Series I want to catch-up on

A while back, I did yet another series I need to finish post in which I talked about series that are completed. In this post, I’ll talk about series that are currently ongoing, but I still have books to catch up on.

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The Folk of the Air by Holly Black

 

I’ve read the first one and really loved it. I think this is a 3 book series and the third one will be released in 2020. I’m waiting to be in a fae mood, I haven’t been craving fae books lately which is why I haven’t continued with it yet.

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

 

I’ve read the first 2 books and then I kind of just wanted to wait until we at least had a publication date for book 4 before reading book 3. It’s really weird, I still have to wait the same amount of time to continue with the series, but psychologically, knowing that I could continue at any time makes me feel better lol But now there are rumours that book 4 is coming soon. So hopefully I’ll continue with this soon.

The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson

 

I’m currently on book 2 of this monster series. I think book 4 will be released in 2020, so I don’t know if I’ll read the 3rd one until maybe a few months before the next one is released. Although, I might not be able to resist because these books are just so good.

The Daevabad Trilogy by S. A. Chakraborty

 

Read City of Brass and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it, so I’m looking forward to continuing with this series. I believe 2 out of the 3 are currently out.

Impossible Times by Mark Lawrence

 

All 3 books are due to be released in 2019, with the final book being released later in the year. I’ve read the first one. They’re super short, fast reads, but I haven’t yet bought the second one. I’ve been in a fantasy mood, so I’m waiting for a sci-fi mood to hit me.

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

 

I’ve read the first 2 books. The fourth one is being released later this year. I don’t know if there will be more books after that, but I really enjoyed the first 2 books. I’m waiting to be in a bit more of a romance mood, since the romance is quite a big part of it. I really like the romance, I think it’s cute and the banter is great. But I just have been avoiding romance lately.

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples

 

I’ve read the first 3 volumes of this graphic novel series. I think there are 9 out and they’re currently on hiatus, but they do plan to return to it. So I’m trying to pace myself.

Monstress by Marjorie Liu & Sana Takeda

 

Another graphic novel series. I’ve read 2 of the 3 currently published volumes. Volume 4 is being published later this year. This is such an amazing and weird graphic novel series. I want to see it as an anime.

The Wicked + The Divine by Kieron Gillen

 

I think the final volume is being released this autumn. I’ve only read the first one and I didn’t love it. I loved the art and the concept is really cool. But I was a bit confused about what was going on. I don’t know if that was by design and things will get clearer later on or if I just didn’t get their way of story-telling. But I definitely want to continue with this and see if things become clearer.

 

August 2018 Wrap-Up

I read 6 books in August. I’ve been surprisingly consistent with the number of books I’ve been reading considering how hard this year has been.

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Beyond a Darkened Shore by Jessica Leake

This was sadly somewhat disappointing. It could have been cool, with the combination of Celtic and Norse mythology. Unfortunately, it focused way too much on the romance between the main characters, which was totally insta-lovey and really had no chemistry going. 2/5 stars.

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

This was awesome. I can’t even explain to you how much I enjoyed this book. It’s a fairy-tale and it’s inspired by Rumpelstiltskin. But it’s got Jewish and Russian tones to it. I loved the romance as well, it’s got the trope of the two love interests hating each other and then growing to grudgingly love and respect one another, I just eat that up.  and it’s just so beautiful and cool and ugh, I loved it. 5/5 stars

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

I had such a book hangover after Spinning Silver, that I had to go and revisit this story because only a Naomi Novik fairy-tale could satisfy. I audiobooked it this time around and the audiobook was fantastic. I do have a full review of this if you are interested. 5/5 stars.

Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman by Richard Feynman

One of my friends randomly lent me this book and I was very pleasantly surprised by it. It’s probably one of my favourite non-fiction books that I’ve read. It’s so funny and interesting and cool. 5/5 stars

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

I’m a big fan of Norse mythology and I’m a fan of Neil Gaiman. A match made in heaven, really. I listened to the audiobook for this one, which is narrated by Neil Gaiman, so it was delightful. The man does have a great voice. 5/5 stars

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

I have mixed feelings about this book. While I did enjoy the dark setting and the fairy folklore and that aspect of it very much, I wasn’t a massive fan of the strong emphasis put on the romance. I just didn’t really care about any of the couples and in fact… I didn’t particularly like any of the characters. I didn’t dislike them, really. I just didn’t care much about them. The story itself was cool though and I do love folklore. 3/5 stars.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black – Spoiler Free Book Review

Rating: 5/5

Genre: Fantasy, YA

First released: 2018

Author: Holly Black

Synopsis: 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. 

Goodreads

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This is the first Holly Black book I’ve read and I inhaled it. I have heard a lot of mixed reviews about this and I’ve heard some valid criticisms, but I loved it. I couldn’t put it down. I loved the world, I loved the characters, I loved the relationships, I loved the story.

I love faeries. I love Celtic folklore and anything that’s got faeries in it appeals to me. I feel like a lot of the fae fantasy that I’ve read moves away from the dark, mischevious cruelty of the fae and also from the rules that govern them, such as their inability to lie. And I get why and I enjoy that as well, but it was wonderful and refreshing to get some loyally depicted fae, with their cruelty and dishonest truth-telling. And I loved seeing the faerie realm with revels and strange, magical, surreal things. It was beautiful and it spoke to me.

I’m a fan of court politics/intrigue/espionage type stories. And this was a combination of those things. I constantly wanted to know what would happen next. It’s quite a short book, so it was very fast paced, maybe even a little too fast paced. I would have liked another 50-100 pages and spend more time on some things that went on. By far, I would say the weakest element of this book is the plot and I think a lot of that comes back to its length. But I still really enjoyed it.

I loved the characters. I’ve heard people say Jude was annoying or unrelatable, but I really liked her. She’s flawed and has some deeply seated issues, but then she did witness her parents being murdered by a faerie and was subsequently kidnapped by said faerie so…

I also really liked her sisters and they dynamic between them. I loved Cardan. Cardan is just my type of morally ambiguous character. I loved how he’s not really redeemed… but he’s not really un-redeemed either, if that makes any sense. Their dynamic was very entertaining in all its stages and I am okay with them ending up together in subsequent books, but I’m also okay with them not ending up together and continuing to hate each other. And I enjoyed the rest of the characters as well, they’re unique, they each have their own desires and their own angles and I loved exploring that. It was probably my favourite thing.

Overall, I frickin’ loved this. Can’t wait for the next one.

Books I’m Currently Reading #2

A while back, I made a post about all the books I’d started reading and not yet finished for various reasons. This is a follow up to that because unfortunately, that list has only grown. I think I’ve only completed three of the books that were on that list, have given up on another one and have added a few. For that reason, I will exclude the sciency books that are on this list because those were always going to take me a long time to finish and this list is long enough as it is.

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Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

This one I haven’t touched at all since my first post. I am really nervous that I will not enjoy it and I’ve been avoiding it. I am still on page 93 of it.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catheynne M. Valente

This is still here as well, but I have made progress on it. I am more than halfway through it and I enjoyed it this far, so hopefully I’ll finish it soon. I am now on page 184.

Jesus Feminist by Sarah Bessey

Another one that’s still here months later. I did make a little progress on it. Every time I pick it up, I love it so much. I find it so enriching and empowering, but I just don’t pick it up often enough. I am on page 139.

Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch

This one’s still here as well. I have made some progress on it though. I just need to sit down and read the last couple hundred pages. But this is another one that I just haven’t picked up because I was distracted with other books. I am now on page 433.

The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

This is another book that I have made almost no progress on. I think I read maybe one chapter since the last post. It kind of intimidates me cause it’s huge and I’m afraid I’ll get sucked into it and not sleep until I finish it. But I do have the week off, so maybe I should just get on with it. I’m on page 35.

The Bat by Jo Nesbo

I haven’t even touched this book in ages. I keep forgetting about it. I’m still on page 157.

