Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag- 2020 Edition!

Hello booksicles!

Today, I bring you the Mid-Year Freakout Tag where I review my reading in the first half of the year. I’m not sure who started the tag but it’s very popular with book bloggers and booktubers alike! I didn’t do it last year but it looks fun and I was tagged by Azrah from Az You Read so I decided to give it a go!

Best book(s) you’ve read so far in 2020

The Empire of Gold by S. A. Chakraborty: This is the last book of the Daevabad trilogy and it truly was a beautiful conclusion to the series that filled me up with every emotion imaginable.

Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles: This book comes out in August but I was lucky enough to read a review copy of it and trust me when I say that this book is fabulous! It is inspired by The Phantom of the Opera and full of glitz, magic and drama- I loved it!

Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2020

The Kingdom of Copper by S. A. Chakraborty: This is the second book of the Daevabad trilogy and I’d say it’s not just the best sequel I’ve read in 2020 but the best sequel I’ve read EVER!

New release(s) you haven’t read but want to

• The Silence of Bones by June Hur
• Heart of Flames by Nicki Pau Preto
• A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow
• Parachutes by Kelly Yang

Most anticipated release(s) for the second half of the year

• A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir
• The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
• The Burning God by R. F. Kuang
• These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong (I have a review copy of this one which I’m really excited to read)

Biggest disappointment

All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace: This was a really anticipated read but it fell so flat for me. I didn’t find it interesting at all and couldn’t connect to the characters.

Biggest surprise

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas: I had no idea what to expect from this book but I actually quite liked it?! It was a fun read although it was far longer than necessary.

Favorite new to me author(s)

• Janella Angeles
• Intisar Khanani
• Zoraida Córdova

Newest fictional crush

Uh I don’t have one actually.

New favorite character(s)

• Nahri from the Daevabad trilogy: I admire Nahri and how smart and unyielding she is in extremely trying situations. She is also so kind and she always chooses what is right for others over what would benefit her.
• Alizayd al Qahtani from the Daevabad trilogy: He really grows over the trilogy and has a tendency to always say the wrong thing but he’s also very sincere and has the best intentions.
• Kallia from Where Dreams Descend: Kallia is spectacular in every way. I love her determination and flair for the dramatic!

A book that made you cry

Not a single book made me cry this year, in general it is very rare that books make me cry at all even though I am an emotional person. When I feel sad about something in a book I don’t think it manifests as tears but my heart physically hurts. That being said, the book that was closest to making me cry was The Empire of Gold.

A book that made you happy

Once Upon An Eid is an anthology full of short stories about celebrating Eid by Muslim authors and when I read in in Ramadan this year it filled me with joy!

Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year

I bought a hardcover of An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir and it’s stunning I love it!

What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

Well there are quite a lot of books I couldn’t mention them all! Some review copies I need to read are:

• These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
• The Once and Future Witches.by Alix E. Harrow
• Crowning Soul by Sahira Javaid

And here are some other books I hope to read during 2020:

• Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
• The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
• Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
• Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
• The Wolf of Oren-Yaro by K. S. Villoso
• Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi

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So that’s the tag! I found some new favourites in the first half of 2020 and I hope to read some more amazing books during the rest of the year too.

I tag Zainab @ Em’s Bookish Musings and anyone else who wants to give this tag a try.

What has your favourite book of 2020 so far been? Let me know in the comments!

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Guest Post: The Book Reader Problems Tag

Hello my booksicles!

Today the lovely Jeimy from A Novel Idea is guest posting on my blog and doing the ‘Book Reader Problems Tag’. You can find her on Twitter and on Pinterest and don’t forget to check out her blog!
For those who aren’t aware, ‘guest posting’ is when someone writes and publishes a post on another person’s blog to reach and connect with new readers.

So, here is the post!

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Hello fellow bookworms!

My name is Jeimy and I run A Novel Idea!

A little about me:

• I live in Pennsylvania
• I am Hispanic
• I am a full stack web developer/ graphic designer
• I am a book hoarding enthusiast!
• I am the worst when it comes to talking/writing about myself so let’s move on!

I started A Novel Idea earlier this year in February under the name ReadWriteLive as a New Year’s resolution! I needed to change up my routine and since I’m always reading, I decided to give book blogging a try! A Novel Idea was created as a space for me to share my love of all things bookish and related to story-telling with all those who want to read about it! If it pertains to books or writing, it has a place in A Novel Idea.

