised to see it in the sale. The only thing I’ve gathered from the synopsis is that the novel involves gods, men, and someone who needs to be cast from the throne. Sign me up.

The Stone Sky (The Broken Earth #3) by N.K. Jemisin
In December of 2018, I read the first book in the Broken Earth trilogy and fell in love with the unique SFF novel. This was the perfect time to complete the set and buy the third book as well. Now I have all three, I can’t wait to continue and discover what will happen next.

Vengeful (Villains #2) by V.E. Schwab
A novel that had been on my wishlist for absolute ages. V.E. Schwab is one of my favorite authors. I definitely want to read all of her published novels at some point in time. Vengeful is the sequel to Vicious, one of the most fascinating hero-villain stories I’ve read in a long time. I hope I won’t be disappointed by this one!

Death’s End (Remembrance of Earth’s Past #3) by Cixin Liu
Another sequel… The reason I usually take ages to finish a series is because books are expensive and I never get around to buying the sequels. I borrowed the first book from the library (but also bought it in this same haul), and while the actual science in this science fiction series went way over my head, I still really enjoyed the reading experience. The second book wasn’t on sale but luckily my library has it.

The Kingdom of Copper (Daevabad #2) by S.A. Chakraborty
I’ve talked about this book in my big books I’d like to read in 2020 post, because it’s one of my most anticipated reads at the moment. I absolutely adored the first novel in the series, The City of Brass. Everything about that book was incredible: the atmosphere, the characters, the relationships, the pacing… I can’t wait to find out what the sequel has in store for me.

Hello Girls by Brittany Cavallaro and Emily Henry
This was a bit of an impulse purchase. I remember Chelsea (Chelsea Dolling Reads) talk about this contemporary novel, and being intrigued by it. All I know is that it’s about two girls who are tired of men controlling their lives, so they take their rage on the road.

I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong
A nonfiction book? Who am I? I want to make a conscious effort in 2020 to read more nonfiction, because there are so many intriguing books and topics out there. This one is about the microbes within our bodies. It’s been on my to-read list for years. Time to finally read this!

Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
Miracle Creek is a novel I want to go into completely blind. I don’t want to know what it’s about. It’s an adult mystery/thriller that I’ve seen appear on several “best of the year” lists. I hope it will make it to mine as well.

How to Be Remy Cameron by Julian Winters
If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you might know that Julian Winters’ last novel, Running With Lions, is one of my all-time favorite contemporary books. Obviously, that means that I have to read and own his latest book too! Seeing this in the sale felt like an early Christmas present.

Pulp by Robin Talley
I’m going to be honest, I don’t know much about Pulp. It’s a dual timeline novel  partly in the 1950s, when two girls are in love and one of them wants to be a writer, and recent times, in which a girl writes her senior project on 1950s lesbian pulp fiction.

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Those are 10 of my latest book purchases! Have you read any of these? Which one should I read first? If you’d be interested in a post on my latest additions to my Goodreads shelves as well, don’t hesitate to let me know!

 

10 big books I’d like to read in 2020

I’m not participating in this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, as I don’t feel like I have to contribute much to this week’s topic (bookish discoveries of 2019). Instead, I want to talk about 10 big books I want to read this year. Like many others, I find books over 500 pages quite intimidating. They take up a lot of time to read, and I don’t have much reading time at the moment. They’re a scary commitment. However, I do end up loving the majority of big books I read! So in 2020, I want to overcome that fear and read the following lengthy novels.

Words of Radiance (Stormlight Archive #2) by Brandon Sanderson
Is this cheating? I’m actually currently reading this book, on page 108 as we speak. Considering that this book is 1310 pages long, that’s not very far into the story. I adore Brandon Sanderson’s works. He’s both fantastic at word building and character development, and I’m fairly certain this book will end up on my favorites of the year list.

The Mad Ship (Liveship Traders #2) by Robin Hobb
I started this series in 2017 (!!) and still haven’t continued. This book has 906 pages, which is why I haven’t read it yet. It’s scary when every book in a series is so long, even if I’m fairly certain I’ll adore it. I really need to continue the series though, before I forget everything that happened in book 1.

Kushiel’s Dart (Phèdre’s Trilogy #1) by Jacqueline Carey
I’ve heard people rave about this book for absolute years, on every platform. This is one of the most praised fantasy trilogies, and I’m desperate to find out why. An adult fantasy novel about a women, written by a women, well-beloved, 901 pages long, and published in 2001? Interesting. Give it to me.