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

I picked this up after reading The Cruel Prince. I was really craving some more fae, so I bought this one, but it wasn’t what I was expecting, so I only read a few chapters. I do intend to finish it though. I’m on page 38 of it.

The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

I’ve been re-reading this series. I finished the first book and started this one, but haven’t picked it up in a while. I’m currently on page 69 of it.

A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin

This is the book that I’m most actively reading at the moment. I’ve been on an ASoIaF kick since watching the show. I am now on page 459.

What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe

I know I said I would exclude sciency books, but this is a popular science book and not so much an educational book, so it doesn’t need to be studied, just enjoyed. I am currently on page 43 of this.

Can You Solve My Problems by Alex Bellos

I’ve been making my way through this, solving all the puzzles (so much fun!). I’m currently on page 29 of it.

Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edgar Allan Polos

This is a short story collection that I’ve been reading. I haven’t been reading them sequentially, so I can’t say what page I am on, but I’ve read 12 of the 28 stories in it.

February 2018 Wrap Up

This month, I’ve read 10 books. Which I am well impressed with considering what a year this has been and also that this month is shorter. Admittedly, some of these books are quite short, but still. It’s been a long time since I’ve read this much.

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Everless by Sara Holland

Despite all the buzz it’s been receiving I thought this was a pretty meh book. It wasn’t particularly original or well written or interesting. The time magic thing was cool, but other than that… meh. I did really enjoy it though. I was just in the mood for something easy and quick to read. Mindless entertainment. And this book was well written and just interesting enough that it didn’t bore me out of my mind and it provided just that: mindless entertainment. So this was by no means an un-enjoyable experience. It’s not a bad book, it’s just not a great one either. 3/5 stars

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Unlike the previous book, this one 100% deserved the hype in my opinion. It was dark, it was atmospheric and seductive in that opulent and surreal fae way, it was cruel and brutal, it was fast paced, the characters were ruthless and interesting… it was basically anything you could possibly want from a dark fae book. I loved it. Read it in one day, cannot wait for the next one. 5/5 stars

The Obelisk Gate & The Stone Sky by N. K. Jemisin

For once, I actually finished a series within 2 months of starting it, which… wow, I’m proud of myself. This series was awesome. I have a full series review, if you want to check that out. I cannot recommend this series enough. If you’re an SFF lover and you haven’t yet picked this series up, just do it. You won’t regret it. 5/5 stars for both books. Also, can I just bring your attention to how beautiful those covers are?

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Finally, finally I have read this book. This series has been hyped up and down for as long as I have been part of the online book community and I finally jumped onto the bandwagon. I really liked it. Dystopia is not really my cup of tea anymore these days, but this is a good one. This is worth reading. It was so full of action, it just kept you on your town. You don’t get a break with this book. It’s one thing after another. 4.5/5 stars.

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

I was disappointed by this book. I had heard some amazing things about it, but it was pretty boring. Most of it was just… people travelling and having irrelevant conversations and eating. Pretty much 2 thirds of the book is taken up by that. the ending, does make up for it somewhat and sets up for a much more interesting story in future books, but not enough to make this book a good one. I ended up giving it 3/5 stars, although in all honesty, it’s probably more of a 2/5 star book. But I did really enjoy the main character and the ending, so…

This Savage Song & Our Dark Duet by V. E. Schwab

I finished two series in one month? That’s got to be some kind of record for me. As with every Victoria Schwab book that I’ve ever read, I loved these. I just devoured them and I need more in my life even though they hurt me in my soul. This is such a creative and beautiful and heart-wrenching story and I loved it. Victoria Schwab is the best. 5/5 stars for both.

Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel by Eoin Colfer

If you’re new here, I love Artemis Fowl. It’s one of my favourite series and I don’t understand why more people aren’t reading it and talking about it. That needs to happen. Because it’s awesome. And I just found out recently that there’s also a graphic novel version of them that was adapted by Eoin Colfer himself, so it’s time for me to re-read Artemis Fowl. I loved it this time around as well and I really enjoyed seeing the things instead of just reading about them. 5/5 stars.

