Another month has passed by, folks, and we've come to the halfway point of 2016. How's the year goin' for you? Me? It's had its ups and downs. But this past month has been alright. It was a slower month for blogging and reading. Things are heating up here in the southern parts of the US, so ya know what that means: perfect time to stay in the air conditioning and curl up with a book!
Books Read + Mini Reviews
The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater | 5/5 Stars
What can I say? Stiefvater killed it once again. Everything about this book was everything I wanted in a finale. True to Stiefvater's style, this book boiled down to being all about the relationships between characters and I loved that Stiefvater brought it to that because honestly I think we're all so invested in the characters by now. A brilliant finale to a great series!
Gotham Academy Vol. 1: Welcome To Gotham Academy by Becky Cloonan, Brendan Fletcher, and Karl Kerschl | 4/5 Stars
My first ever real comic and I loved it! I can't wait to read the next one! The characters and the story were hip, young, fresh, and real. The art style and colors were fantastic! I did have to take a star off for the info dumps toward the end, but I'm not sure if that's a standard kinda thing in comics. But other than that, I adored everything about Gotham Academy and I was left with so many questions! Just call me an addict.
The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh | 4/5 Stars
I loved this book so much that I didn't want it to end! It was pretty slow at the beginning, but once I got to the middle, it began to really pick up. Of course, it was bittersweet to end this short series, but I felt like Ahdieh wrote this series ender really well. Her writing was beautiful as always; she is a great writer and a great storyteller! And I have to say--the epilogue killed me! So yeah, I just fell in love with this book "slowly, and then all at once" to quote John Green.
Batgirl Vol. 1: The Batgirl of Burnside by Cameron Stewart, Brendan Fletcher, Jared K. Fletcher, Maris Wicks, and Babs Tarr | 5/5 Stars
I loved it, loved it, loved it! So good! I wish this reboot of Batgirl would last forever because it was just so young and fresh! I felt like I could relate to Barbara and it was nice seeing her immersed in modern day life!
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas | ALL OF THE STARS AND THE MOON TOO!!!
Ohmygod, guys, I can't even...I don't even...What even...I have the biggest book hangover I can ever remember having. This book was so supercalifragilousticexpialidociously fabulous and amazing and fantastic and incredible and all of the good superlatives!!! READ THE DARN BOOK! *throws book at your face*
Archie Issue #1 by Mark Waid and Fiona Staples | 4/5 Stars
I loved this cute reboot of Archie! Archie has always been a favorite comic of mine since I was just a girl (god, I sound so old...) and so I was really excited to see they'd rebooted it and that a live action TV show of Archie called Riverdale will be coming to The CW this fall! This little snippet was enough for me to want to check out volume 1 from the library, so who knows, that may be something in next month's library haul!
Silk Issue #1 by Robbie Thompson, Stacey Lee, and Ian Herring | 4/5 stars
My first trip into the Marvel comics universe and I loved it! I need the next issue/first/zeroeth volume fast! This mysterious introduction to Silk is free on Amazon's partner site, Comixology, if you're interested, btw! I really suggest it--it was awesome!
What can I say? Stiefvater killed it once again. Everything about this book was everything I wanted in a finale. True to Stiefvater's style, this book boiled down to being all about the relationships between characters and I loved that Stiefvater brought it to that because honestly I think we're all so invested in the characters by now. A brilliant finale to a great series!
Gotham Academy Vol. 1: Welcome To Gotham Academy by Becky Cloonan, Brendan Fletcher, and Karl Kerschl | 4/5 Stars
My first ever real comic and I loved it! I can't wait to read the next one! The characters and the story were hip, young, fresh, and real. The art style and colors were fantastic! I did have to take a star off for the info dumps toward the end, but I'm not sure if that's a standard kinda thing in comics. But other than that, I adored everything about Gotham Academy and I was left with so many questions! Just call me an addict.