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
I’m not ready to cry my eyes out. That’s why A Little Life is still on my shelf of unread books. I know I’m going to be devastated after finishing it, even though I have no idea what this novel is actually about. I want to go into this one blind, not knowing what to expect. It’s 720 pages long.

The Dragon Republic (The Poppy War #2) by R.F. Kuang
The Poppy War was one of my favorite books of 2019, and I can’t wait to read the sequel. I’ve seen it on so many favorites of the year lists, elevating my expectations even more. This is an epic Chinese history-inspired fantasy series that doesn’t shy away from the brutality of war. This sequel is 654 pages long.

The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan
I picked this nonfiction book up in a secondhand bookstore last year because it had been on my to-read list for quite a long time. My knowledge of The Silk Road is very minimal, so I’m excited to dive into this one. It’s 636 pages long.

The Kingdom of Copper (Daevabad #2) by S.A. Charkaborty
Another sequel to one of my favorite books of 2019 on this list! Clearly, I have loved long books before and quite a few have ended up on my favorites lists. The first book, The City of Brass, was one of the most atmospheric fantasy novels I have read in a long time. If you haven’t picked up the series, please do! While I’m excited for this novel, the 621 pages do intimidate me.

Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse #1) by James S.A. Corey
I want to read more science fiction in 2020, specifically more space opera. Science fiction is a genre I’ve been slowly falling in love with the past 2 years. I’m excited to find out what it has to offer. I’d also like to watch the TV show adaptation of this series called The Expanse, but I need to read at least the first book before doing so! It’s 592 pages long.

The Dark Forest (Remembrance of Earth’s Past #2) by Cixin Liu
I read the first book, The Three-Body Problem, in 2019 and definitely want to continue the series. While a lot of the physics talk went way over my head, it was one of the most fascinating novels I’d read in a while. It combines video games and VR with astrophysics and an alien race. Insane, isn’t it? I can’t wait to see what The Dark Forest brings, even though it’s 512 pages long.

The Emperor’s Blades (Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne #1) by Brian Staveley
This book has probably been on my shelf, unread, since 2015 or 2016 which is kind of embarrassing. It’s a high fantasy novel, in which the emperor has just been murdered. His son, who is training for the empire’s deadliest fighting force also suffers several ‘accidents’, is also in danger. Then there is also the emperor’s daughter, who hunts for her father’s murderer and navigates court politics, and the heir to the empire who is studying in a remote monastery. It sounds SO GOOD, so why has this been on my shelf for so long? I have no idea. I need to read this 568 page long book in 2020. Someone hold me accountable.

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Is this ambitious? Yes. Will I give it my all? Absolutely. These are all books I’m really excited to read, so I hope 2020 will be kind to me and give me the time to pick these up. Have you read any of these books? Which ones should I read first?

What I plan on reading in January

It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I’m sure you neither noticed nor cared that I have been gone for a while, so I’ll keep the explanation short. In 2019, I lost my passion for blogging somewhat and started exploring other areas of my life, including workout classes, language learning, a buys full-time job and a lot of traveling. While I am still doing all those things, I caught myself making reading plans again lately.

Even though I haven’t blogged in a while, I’ve still been reading. Mood reading, that is. Now, I find myself wanting to try challenges, TBRs and more again. So here I am, in January of 2020, writing a blog post. I won’t promise that I’ll post regularly again.

Last year, I fell in love with the “Wheel of TBR” videos on Cody’s channel. They give her direction to read yet allow her to pick the books to fit the given prompt at the same time. I decided to try the same for the first month of 2020. As I’ve been reading less the past few months, and have a busy month ahead, I decided to spin the wheel 5 times.

1: read an #ownvoices book

Spin 1 gave me the prompt to read an own voices novel. Since I recently bought How to Be Remy Cameron by Julian Winters, I figured that’d be the perfect read to kick off the year. I adored the author’s previous novel, Running With Lions, and can’t wait to read more of his work.

Synopsis
Everyone on campus knows Remy Cameron. He’s the out-and-gay, super-likable guy that people admire for his confidence. The only person who may not know Remy that well is Remy himself. So when he is assigned to write an essay describing himself, he goes on a journey to reconcile the labels that people have attached to him, and get to know the real Remy Cameron.