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Another sorely under-appreciated series. This one was another re-read for me and I loved it even more than I did the first time. I don’t know why more people aren’t talking about this, because it’s amazing. It’s funny, it’s clever, it’s full of adventure and mystery and snark and I love it. It deserves more recognition than it’s getting. 5/5 stars

Yet Another Book Haul

Are you even surprised anymore?

The Stone Sky by N. K. Jemisin | Scarlet by Marissa Meyer | Everless by Sara Holland | Destroyer Dawn by Scott Beatty | Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu | The Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence | The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner | This Savage Song by V. E. Schwab | Our dark Duet by V. E. Schwab

Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel by Eoin Colfer | The Arctic Incident: The Graphic Novel by Eoin Colfer | The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black | Red Rising by Pierce Brown | A Grief Observed by C. S. Lewis

In the After Light by Alexandra Bracken | Can You Solve My Problems? by Alex Bellos

 

#NotAll Book Tag

As per usual, I stole this tag from Thrice Read.

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#NOTALL COVER CHANGES – A COVER CHANGE YOU LIKED

I’ll have to go with Caitlynn’s answer and say Throne of Glass. I mean there’s no comparison.

#NOTALL TROPES – A TROPE YOU’LL NEVER TIRE OF SEEING

Probably bad boy with a tragic past and a soft chewy centre. Don’e ask why, I just eat that shit up like nothing else. *coughs* Herondales *coughs*

#NOTALL INSTALOVE – YOU INSTALOVED THIS INSTACOUPLE

Hmmm… this is a pretty tough one. I really don’t like insta love. But I guess my answer is also Caitlynn’s answer. Because I liked Karou and Akiva and while I guess you could say their relationship is insta love-y… it makes sense once you read the second book.

#NOTALL LOVE TRIANGLES – AN EXAMPLE OF LOVE TRIANGLE DONE WELL

Will-Jem-Tessa. The only love triangle I’ve ever read that I genuinely loved.

#NOTALL PARENTS – BOOKISH PARENTS THAT, YOU KNOW, PARENT!

Hmm… I’m gonna go with Mrs. Weasley.

#NOTALL VILLAINS – A VILLAIN YOU LOVE

I mean… I love a lot of villains. Sebastian from TMI, Viktor from Vicious (I know he’s kind of the protagonist of that book, but really everyone’s a villain in that one), Severus Snape (more of an anti-hero, I suppose, but still), Cardan from The Cruel Prince (I just finished that book and honestly I don’t know what to do with myself). Though I don’t really think he was the villain of that story. They’re kind of all villains. AIDAN from Illuminae; The Darkling from The Grisha books… I could go on. I love me some villains.

#NOTALL CHOSEN ONES – A CHOSEN ONE YOU CAN GET BEHIND

Harry Potter.

#NOTALL HYPED BOOKS – A BOOK THAT LIVED UP TO THE ACCLAIM

There are quite a few, but I’m going to go with the most recent. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. I LOVED this so much I want the next one NOW.

#NOTALL *INSERT FAVOURITE GENRE* – A BOOK YOU’RE NOT KEEN ON FROM YOUR FAVOURITE GENRE

Fantasy. And really there are plenty. Most recently read, Everless by Sara Holland. I enjoyed it because I was just in the mood for mindless entertainment, but it wasn’t very good.

Then we’ve got my two most hated fantasies ever: Caraval by Stephanie Garber and Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige. We all know how I feel about these books. If you don’t, then click on the titles and you’ll find out.

Snow Like Ashes by Sara Rasch. I didn’t hate this one, but it was just meh.

#NOTALL *INSERT LEAST FAVOURITE GENRE* – A BOOK YOU LIKED FROM A GENRE YOU DON’T OFTEN READ

Adult contemporary romance. And for this, I have two of them:

Neanderthal Seeks Human by Penny Reid, which I liked so much I read it twice. And Tangled by Emma Chase which I also really enjoyed.