I am super excited to be a guest on Sereadipity! Thank you so much for having me Umairah 🙂

Today’s bookish post is a fun little tag I found while blog hopping. The tag was made by Adventures Of a Bookish Girl.

Click on the link above to see her answers!

BOOK READER PROBLEMS TAG

YOU HAVE 20.000 BOOKS IN YOUR TBR. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT TO READ NEXT?

Honestly, it all depends on too many factors. Mood, energy, cover, author, etc etc etc.

More often than not it’s down to how I’m feeling once I finish the previous book. Am I a complete mess from the last book, needing something mushy to bandaid the hurt? Or am I feeling masochistic and need another emotional rollercoaster?

YOU’RE HALFWAY THROUGH A BOOK AND YOU’RE JUST NOT LOVING IT – DO YOU PUT IT DOWN OR ARE YOU COMMITTED?

It takes A LOT for me to not DNF a book. I try to give each book the benefit of the doubt because I can admit, I’m the problem sometimes. Even if I’m not feeling the book, I will try to finish it and find some good points.
HOWEVER
There are some books out there that I can’t force myself to finish. My brain does not focus on the words and I find myself re-reading the same sentence for hours. The story and characters do not resonate with me and I am forced to put it down.

THE END OF THE YEAR IS COMING AND YOU’RE BEHIND ON YOUR READING CHALLENGE. DO YOU TRY TO CATCH UP? AND IF SO, HOW?

I read for pleasure (and sometimes torture depending on the book). I never try to overwhelm myself with reading because it is the one activity I love. If I’m behind in my reading challenge, then I’m behind. I have to recognize that I still did very well and things happen. Reading slumps because of depression, being busier that normal, lethargy, etc etc etc.

I’m a firm believer in that reading should be something done for personal growth/self care/as a hobby. Once you start making it a race/chore, it no longer is something you can take joy in.

THE COVERS OF A SERIES YOU LOVE DO NOT MATCH. HOW DO YOU COPE?

I don’t care. I care more about the stories matching than the cover. The covers dont’ have to match because they might’ve changed designers or print size.

As long as I have the book, I’m content.

EVERYONE SEEMS TO LOVE A BOOK THAT YOU DO NOT. WHO DO YOU BOND WITH OVER YOUR SHARED FEELINGS?

Other book bloggers!! And the only two people from my friendship group that actually read.

YOU’RE READING A BOOK IN PUBLIC AND YOU’RE ABOUT TO START CRYING. WHAT DO YOU DO?

I cry.
What are they going to do? Nothing that’s what.

THE SEQUEL TO A BOOK YOU LOVED JUST CAME OUT, BUT YOU’VE FORGOTTEN A LOT OF WHAT HAPPENS. ARE YOU GOING TO REREAD IT?

I always re-read the previous book if the sequel took a while to come out. I need the story fresh in my head, to reacquaint myself with the characters and get the picture as clear as possible before I pick up the new one.

YOU DO NOT WANT ANYONE TO BORROW YOUR BOOKS. HOW DO YOU POLITELY SAY NO WHEN SOMEONE ASKS?
I say no.

It is not impolite to say no. I feel like people need to be more comfortable with saying the word no. Especially when it comes to their own things.

Books are very dear to me and I realize that may not be the case for everyone.

If they want to read the book but not buy it, they can go to the library. My books do not leave my hands.

YOU HAVE PICKED UP AND PUT DOWN 5 BOOKS IN THE LAST MONTH. HOW DO YOU GET OVER THIS READING SLUMP?

Reading slumps are the bane of my existence. My longest one was two years. TWO YEARS.

Crazy right?

I usually get over them by re-reading a favorite book. A book I know I won’t put down.

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata, Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling are just a few that I always re-read to kick back into the swing of reading.

THERE ARE SO MANY BOOKS COMING OUT THAT YOU ARE DYING TO READ, HOW MANY DO YOU END UP BUYING?

I, JEIMY, have no self control and buy all of them. A large part of my savings are just for books. Priorities people! Priorities!

AFTER YOU PURCHASE ALL OF THESE BOOKS YOU’RE DYING TO READ, HOW LONG DO THEY SIT ON YOUR SHELVES BEFORE YOU GET TO THEM?

I feel attacked right now…

Depends. Sometimes they don’t sit for very long. Sometimes it takes me years to get to them.

Sometimes I never read them at all and end up donating them to the local library. If it is a book I was anticipating, then it gets read ASAP.