2: randomized read

The second spin of the wheel ended up on “randomized read” which means I have to go to my Goodreads TBR shelf and sort the books at random. The first one to pop up is the one I have to read.

The book selected was De Vrouw Die Door Het Vuur Ging by Manda Scott. This is a translated version, the original (English) title is Into the Fire.

I was a tad discouraged when I saw this pop up, because this book seems absolutely huge. I know Goodreads says it “only” has 500 pages but for some reason it seems like a lot more to me.

Synopsis
February 2014: Police Capitaine Inés Picaut is called out to investigate a blaze in the old town of Orléans. This is the fourth in a series of increasingly brutal arson attacks, and at the centre of the conflagration lies a body. 

September 1429: Joan of Arc is in the process of turning the tide of The Hundred Years’ War. English troops have Orléans under siege, and Tomas Rustbeard, the Duke of Bedford’s most accomplished agent, finally has her in his sights. But he knows that killing ‘The Maid’ – the apparently illiterate peasant girl who nonetheless has an unmatched sense of military strategy and can ride a warhorse in battle – is not enough. 

3: read your highest rated book

When spin number 3 landed on “highest rated book”, I wanted to jump out the window. Why? Simply because I knew that the highest rated book on my shelf is Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson, the sequel to The Way of Kings.

Remember when I mentioned I had a busy month ahead a few paragraphs ago? Yeah. Apparently, now I have to find time to read a 1000+ page book too.

I am really excited about this book though. I adored the first novel in the series and I can’t wait to find out more about the world and get to know the characters better. I’m already way too attached to everyone we met in book 1 (especially Kaladin). I’m also secretly happy this TBR made me pick this up because I don’t want to wait 5 years before continuing the series.

4: pick a short read

Thank you, wheel, for blessing me with a short read after putting Words of Radiance on my list for the month! I’m so grateful.

In the same order in which I purchased How to Be Remy Cameron, I bought  Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh. The perfect choice for this prompt, as it’s only 112 pages long. I was already quite excited to read this, and then I saw it on Destiny (Howling Libraries) favorite reads of 2019 list…

Synopsis
There is a Wild Man who lives in the deep quiet of Greenhollow, and he listens to the wood. Tobias, tethered to the forest, does not dwell on his past life, but he lives a perfectly unremarkable existence with his cottage, his cat, and his dryads.

When Greenhollow Hall acquires a handsome, intensely curious new owner in Henry Silver, everything changes. Old secrets better left buried are dug up, and Tobias is forced to reckon with his troubled past—both the green magic of the woods, and the dark things that rest in its heart.

5: read a classic

Another prompt that terrifies me… To be honest, that’s the point of using the wheel: encouraging me to pick up the books I’ve been putting off for a while or might not pick from my shelf on my own.

I actually only have two unread classics so my choices were limited. After hearing so many people rave about the new movie, I decided to go for Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.

I have never read this book nor have I watched an adaptation of the story. I’m excited to find out what this book is actually about!

Synopsis
Here are talented tomboy and author-to-be Jo, tragically frail Beth, beautiful Meg, and romantic, spoiled Amy, united in their devotion to each other and their struggles to survive in New England during the Civil War.

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That’s it! Those are the books I’m hoping to read this month. I think the wheel was a tad unkind to me, leaving me with these long books to finish, but I’m genuinely excited about all these reads. I hope I’ll have a good reading month with these picks.

Have you read any of these books? What are you planning to read in January?

My September to-read list, chosen by the ‘wheel of TBR’

I’ve been obsessed with Codie’s Wheel of TBR videos since the start of the year, in which she lets a wheel she created herself pick prompts that will guide her reading month. I absolutely love this idea but a) am not very crafty and b) don’t have any supplies necessary to make a physical wheel. Instead, I used an online one and filled in 20+ prompts. I chose to spin 7 times because I feel like that’s an amount of reading I can accomplish but could still turn out to be a challenge too.

So what did the wheel (and Inge) pick for me?

Spin 1 – read a classic 

Dracula by Bram Stoker 
Dracula is the only classic on my physical TBR I haven’t read yet so it became the default pick when the wheel ended on this prompt. Not going to lie, I experienced a moment of utter dread because I haven’t had the best luck with classics but I want to go into this with an open mind. I hope I’ll like it!