 

Down the TBR Hole #10

This meme was created by Lia @ Lost in a Story

Stats:

Previous post

Books: #91-100

Last week’s final number: 353 | Current number: 355 | This week’s final number: 352 | Total books removed so far: 37 | Total books kept so far: 59 | Books added since I began: 56 | Books read from my TBR: 8

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Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods by Rick Riordan

I love mythology and I love Percy Jackson, so of course it stays.

Throne of Glass 7 by Sarah J. Maas

We don’t have a title or a cover for this yet, but of course I’m going to read it. Just got Tower of Dawn the other day. I have to get on to reading that.

Verdict: Stays

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey

This actually sounds very interesting. I’d forgotten what it was about, if I’d ever known in the first place, but I want to read it!

Verdict: Stays

The Field Guide by Holly Black

I’ve been meaning to read Spiderwick for so long! It appeals to me so much, and I think I saw a film once that I really enjoyed. So I do want to read this.

Verdict: Stays

The Son of Sobek by Rick Riordan

This is a Kane Chronicles and Percy Jackson crossover. And while it does sound fun, I have yet to read The Kane Chronicles and I do want to read it, but I don’t know when I’ll get to it. So for the time being, there’s no point in me cluttering my TBR with this.

Verdict: Goes

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

This is a YA dystopia that I’ve heard mixed things about and the premise doesn’t appeal to me that much anymore. So I’m getting rid of this one.

Verdict: Goes

Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton

The author’s name may be Arwen, but I don’t think that’s quite enough to convince me to read this book. The synopsis is very vague and generic, so I went to read some of the reviews and they weren’t great. Plus I found out it’s urban fantasy, which… not really my favourite. So yeah… no.

Verdict: Goes

The Cosmic Trilogy by C. S. Lewis

Sci-fi series written by C.S. Lewis? I’m so down, why haven’t I read this yet?

Verdict: Stays

Unfinished Series Part Two

If you thought I’m terrible at finishing series after seeing part one, you will think I should be banned from starting any more series by the end of this one. Here it goes.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Read: 1/2

I liked Red Queen. I even filmed a review of it. But I didn’t love it. I didn’t feel the urge to get the next one as soon as it was available and I just kept putting it off. I’m still putting it off.

Still have to read: Glass Sword

Magisterium by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

Read: 1/2

I enjoyed this book a lot. I loved the elemental magic, but kind of like with Red Queen, I just didn’t love it so much that I wanted the next one yesterday.

Still have to read: The Copper Gauntlet

The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johanson

Read: 1/2

Honestly, I’m not sure if I want to continue with this series. I liked the story, but there were some elements of the world that really ruined it for me. And I didn’t particularly like the main character (forgot her name). But for now, I’ll keep it on the list of series I want to continue.

Still have to read: The Invasion of the Tearling

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Read: 1/4

I just bought this the other day and read it. *hangs head in shame* Let’s see how long this will remain on my unfinished series list. I really loved it though. You can read my review of it here.

Still have to read: Gathering Blue, Messenger, Son

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Read: 1/2

I loved The Young Elites so much. I have no idea why I haven’t read the second one yet. I fully intended to read it as soon as it came out, I just… didn’t.

Still have to read: The Rose Society

The Half-Light City by M. J. Scott

Read: 2/4

This is an adult fantasy series, but I quite like the world. I enjoyed the first two, and while I can’t say I’m tripping over myself to read the rest of them, I do want to continue with this series. Which is more a series of companions. It’s the kind of book I enjoy reading as an ebook.

Still have to read: Iron Kin, Fire Kin

I think that’s it for series that I want to continue with. For now at least. I’m sure I’ll have an update soon enough. Probably to add more series, rather than to remove them.

There are at least 20 more series that I have started but either have no intention of continuing, or I would like to maybe continue some day, but given the ridiculous amount of other series I need to finish, I probably won’t get to them. Perhaps I’ll make another post about those.

Final tally (for now): 16 series, 28 books + countless novellas and short stories