If it’s a book that I found interesting while at the bookstore but I didn’t really go in for it, then it might take me a while to get to it.

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I honestly wish I was as chilled a reader as Jeimy- being behind reading goals and non-matching covers stresses me out!

Whoever wants to do this tag, consider yourself tagged! And thank you to Jeimy for guest posting on Sereadipity- it was a pleasure having you!

How would you answer these questions? Let me know in the comments!

Twitter | Goodreads

The Sleeping Beauty Book Tag

Hello my booksicles!

Today I’ll be doing the Sleeping Beauty Book Tag which I saw on LauReads.

I haven’t done a book tag in ages and that is something I wanted to change because tags are such fun ways to discuss bookish opinions and connect with other bloggers so I’m going to try to do more in the future. Here’s the tag!

 

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~SLEEPING BEAUTY~
A main/title character that is overshadowed by others

I would definitely say Alina Starkov (from Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo) because although she’s the main character and one of the most powerful Grisha ever,  she’s so boring and didn’t capture my interest in the slightest. Whereas, the other characters like the Darkling, Genya, Nikolai and Zoya were so much more nuanced and intriguing and if it wasn’t for them I would never have read the whole trilogy.

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~PRINCE PHILLIP~
Name a character you would slay a dragon for

Can I say two characters? I would slay a dragon without a moment of hesitation for Lazlo and Sarai (from Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor) because they are the sweetest, nicest people ever and I love them with all my heart.

I would slay a dragon for them even though I have a great appreciation for dragons. I would slay a dragon for them even though I don’t think I possess the physical capabilities to slay a dragon (but I could do a dramatic reading of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer until it dies of frustration). However, I do think that if Lazlo and Sarai were being attacked by a dragon they’d probably find a way to make friends with it and my slaying-by-dramatic-reading skills would not be required.

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~FLORA, FAUNA & MERRYWEATHER~
Your favourite fictional dysfunctional family

Nova’s family in Mooncakes is very dysfunctional but also the cutest one ever. Her parents may be ghosts and she may have a cousin with a pigeon head but their love and support for each other makes my heart glow.

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~BRIAR ROSE~
A book/character whose name confuses you/you always mess up

A character name that never fails to confuse me is Chaol (from Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas). I had no idea whether it was pronounced ‘ch-aa-ol’ or ‘chay-ol’ or ‘kale’ until I found a pronunciation guide and realised it was ‘kay-ol’. I have a friend who adamantly calls him ‘chole’ even though she knows how it’s supposed to be said. I can’t help associating his name with the leafy green vegetable.

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~ONCE UPON A DREAM~
A book that gave you déjà-vu

I got intense déjà-vu from Frostblood by Elly Blake because it was so similar to books I’d already read and so tropey I could almost predict what would happen next. In particular, it reminded me of Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas because it also had a character with ice magic train another character to use their fire magic and then- shockingly- they fell in love. It also reminded me of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard because it had the Frostbloods vs Firebloods conflict whereas Red Queen similarly had Reds vs Silvers. It didn’t provide anything new or original that I hadn’t seen before.

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~BLUE VS PINK~
A character who can’t make up their mind

Veda (from Beware the Night by Jessika Fleck) just couldn’t make up her mind about whether she liked her best friend, Nico, or this other person called Dorian so she just strung them both along for the duration of the book and formed a tidy little annoying love triangle that has yet to be resolved.

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~SLEEPING SPINDLE~
Name a book that turned out exactly how you thought it would (good or bad)

I knew that I’d love Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik before I read it for two reasons. Firstly, because I’d read another book by Novik called Uprooted and I completely and utterly adored it and secondly because it was a loose retelling of Rumpelstiltskin and I am a massive fan of fairy tale retellings. So when I read Spinning Silver and fell head over heels for its intricately woven story with whispers of winter, I wasn’t surprised.

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So that’s the tag! What did you think of my answers? Do you agree/ disagree? Let me know in the comments!

I tag:

• Rukky @ Eternity Books
• E. @ Local Bee Hunter’s Little Nook
• Noura @ The Perks of Being Noura
• Dini @ dinipandareads
• Or anyone else who would like to do it!

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The Second Sunshine Blogger Award!!!

Hello! I’ve been nominated for the second time to do the Sunshine Blogger Award! Thank you so much to the wonderful Kimberly @ Bookish Kimberly for nominating me- please check out her amazing blog before you finish reading this post!