Spin 2 – let a friend pick

The Poppy War (The Poppy War #1) by R.F. Kuang
When the wheel landed on friend pick, I knew I had to ask Inge to pick from either my current library books or my TBR. She chose The Poppy War, which I’ve been meaning to read for ages. I think I’m going to absolutely love it.

Spin 3 – read manga or a graphic novel

Blue is the Warmest Color by Julie Maroh
I saw this one at my local library a week or two ago, and immediately brought it home with me. I’ve heard so many people talk about this sapphic graphic novel, and I can’t wait to read it.

Spin 4 – read your most recent purchase

Record of a Spaceborn Few (Wayfarers #3) by Becky Chambers
Actually, my most recent purchases are several Fullmetal Alchemist volumes and The Poppy War, but I’ve already finished FMA and Inge already chose The Poppy War for a previous spin. So I’ll take the book I purchased right before those, which is Record of a Spaceborn Few. I’m looking forward to reading the final book in this epic scifi trilogy.

Spin 5 – read an orange or yellow book (color of the wheel)

The Lost Girls of Rome by Donato Carrisi
The prompt here was to read a book in the color of the wheel this prompt was in. Did that make sense? I couldn’t chose the colors myself so I had no influence over it being orangey-yellow. I picked this one up while on a trip in Naples in 2017, and still haven’t read it. Time to change that.

Spin 6 – Read a book that starts with the letter y

The Year of the Gadfly by Jennifer Miller
I bought The Year of the Gadfly last year after watching abookolive’s video on books that are similar to The Secret History by Donna Tartt. It sounds like everything I’ve ever wanted, and I have no idea why it’s still on my TBR shelf months later.

Spin 7 – pick a book blindfolded

The Girl King (The Girl King #1) by Mimi Yu
Another library book! The Girl King was one of my most anticipated releases of 2019, from the moment I learned of its existence in the summer of 2018. However, after it was published I saw a lot of ‘meh’ reviews come in. A lot of people seemed quite disappointed by this book. I’ve lowered my expectations since, but I’m still really looking forward to reading it.

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This was so much fun to do! I can see why Codie picks her TBR this way. I hope I’ll be able to read all of these in September, especially as I’m on vacation for a large part of the month. I guess we’ll find out in October, when I post my monthly wrap up!

Have you read any of these books? How do you pick your TBR?

My N.E.W.T.s TBR, my quest to become a curse worker continues

It’s almost time for the N.E.W.T.s readathon to take off, and I couldn’t be more excited. The Magical Readathons that are hosted by Book Roast are some of my absolute favorite readathons of the year, and I always try to participate in them. In April, we had the O.W.L.s, and I managed to pass 11 exams! I could pick from a wide variety of careers, but decided to stick with my original choice: becoming a curse breaker.

For all the information on the readathon, you can watch her announcement video here!

To be able to become a curse breaker, I need to pass the following N.E.W.Ts: Ancient Runes (O), Arithmancy (O), Defence Against the Dark Arts (E), and Charms (A). That totals to 9 books to read in August. I hope I’ll be able to do it, even though I have barely read any in the past 2 months. Either way, I’ll try my best. Here are some of the books I plan to read for the readathon!

Ancient Runes

Acceptable – read recommended by a friend
At the moment, I will probably read Shortcake Cake vol. 1 for this prompt. I feel like I consider every content creator I’ve followed for quite a while a friend, and I saw this manga on Pages and Panels’ YouTube channel. I’m traveling at the start of August, and this might be easier to take with me. I could also pick Vengeful, Shit My Dad Says or Under Rose-Tainted Skies which were recommended to me by Inge, Sorcerer to the Crown or Seraphina, recommended by Annemieke, The Falconer which was recommended by Dina, or The Great Believers, recommended by Ely.

Exceeds Expectations – book written in past tense
I could pick sooo many books off my shelves for this prompt, so this is a very loose choice right now. I definitely want to read Blood for Blood soon because I’ve been putting off reading this sequel for way too long already. This readathon might just give me the push I need.

Outstanding – book that has been on your TBR for ages
I’ve had The Miniaturist since early 2015, which is kind of embarrassing to be honest. At first, I saw nothing but glowing reviews on it. Later, a lot of reviewers I trust mentioned it was a boring novel. Now I’m scared to read it, but I can’t let it sit on my shelf unread for much longer either…

Arithmancy

Acceptable – book that ends on even number of pages
Another book that has been featured on countless of my TBRs yet I still haven’t read. I have read and loved two of Ruta Sepetys’ works before, and I know I will probably love Between Shades of Gray too.

