Trying a chapter of my TBR books

I saw this done on booktube and thought it was a very good idea for whittling down my TBR. It’s now got to a point where I have over 70 books on my physical TBR. A lot more than 70 actually. I’ve gotten better at being selective about what books I buy, but I have now accumulated a fair number of books from Fairy Loot. Now, I love Fairy Loot, but the books they include have been a bit hit and miss. So I’ve decided to go through the Fairy Loot books that I have not read yet and try a chapter and decide whether I want to keep them or not. I have 7 books.

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Heart of Thorns by Bree Barton

I gave this 3 chapters, not just one. And I don’t think I’m going to keep it. I suspected I wouldn’t love it based on the synopsis and what I read convinced me. It seems like it’s going to be a very typical YA fantasy that I’ve seen 100 times before. The magic reminds me strongly of one of the Grisha types of magic. All in all, I just don’t see myself enjoying this very much. It would probably be a 2 star read for me and I just have too many books to read to waste my time.

Circle of Shadows by Evelyn Skye

Reading the synopsis of this, I was intrigued and I hold to that after reading the first chapter. It seems to have a really cool setting and a really cool magic system from what I could tell. Also, it has some positive blurbs from several authors whose work I’m a fan of. So I’m keeping this one.

Viper by Bex Hogan

Definitely keeping this one. I hadn’t read the synopsis of this, but after reading the first chapter, I am intrigued. It seems pirate-y.

The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson

This one is an ARC and it won’t be published until July. I’m not sure about this one. On the one hand, giant elemental crows… on the other hand… another story of a princess being forced to marry someone blah blah blah. I’ll sit on this for a while longer, but realistically I won’t read it.

Fire & Heist by Sarah Beth Durst

This was honestly such a pleasant surprise. Definitely keeping it! I hadn’t read the synopsis, so I knew only vaguely that it’s something to do with dragons. But it’s about were-dragons, aka people who turn into dragons. And it seems to take place in modern day. Also I really enjoyed the MC’s voice. Very funny.

A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

I have to say I was expecting this one to be in the discard pile. It’s a dual perspective, so I gave it two chapters, one for each character and I think I’m going to keep it. It’s a Beauty and the Beast retelling and I really love beauty and the beast. but more than that, I liked the take on the beast’s curse. Also, the female MC has cerebral palsy, which is interesting although I didn’t like her voice that much.

To Best the Boys by Mary Weber

This sounds pretty cool and I enjoyed the first chapter, so I will keep this one as well. I’m actually surprised I’m enjoying so many of these!

Nocturna by Maya Motayne

I was intrigued by this from the start. A Latina-inspired setting! After reading the first chapter, I am definitely interested in reading it.

I thought I’d end up getting rid of more of them, but I’m glad that most of them appeal to me and I’m now more motivated to pick them up than I was before. So I will probably be doing this again in the future. Let me know if you’ve read any of these and what you thought of them.