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RULES:

1. Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link back to their blogging site. (Thank you so much to Kimberly!!!)
2. Answer the questions.
3. Nominate 11 other bloggers and ask them 11 new questions.
4. Notify the nominees about it by commenting on one of their blog posts.
5. List the rules and display the sunshine blogger award logo on your site or on your post.

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Questions:

(1) Which country are you from?

I’m from the UK. In my opinion, the best book retailer here is Waterstones (it’s actually my favourite shop and I’m always making excuses to go there).

(2) If you would suggest one beautiful tourist spot in your country, what would it be?

There are loads but one example is the Peak District National Park. It’s breathtakingly beautiful with its picturesque valleys, fields, footpaths, plateaus and peaks.

(3) What’s your favourite hobby aside from reading books?

I enjoy origami. I’m not an expert and all my attempts at folding advanced things have ended in screwed up pieces of paper, however, I do find it relaxing and I’m proud of whatever I manage to successfully fold.

(4) What’s your favorite book genre?

I adore fantasy. Specifically epic or high fantasy because I love how imaginative it can be as everything is fictional: the world, the characters, the culture and customs. There is so much room for creativity and you never know what you’re going to read next. I would also read dark fantasy although it can sometimes be very unsettling. Sometimes I read low fantasy (where the magical elements are merged with the real world) but it depends on the book. I love books with magic and sorcery and I find learning about different magic systems really interesting. I also love fantasy books based on fairy tales and myths because I find them very intriguing. Nevertheless, there is one type of fantasy I can’t stand: urban fantasy. It just frustrates me in a way I can’t explain.

(5) Is there a quote from a book that has changed your life? If yes, what is it and from what book?

There are many quotes I have learnt from and find inspiring but I wouldn’t say they have gone so far as to change my life. However, instead of mentioning one of those inspiring quotes I’m going to mention a quote that really resonates with me as I feel it sums up my entire bookish life.

‘Too many books, too few centuries’

~ Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

I feel as if there are so many amazing books in the world that I will never get around to reading and it makes me feel a bit sad until I remind myself that the most important thing is to enjoy the books I do get around to reading as much as I can.

(5) If you had to swap places with any book character, who would you choose? Why?

I would swap places with Lila Bard from A Darker Shade of Magic but after the end of A Conjuring of Light so that I can travel the world in her ship and go on fantastical adventures.

(6) What is your favorite book you had to bring and read in school?

I brought and read Persuasion by Jane Austen in school once and I really enjoyed it.

(7) What is your last 1-star & 5-star book?

I only ever give one star to a book I really, really, really didn’t like and that barely ever happens but I think my last one star read was Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor because it was a terrible, confusing ending to the trilogy and I did not enjoy it. My last five star read that blew my mind was The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang that I was lucky enough to receive an arc of!

(8) Choose one book you would recommend the most to your bookish friends.. and why?

I recommend An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir to most of my bookish friends because I think it’s an amazing story and I just want to spread its awesomeness to as many people as I can.

(9) Who is your favourite character in a book series?

My favourite character in a book series is Aelin Galathynius from Throne of Glass. She’s definitely not perfect and she doesn’t always do the right thing but she goes so far during the series and I can’t help but feel proud of how her character develops. She becomes more mature and comes into her own and all the things she goes through helps build her into the kind of queen that Terrasen deserves.

(10) Which book do you wish had a sequel?

I wish Descendant of the Crane by Joan He had a sequel because apparently it’s a standalone but the ending leaves many questions unanswered and I it pains me to think I’ll never read about all of those brilliant characters again.

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I’m going to nominate seven people instead of eleven:

• Ali @ Tea and Turned Pages
• Kaya @ A Fictional Bookworm
• The Kingdom of Pages
• Kai @ Wanderlust Reader
• Rachel @ RacheLeanne
• One More Word
• Lily and the Fae

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New Questions:

1. Which book do you wish had a prequel?
2. Do you prefer reading standalone books, duologies, trilogies or book series with four or more novels? Why?
3. Which supporting character do you think deserves their own book?
4. Which book genre do you want to read more of?
5. Which animal character in a book do you wish was your pet?
6. If you were stranded on a desert island with one other book character, who would you choose?
7. What is, in your opinion, the prettiest book cover you have ever seen?
8. Have you ever read a book solely based on its cover?
9. If you could be a character in any book, which book would you choose?
10. What is the funniest book you have ever read?
11. Which book character are you glad isn’t real?