Exceeds Expectations – a standalone
I could pick so many books for this prompt! At the moment, I’m leaning towards Mango Summer, which sounds like an adorable romance. Exactly what I need in my life.

Outstanding – book that’s longer than 350 pages
This is technically an omnibus of three manga volumes instead of one novel. However, the edition is 576 pages long, and in my opinion it should count for this challenge. I’ve been loving the Fullmetal Alchemist manga, and this is the 3-in-1 edition vol. 5.

Defence Against the Dark Arts

Acceptable – book that’s black under the dust jacket
I saw on the Magical Readathon discord that it was okay to use a black paperback if you didn’t have a hardcover to fit this prompt. I don’t own many hardcovers, so I might take advantage of that. I believe that the hardcover of Contagion is black underneath the dust jacket, and I recently got that from the library. I also have The Silent Wife and The Girl King out from the library, both being (mostly) black paperbacks.

Exceeds Expectations – first book you remembered just now from your TBR
Honestly, my mind went completely black when I first read this prompt. It’s like I couldn’t remember a single book that’s on my shelves! Then my mind went to Fullmetal Alchemist, perhaps because I’m currently reading one of the volumes. As I added volume 5 of the 3-in-1 editions for one of the earlier challenges, I’m adding volume 6 here.

Charms

Acceptable – read a book you think has a gorgeous cover
I will most likely read Our Dreams at Dusk volume 1, another recent manga purchase. However, if I’ve already completed my Acceptable level for Ancient Runes, I might read Shortcake Cake vol. 2 instead, to continue the manga. If by some miracle, I have quite a lot of time left in the month and can pick up a novel instead, I’ll go with Record of a Spaceborn Few, one of the most beautiful books I own.

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If I have the time, I might try for more N.E.W.Ts than just the ones I need to become a curse breaker. I highly doubt that though, so I’ll focus on these first. I tried to pick different genres and formats because I find that helps speed up my reading process.

Have you read any of these? Are you participating in the N.E.W.Ts readathon?

July reading prompts, my random monthly TBR

As I have been doing every single month of this year so far, I’m here to talk to you about my monthly reading prompts for July. If you’re unaware what this entails, each month I chose 3 or 4 prompts of the Popsugar Reading Challenge through a random number generator. This challenges me and guides my reading without creating a TBR that’s set in stone.

I haven’t had much luck with reading the past two months, honestly. I haven’t read all that much, and if it weren’t for manga my reading count would be much lower. I’ve actively decided to not participate in any readathons in July (even though there are so many great ones happening) because I need to relax about my reading before the NEWTs in August come around. First, I need a few weeks of non-pressured reading. Anyway, let’s take a look at the prompts I’ll hopefully be able to tick off the list by the end of July.

a book published posthumously

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
This book has been on my shelf for years, even though I’m such a huge Tolkien fan. His works are just so intimidating! However, as July is a month of non-pressured reading I might finally be in the mood to pick a book I won’t be able to finish immediately.

Persuasion by Jane Austen
While doing research for this prompt, I discovered that Persuasion was also published posthumously! If I don’t feel like reading The Silmarillion after all, this could be a good option. Especially as there are audiobooks available for free.

If you have any other recommendations on works published after the author passed away, please let me know! I had a lot of difficulty with this one. The few books (outside of these two) that fit the challenge I was either not interested in, or had already read.

a book you meant to read in 2018

Daughter of the Blood (The Black Jewels #1) by Anne Bishop
I adore Anne Bishop’s The Others series, and have been meaning to branch out into her other works for years. Somehow, that still hasn’t happened. Even though I put this book on countless TBRs in 2018.

Record of a Spaceborn Few (Wayfarers #3) by Becky Chambers
Record of a Spaceborn Few was one of my most anticipated releases of 2018, and I definitely meant to read it as soon as it was released. However, the paperback was so expensive I simply couldn’t justify it. I finally bought a copy a few weeks back, and am dying to finish the trilogy.

The Mime Order (The Bone Season #2) by Samantha Shannon
I read The Bone Season, the first book in the series, in 2016 and somehow still haven’t managed to continue it. My inability to keep up with series has become utterly embarrassing. I actually meant to read this in 2016, so it’s safe to say this fits the prompt.

The Year of the Gadfly by Jennifer Miller
Last year, I picked up a copy of The Year of the Gadfly because Olive (abookolive on YouTube) recommended it in a video of books similar to The Secret History. That sounds like everything I need in life, yet it’s still sitting on my shelf, unread.

a book set in Scandinavia

The Keeper of Lost Causes (Department Q #1) bu Jussi Adler-Olsen
This is a Danish crime novel that centers around a detective who has been assigned cold cases. It sounds really intriguing! I haven’t read much Scandinavian fiction, even though their mystery and crime novels are quite popular in Belgium.

The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist
If I’m not feeling like reading a crime novel, I could pick up this Swedish dystopian novel instead. I’ve never heard anyone talk about The Unit, but it sounds fascinating. In this setting, women over fifty and men over sixty who are single and childless start living in The Unit, where they slowly start taking part in drug testing and donating organs until their final donation.

a book about someone with a superpower

The Mime Order (The Bone Season #2) by Samantha Shannon
I loosely interpreted the ‘superpowers’ in the prompt, and feel like it does fit the world of The Bone Season. I really need to read this book soon. Honestly, I’m out of excuses.

Black Butler vol. 3 by Yana Toboso
The butler in this manga kind of has superpowers, right? Supernatural powers, superpowers, it’s all the same…

Fullmetal Alchemist 3-in-1 vol. 3 by Hiromu Arakawa
Alchemists have powers that count as superpowers, right? I’m stretching this here, but I couldn’t care less. I feel like it fits! I’m really enjoying this manga, so I’m taking any excuse to add it to my reading list for the month.

Have you read any of these books? Which ones should I read first?

my summer to-read list (why do I even try?)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly post hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week, we’re talking about our summer (or winter, depending on your location) TBR. Now, I don’t even know why I try with these to-read lists. I always pick books I’m dying to read, and when the season is over I’ve barely read 2 of them. However, I’m not willing to give up. So what am I going to read this summer?

Fullmetal Alchemist 3-in-1 edition volume 3 by Hiromu Arakawa
This contains volumes 7, 8, and 9 of the Fullmetal Alchemist manga. I recently ordered 4 of the omnibuses because I want to start collecting those instead of the used single volumes I have now. I’ve already read volume 7, and can’t wait to read 8 and 9 as well.

Fruits Basket Collector’s Edition Vol. 1 by Natsuki Takaya
This edition contains the first two volumes of Fruits Basket. Once again, I’ve read the first volume already and can’t wait to continue. It was so cute!

Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
I requested this from the library, have had it for 2 months, and still haven’t read it. I really want to change that this summer. I’m feeling like reading epic fantasy at the moment. What’s better than fantasy with dragons and a sapphic relationship? NOTHING. Nothing is better than that.

Record of a Spaceborn Few (Wayfarers #3) by Becky Chambers
I finally bought a copy of this book in June, after wanting it ever since its release last year. It was always so expensive though, and I couldn’t bring myself to actually buy it. When I was in London, I spotted a copy with blue sprayed edges at Waterstones and knew it was time to get it.

Shortcake Cake Vol. 1 by Suu Morishita
I have no idea what this manga is about. I saw one of the YouTubers I’m subscribed to mention it as a series they’re currently reading and loving, so I had to buy it. The first two volumes are on their way to me, and I can’t wait.

Scythe (Arc of a Scythe #1) by Neal Shusterman
A hyped book I’ve been putting off for ages. Like I mentioned before, I’m in the mood to read SFF, which makes it a perfect time to give Scythe a try. If you’re unaware, this is about a society in which people don’t die unless their lives are ended by a scythe.

Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
In case my mood does a complete 180, I have some contemporary romances on this list as well. Love & Gelato is set in Florence, and follows a girl trying to learn more about her parents.

Our Dreams at Dusk Vol. 1 by Yhuki Kamatani
An LGBT+ coming-of-age manga! The description says, “In this realistic, heartfelt depiction of LGBT+ characters from different backgrounds finding their place in the world, a search for inner peace proves to be the most universal experience of all.”