If you want to answer these questions but you haven’t been nominated then feel free and thank you again to Kimberly for tagging me!

The Liebster Award!!!

Hello bookdragons!

Thank you so, so much to Alex @ Whimsy Pages for nominating me for the Liebster Award. Go check her blog out! It’s great!

I’ve never done this award before and I’m super excited to answer the questions as I love doing these types of tags.

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The Rules:

(1) Acknowledge the blog who nominated you and display the award.

(2) Answer the 11 questions the blogger gives you.

(3) Nominate 11 blogs.

(4) Notify those blogs of the nomination.

(5) Give them 11 questions to answer.

P.S. I am reducing the number of nominees / questions to 5.

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My Answers:

(1) How many books do you own and how do you organise them?

Okay, so I actually counted and I found that I own 187 books! (106 if you exclude e-books). I thought that I had way less than that because I clear out books that I’ve read and don’t want anymore regularly.

On the level of my bookshelf that’s most visible I put all of my favourite books so I can see them whenever I walk past. I tried to organise it in a gradient from bluey purple colours to orangey red colours. It’s not perfect but I like it. Also paperback books have to be separate from hardcovers.

(2) Do you have a blogging schedule?

Yes, I do. I try to plan out everything that I want to post in advance. However, it’s a very flexible schedule and lately I’ve been really busy and I haven’t been able to stick to it as much I’d like to.

(3) Share the favourite post written by you!

My favourite post was the one that I wrote on Valentine’s day about roses and slavery. I think it’s important that more people are aware of the extent of modern slavery in our world today as it’s a very serious issue. How many broken hearts were behind last Valentine’s day?

Click here to read the post called ‘Roses: Symbols of Romance or of Suffering?‘

(4) If you had to choose only one book format (physical, e-book, audiobook) to read for the rest of your life, which one would you choose? Why?

I’d choose e-books because as much as I adore physical books, e-books are more practical and portable- they’re also cheaper.

(5) Did your book tastes change? Tell us about your reading journey!

I’ve always adored fantasy since a young age. Anything magical has always fascinated me. I think the only thing that has changed is that my reading tastes have matured.

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My Questions:

(1) How do you choose which books to read?

(2) Which three book characters do you wish were real? Why?

(3) Which themes or tropes do you dislike in a book? Why?

(4) Who are your top three favourite authors? Why?

(5) What do you think is more important in a book, well-developed characters or a gripping plot?

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I nomimate:

• J R Lynn @ Eternity Books
• Laura Herondale
• Novel Lives
• Lydia @ Pages of Verity
• Curly Book Owl

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If I haven’t nominated you but you still want to answer the questions then feel free!

Greek Mythology Tag

I absolutely adore mythology, including Greek mythology. I find all of the sprawling yet intricate myths and legends captivating. Therefore, when I saw this tag on Lau Reads’ blog, I knew I had to do it!

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☆ Zeus: Favourite book

There are too many…

☆ Poseidon: A book that drowned you in feels

Kingdom of Ash because it was the last book in the Throne of Glass series and it was so sad and happy at the same time and I just couldn’t control my feelings whilst reading it.

☆ Hades: Favourite dark book

Whispers from the Depths by C. W. Briar because it was dark and the atmosphere was so tense but it had a poignant and hopeful ending.

☆ Hera: Cutest couple

Rowaelin from Throne of Glass because they are my OTP and they are just so perfect for each other and so cute together!

☆ Athena: Favourite intelligent heroine

Hermione from Harry Potter because she is just awesome! She was so smart and fierce that Harry and Ron would be completely lost without her.

☆ Gaea: Favourite world building book

The Shades of Magic series by V. E Schwab because I loved the world building of the different Londons and the differences between them.

☆ Aphrodite: Most gorgeous cover

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo because it’s gold and shiny and it’s even shinier underneath the dust jacket, it’s simply a work of art.

☆ Ares: Most violent book you’ve read

The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang as it was so brutal and hard hitting I really struggled to read some parts of it.

☆ Hephaestus: Hottest book you’ve ever read

I’m not sure for this one, probably the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Maas even though I didn’t like it much.

☆ Artemis: A heroine who doesn’t need a man to save her

Essun from The Fifth Season. She is so strong and amazing she doesn’t need anyone to save her.

☆ Apollo: A book that is an exception to a genre you don’t usually like

I don’t usually read mystery novels but I adored The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. It was so exciting and original.

☆ Hermes: A book that stole your heart

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor stole my heart… it still hasn’t given it back : (

☆ Hestia: A book you go back to for comfort

The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas, more specifically Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows, Empire of Storms and Kingdom of Ash. I don’t know why but they always end up being my comfort reads.

☆ Demeter: Favourite book setting

Fantasy worlds in general tend to be my favourite settings. I love how they’re all different and unique and we slowly get to discover more about them.

☆ Dionysus: A book you are most anticipating in the next year

Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff- I can’t wait to read it!

☆ Hecate: Favourite magical read

The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkein, he is the master of magicalness!

☆ Nemesis: Favourite revenge story

The Nevernight Chronicle by Jay Kristoff because Mia Corvere is brilliant. Also, Arya’s revenge story in the A Song of Ice and Fire series is terrifying but exciting to read (or watch).

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Do you like Greek mythogy? Do you agree with me on any of the books I mentioned? Let me know in the comments!

I tag:

Shaz, Athena, Sara, Justine, Tilly and anyone else who adores mythology!

Sunshine Blogger Award!!!

Hello everyone! Today I’ll be doing the Sunshine Blogger Award! Thank you so much to the amazing J R Lynn @ Eternity Books for nominating me- please check Eternity Books out before finishing reading this post

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RULES:

1. Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link back to their blogging site. (Thank you so, so, so much to J R Lynn!!!)
2. Answer the questions.
3. Nominate 11 other bloggers and ask them 11 new questions.
4. Notify the nominees about it by commenting on one of their blog posts.
5. List the rules and display the sunshine blogger award logo on your site or on your post.

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Questions:

(1) What’s your favourite food?

I’m always open to trying different types of food and cuisines and I could never choose just one favourite food (I’m a foodie). I do adore sea food and anything with chicken in it but the food that will always have a special place in my heart (and in my stomach!) is my Mum’s food. It’s the best!

(2) What’s your favorite colour?

I really like bluey-greeny colours like turquoise and teal.

(3) What’s your favorite song?

I’m not picky- I like any song with a catchy rhythm that I can dance or sing along to!

(4) Who’s your favorite character?

This is a hard question! I’d say Aelin Galathynius from Throne of Glass because the journey she goes on through the series is amazing and she grows so much as a person.

(5) If you could visit a character’s home, whose would it be?

I’d visit Bilbo Baggins in his hobbit hole because I’ve always thought that they are so cool! I wish I could live in a hobbit hole!

(6) Which underrated author do you love?

I really liked Helen Scheuerer’s Heart of Mist and I don’t think enough people are talking about it.

(7) Which popular author do you hate?

Tahereh Mafi because the writing style in Shatter Me really frustrated me- although I wouldn’t say I hate her.

(8) How many books have you read in the past three years?

Well….the first year I started counting was last year where I read 58 books but I know for a fact I read more books than that the years before so I’d estimate around 200 books.

(9) What was your first highest rated book of 2019?

Circe by Madeline Miller- I adored it so, so much and it’s become one of my all time favourites! (My review of Circe)

(10) What was your first lowest rated book of 2019?

My lowest rated book so far is The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in this One by Amanda Lovelace because the writing style really didn’t agree with me although I apreciated the message she was trying to convey.

(11) Which book is your most highly anticipated for 2019?

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo for sure! I was so excited to meet Nina, Nikolai and all my other favourite Grisha characters again!

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I nominate: Ash @ Ink Trails | Jenn @ Jenniely |Katie @ Melting Pages |Sara @ Reading in Bed|Jemma @ Fantastic Books|Alyssa @ A Lovely Book Affair |Amanda @ Literary Weaponry |Kaylee @ Kayl’s All Booked|Throne of Books |Shaz Reads | Bookish Pisces

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New Questions:

1. If you could choose one book to live in forever, which would it be?
2. If you were stranded on a desert island with only one book, which one would it be?
3. Which book character do you wish was your best friend?
4. Apart from reading/book blogging, what else do you enjoy doing?
5. Which book do you always find yourself reccomending to people?
6. If you could be any one book character for a day, who would you be?
7. Which supporting character do you think deserves their own book and why?
8. Which bookish habits do you have?
9. What is your main blogging goal for 2019?
10. What is your main reading goal for 2019?
11. What would be your #1 bookish holiday destination?