Mango Summer by Agay Llanera
An adult contemporary this time around… This is set in San Antonio on a mango farm, where all the fruit goes sour for the first time in a century. According to a family legend, the only way to keep the mangoes sweet is for the women who run the farm to be married and bear children. If I’m not mistaken, it’s a romance between the 34-year-old owner of the farm, Fiona, and her best friend’s younger brother, who is 28.

The Obelisk Gate (The Broken Earth #2) by N.K. Jemisin
I really want to continue this series. I read, and loved, the first book last year and don’t want to wait another 3 years to continue the trilogy. I’m not sure how to explain the storyline, or whether I should even try. It’s adult SFF, and everyone should read it. That’s all you really need to know.

Have you read any of these books? What are you reading this summer?

June reading prompts | monthly random TBR

If you’ve been following my blog for a few months, you’re probably familiar with these posts already. If you’re not, no worries! Here’s what the monthly prompts entail. Every month, I choose 3 or 4 prompts from the Popsugar 2019 reading challenge with a random number generator. This guides my to-read list for the month somewhat, but doesn’t set anything in stone. As a mood reader, this is the perfect way of creating a TBR.

I started off really well with this challenge. The first few months, I always completed my prompts. April was a bit more challenging with the O.W.Ls readathon happening, so I cut myself some slack there. Then came May… I didn’t read all that much in May, and only managed to tick off 1 prompt. I’m not punishing myself for this, however, since there are quite a lot of months left.

Let’s see what June has in store for me!

a book you think should be turned into a movie

Isn’t this quite hard to pick if I haven’t read the book yet? I guess I’ll have to go with first impressions of the cover and synopsis here.

I’ve had a copy of There’s Someone Inside Your House on my shelf for about 2 years now, so it’s high time for me to read it. In my opinion, it fits for this prompt because it’s marketed as similar to Scream Queens, which is already a TV show. I could also pick up Blood for Blood for this challenge, because it’s about a motorcycle race in a world in which the Axis powers won WWII. Perfect movie material! Speaking of WWII, another option I have is The Girl With the Red Balloon. While this is not set during WWII, it does take place in East Berlin in 1988. It’s about a girl who is on a school trip to Berlin, sees a red balloon, takes it, and is transported to East Berlin during the Cold War. I can already envision this scene in a movie.

a book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature

This is such a fun prompt!

I still have a copy of The Priory of the Orange Tree from the library, which I’d like to read soon. It’s an epic fantasy standalone with dragons, so perfect for this challenge. However, I have a lot to read in June already, and Priory is a huge book. I might go for Jurassic Park instead, which I still have never read or watched. A third possibility is Throne of Jade, the second book in the Temeraire series. I started this series a little while ago, and then found the sequel in a used bookshop. It’s a historical fiction series with dragons!

a book with an item of clothing or an accessory on the cover

Honestly, there are so many options on my shelf for this prompt. Having people on the cover is still a very popular thing in cover design, and (luckily) these people happen to be dressed in clothes. Here are just a few options already. I could pick up The School for Good and Evil, which is a middle grade fantasy. Longbourn is also an option. It’s a retelling of Pride and Prejudice from the perspective of a servant. A manga possibility is We Were There, a contemporary romance. Lastly, I could also go for Changeling, a historical fiction with fantasy elements.

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I’ve only picked 3 for June since I managed to complete so little last month, and don’t want to put extra pressure on myself. I’m really happy with the challenges the random number generator picked. They seem like so much fun, and I hope I’ll be able to finish a book for each of them.

Have you read any of these? Which ones should I pick up first? 

my sims-a-thon TBR (I really need to stop with all the readathons)

I’ve been participating in so many readathons lately, it’s kind of ridiculous. However, I might actually need the push in June. I didn’t read that much in May, and fell into a mini reading slump. I need to nip that slump in the butt, because there’s just too much I want to read this year. I stumbled upon the sims-a-thon through Aprilius Maximus’ YouTube channel, when she posted her TBR for the readathon last week, and thought it looked fun. I don’t even play The Sims, yet I want to take part in this readathon so badly!

Here’s the basic information. The readathon takes place throughout the entire month of June, and is based on The Sims. You can find all the information in this video, and this Google Drive folder. There are the basic challenges to build your sim/household, there are live mode challenges, and career challenges. I don’t exactly know which of the latter two I’ll be doing because there are so many options and I’m a mood reader, but here are some of the challenges I might try to tackle!