If you want to answer these questions too if you haven’t been nominated then feel free and thank you again to J R Lynn.

The Bookish Adventure Tag + 100 followers!!!!

Hello everyone! In celebration of the fact that I now have 100 followers (thank you so much to all of those amazing people!!!) I have decided to create a book tag! It’s called ‘The Bookish Adventure Tag’ and I’ll explain the rules below!

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RULES:

Imagine that you are an intrepid literary adventurer- braving the harsh bookish wilderness, traversing jungles of pages and slashing through vines of words. Where in the vast world of books would you go?

• Write about one place mentioned in a book you wish you could visit and why.
• List 3-5 things that you would do there.
• Mention which souvenirs, if any, you would bring back with you.
• Then tag some more literary explorers and please link back to the creator (Umairah @ Sereadipity) so I can see all of your adventures!

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My dream bookish destination:

The Southern Continent from the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas because, firstly, the weather is amazing there and I would love to go to the bustling markets, meet all of the different people and enjoy the lively atmosphere.

Things I would do:

• Visit Antica (the capital) and see all of the markets there and try some of the delicious food, go shopping and enjoy the nice weather.
• See and visit the Torre Cesme (a tower of legendary healers) and talk to some of the healers.
• Try and meet Nesryn and Sartaq and maybe time my visit when some of the other Throne of Glass characters are in the Southern Continent on a diplomatic visit or something and try and meet them too… somehow.
• Go to the mountains, visit the ruk riders and ride a ruk!
• See one of the giant Stygian spiders, freak out and run away back to the UK.

Souvenirs:

I think I’d bring some clothes or a piece of jewellery or something to remember the Southern Continent by. I’d also want to bring some books back with me (I buy books everywhere I go!). However, the thing I wish I could bring back the most is Sartaq my very own ruk that I can ride and be friends with.

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I tag:

• J R Lynn @ Eternity Books
• Throne of Books
• The Biblioshelf
• Rebeca @ A Bookworm Reads
• Alak @ thebookxpert
• Bookish Pisces
• Darina @ Facing The Story
• Lola’s Library
• Shaa @ Moonlight Pages
• Mary Drover
• Reading with my Eyes
• Shaz Reads

If you weren’t tagged but would like to do this tag too, then feel free!

What is your dream bookish adventure?

 

NOPE Book Tag!

Hello everyone! Today, I’m going to be doing The NOPE Book Tag. I was tagged by the wonderful J R Lynn @ Eternity Books!

A list of books mentioned in this post:

• Empire of Storms by Sarah J Maas
• Caraval by Stephanie Garber
• Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas
• Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J Maas
• The Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare
• The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty
• Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
• The Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard
• Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

If you haven’t read some of these books and don’t know what I’m talking about at times, sorry in advance!

Nope Ending:
A book that made you go NOPE either in denial, rage, or simply because the ending was terrible.

The ending of Empire of Storms made me feel a lot of denial and rage. Not because it was a bad ending but because what had happened to my favourite characters was too horrible to comprehend.

Nope Protagonist:
A main character you dislike and drives you crazy.

Scarlett from Caraval because she’s just so annoying and we’re supposed to believe she cares about her sister when really all she cares about is whether Julian likes her as much as she likes him. (My review of Caraval)

Nope Series:
A series that turned out to be one huge pile of NOPE after you’ve invested all that time and energy on it, or a series you gave up on because it wasn’t worth it anymore.

I spent so much time reading the entire Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy and in the end, I felt disappointed and confused.

Nope Popular Pairing:
A “ship” you don’t support.

Feysand from the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. I just don’t understand the hype around them. Rhys is arrogant and Feyre is so boring to read about!

Nope Plot Twist:
A plot twist you didn’t see coming or didn’t like.

[Spoilers ahead] At the end of A Court of Thorns and Roses, when Feyre was supposed to stab Tamlin in the heart and then…PLOT TWIST… his heart was made of stone, I was so, so, so, so, annoyed! There was literally no hinting at it throughout the book then suddenly we’re supposed to just accept it.

Nope Protagonist action/decision:
A character decision that made you shake your head.

[Spoilers Ahead] In Kingdom of Ash, when Aedion was saying and doing all of those really mean things to Lysandra, I was shaking my head with disappointment and anger because she was just doing what she thought was right and he couldn’t blame her for that.

Nope Genre:
A genre you will never read.

Paranormal/Urban fantasy. For some reason I just can’t stand it.