STARTING CHALLENGES

 

Choose a household
> Read a late book in a series
> Fullmetal Alchemist volume 4 by Hiromu Arakawa
> I’m going easy on myself by picking some manga for this readathon already. They’re pretty quick reads, and tend to break me out of a reading slump immediately. I’ve been loving the FMA manga, so I’m excited to continue!

Build a house
> Read something set in another world
> The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
> The Goblin Emperor has been on my shelves for quite a while now, and it’s time for me to pick it up. I’ve read so many positive reviews on it

Interior design
> Read a book with a pretty cover
> The Heart of the Circle by Keren Landsman
> I absolutely love the cover of this book! I recently requested this Israeli fantasy novel from Netgalley, and got approved – which hasn’t happened in a long time. I can’t wait to get to this novel. It’s got sorcerers, empaths, killers, religious extremists, and love. Sounds epic to me!

Landscaping
> Book featuring nature in cover/title/theme
> Walk on Earth a Stranger (Goldseer #1) by Rae Carson
> Earth is in the title, and that counts, right? Once again, this book has been on my shelf for absolute years. I loved the author’s Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy, and wanted to read everything else she has written. Now, it’s been years and I still haven’t picked up another book by Rae Carson.

LIVE MODE CHALLENGES

(I will talk about the “get a job” live mode challenge later, when I talk about the chosen career.)

 

Get a promotion
> Read a 5-star prediction
> Age of Myth (Legend of the First Empire #1) by Michael J. Sullivan
> I’m sure you’re all sick and tired of seeing this book on my to-read lists. I’m sorry! I know I should have picked this up ages ago, but I didn’t. I really need to change that soon, especially since this is one of my 5-star predictions.

Eat a cookie
> Read a book under 200 pages
> Blue Exorcist volume 1 by Kazue Kato
> I picked up the first two volumes of Blue Exorcist in a secondhand book haul a little while ago. The first volume is 200 pages long according to Goodreads, which still counts for this challenge in my opinion. Do I have any idea what this manga is about? No, absolutely not. What else is new.

Pay bills
> Read your most recent purchase
> Black Butler volume 3 by Yana Toboso
> I bought a whole lot of manga in one haul, so I could pick quite a few for this topic. I will probably go with Black Butler though, since I recently read the previous volume.

Burn down the kitchen
> Book with flames on the cover
> Changeling (Order of Darkness #1) by Philippa Gregory
> I’ve had this book on my shelf for ages, but haven’t picked it up because I haven’t really heard the most positive things about the novel. It’s really short, though, so I can’t unhaul it without giving it a try.

 

Gain a fishing skill
> Randomize your TBR
> Longbourn by Jo Baker
> I was actually supposed to read this in May. Oops. This is a Pride and Prejudice retelling told from the perspective of the Bennet’s servant!

Take a bubble bath
> Read a book over 400 pages
> The School for Good and Evil (The School for Good and Evil #1) by Soman Chainani
> While this novel is more than 400 pages long, it is middle grade. Usually, MG books are pretty quick and captivating reads, which is perfect for a readathon.

Become a ghost
> Read a spooky book
> There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins
> I’ve had an ARC copy of this book since 2017 and still haven’t read it…

Fall in love
> Read a book with a romance element
> We Were There volume 1 by Yuki Obata
> Another manga I picked up in a used book haul! I’ve never really heard anyone talk about We Were There, but the synopsis caught my attention. It’s about first love, grief, and is set in high school. Since the entire manga is about a girl falling for a guy whose girlfriend passed away the year before, I’d say this fits for reading a book with a romance element.

 

Have your birthday
> Read an adult book
> The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
> I received an e-ARC for The Bride Test (release date in June – UK), and I can’t wait to read it! I absolutely adored The Kiss Quotient, Helen Hoang’s previous book, and have high hopes for this one as well.

Get a job > business
> Read a book with a number in the title
> Twelve Kings in Sharakhai, Empress of a Thousand Skies, A Thousand Splendid Suns, The Thousand Names
> Thousand seems to be a really popular number, doesn’t it? I have all of these on my shelves at home, unread, but don’t know which one I’ll feel like reading in June. Let me know if you have read one of these!

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Obviously, I won’t get to all of these but I’ll pick and choose during the month of June. I’m a mood reader, so I need options! Have you read any of these books? Are you participating in the sims-a-thon?