Nope Book Format:
A book format you hate and avoid buying until it comes out in a different edition.

I’m not really sure how to answer this one… sometimes I wait for a book to come out as a kindle edition before buying it but I still love reading print books.

Nope Trope:
A trope that makes you go nope.

Angsty love triangles drive me insane. They’re just so frustrating to read about.

Nope Recommendation: A book recommendation that is constantly hyped and pushed at you that you simply refuse to read.

The Shadowhunter Chronicles because although everyone always talks about how good it is, it’s just not the type of book I enjoy reading.

Nope Cliché/pet peeve:
A cliché or writing pet peeve that always makes you roll your eyes.

When smirking/ scoffing/ drawling is mentioned in books it really gets on my nerves! Normal people don’t smirk all of the time- or at least no one that I’ve met!

Nope Love Interest:
The love interest that’s not worthy of being one/a character you don’t think should have been a viable love interest.

In The City of Brass, I don’t think Dara should have been a viable love interest. He’s just so annoying and arrogant! (My review of The City of Brass)

Nope Book:
A book that shouldn’t have existed.

I don’t think there is a book that I’ve read that shouldn’t have existed. Even the books I didn’t enjoy deserve to exist because I think that books are amazing.

Nope Villain
A scary villain/antagonist you would hate to cross and would make you run in the opposite direction.

The Darkling from the Shadow and Bone trilogy. He’s so terrifying and ruthless. He would definitely make me run in the opposite direction!

Nope Death
A character death that still haunts you.

[Spoiler Ahead] When Shade from the Red Queen series died I was so sad because he was just so nice and Farely was pregnant!

Nope Author
An author you have had a bad experience reading and have decided to quit.

I had a bad experience reading Shatter Me and I decided after that to not read the rest of the series. I don’t have anything against the author, Tahereh Mafi, I just don’t like her writing style. I didn’t like all of the strike throughs– I understand what she was trying to do but I just didn’t like it.

I tag:

• Kristi @ Confessions of a YA Reader
• Hamad @ The Book Prescription
• The Orangutan Librarian
• Brittany the Book Guru
• Lori’s Bookshelf Reads
• You, if you’re in the mood to rant about books!

Sorry in advance if any of the people I have tagged have already done this tag!

The Coffee Book Tag!

Hello everyone! Today I’ll be doing the Coffee Book Tag. I’ve seen quite a lot of people doing it and it seemed fun so I decided to do it too

(1) Black Coffee | Name A Series That’s Tough To Get Into But Has Hardcore Fans:

The A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin because the books are very long and dense but there are still a lot of people who love it.

(2) Peppermint Mocha | Name A Book That Gets More Popular During the Winter or A Festive Time of Year:

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens… It’s kind of obvious why it gets more popular at Christmas because it’s about Christmas!

(3) Hot Chocolate | What Is Your Favorite Children’s Book?

Mr Clever by Roger Hargreaves– this is the book of my childhood.

(4) Double Shot of Espresso | Name A Book That Kept You On the Edge Of Your Seat From Start to Finish:

Winter by Marissa Meyer because it was so action-packed and exciting!

(5) Starbucks | Name A Book You See Everywhere:

I see Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling everywhere!

(6) The Hipster Coffee Shop | Give A Book By An Indie Author A Shout Out:

Theorie of a Storm by Jane Delaney!

(7) Oops! I Accidentally Ordered Decaf | Name A Book You Were Expecting More Of:

Caraval by Stephanie Garber because I thought it was going to be really good and then it just wasn’t…

(8) The Perfect Blend | Name A Book Or Series That Was Both Bitter And Sweet, But Ultimately Satisfying:

The Conqueror’s Saga by Kiersten White, when I finished this series I felt poignant but happy at the same time.

(9) Green Tea | Name A Book Or Series That Is Quietly Beautiful:

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern it’s beautifully magical but not in a flashy way.

(10) Chai Tea | Name a Book Or Place Series That Makes You Dream Of Far Off Places:

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor because it’s very literally dreamy.

(11) Earl Grey | Name Your Favorite Classic:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen– I just love the relationship between Elizabeth and Mr Darcy so much!

I tag:

• J R Lynn @ Eternity Books
• Kathy @ Pages Below the Vaulted Sky
• Throne of Books
• Alana @ The Bookish Chick
• Athena @ The Night Faerie
• You, if you like drinking coffee

If any of the people I have tagged have already done this tag then sorry in advance!