The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh | 4/5 Stars
I loved this book so much that I didn't want it to end! It was pretty slow at the beginning, but once I got to the middle, it began to really pick up. Of course, it was bittersweet to end this short series, but I felt like Ahdieh wrote this series ender really well. Her writing was beautiful as always; she is a great writer and a great storyteller! And I have to say--the epilogue killed me! So yeah, I just fell in love with this book "slowly, and then all at once" to quote John Green.
Batgirl Vol. 1: The Batgirl of Burnside by Cameron Stewart, Brendan Fletcher, Jared K. Fletcher, Maris Wicks, and Babs Tarr | 5/5 Stars
I loved it, loved it, loved it! So good! I wish this reboot of Batgirl would last forever because it was just so young and fresh! I felt like I could relate to Barbara and it was nice seeing her immersed in modern day life!
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas | ALL OF THE STARS AND THE MOON TOO!!!
Ohmygod, guys, I can't even...I don't even...What even...I have the biggest book hangover I can ever remember having. This book was so supercalifragilousticexpialidociously fabulous and amazing and fantastic and incredible and all of the good superlatives!!! READ THE DARN BOOK! *throws book at your face*
Archie Issue #1 by Mark Waid and Fiona Staples | 4/5 Stars
I loved this cute reboot of Archie! Archie has always been a favorite comic of mine since I was just a girl (god, I sound so old...) and so I was really excited to see they'd rebooted it and that a live action TV show of Archie called Riverdale will be coming to The CW this fall! This little snippet was enough for me to want to check out volume 1 from the library, so who knows, that may be something in next month's library haul!
Silk Issue #1 by Robbie Thompson, Stacey Lee, and Ian Herring | 4/5 stars
My first trip into the Marvel comics universe and I loved it! I need the next issue/first/zeroeth volume fast! This mysterious introduction to Silk is free on Amazon's partner site, Comixology, if you're interested, btw! I really suggest it--it was awesome!
Challenge Updates
Goodreads Challenge
Read: 49/86 books
Achieved: 57%
Timing: 7 books ahead of schedule
Debut Author Challenge
0 books read by debut authors
Read: 49/86 books
Achieved: 57%
Timing: 7 books ahead of schedule
Debut Author Challenge
0 books read by debut authors
Bookish Bingo
Second Chance
Set In Space--Starflight by Melissa Landers
Non Binary MC
Under 200 Pages--"Bridge of Snow" by Marie Rutkoski
Ugly Cover
Set Over 200 Years Ago--Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor
March, April, May Release--A Study in Charlotte by Britany Cavallaro
Criminals
Metallic Lettering--Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
Based On A Real Event
Book Toward Another Challenge
Green Cover--Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
FREE
Retelling--Stars Above (The Little Android) by Marissa Meyer
Set In More Than One Country--The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig
Characters Aren't Human--Saga Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
Rec'd By More Than One Friend
Flowers On The Cover
MC Shares Your First Initial--Seven Black Diamond by Melissa Marr
Written Under A Pen Name
More Than One Author--Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
End Of The World
Number In The Title--Zero Day by Jan Gangsei
Nonfiction
Standalone--Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
Second Chance
Set In Space--Starflight by Melissa Landers
Non Binary MC
Under 200 Pages--"Bridge of Snow" by Marie Rutkoski
Ugly Cover
Set Over 200 Years Ago--Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor
March, April, May Release--A Study in Charlotte by Britany Cavallaro
Criminals
Metallic Lettering--Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
Based On A Real Event
Book Toward Another Challenge
Green Cover--Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
FREE
Retelling--Stars Above (The Little Android) by Marissa Meyer
Set In More Than One Country--The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig
Characters Aren't Human--Saga Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
Rec'd By More Than One Friend
Flowers On The Cover
MC Shares Your First Initial--Seven Black Diamond by Melissa Marr
Written Under A Pen Name
More Than One Author--Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
End Of The World
Number In The Title--Zero Day by Jan Gangsei
Nonfiction
Standalone--Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
Audiobook Challenge
The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater
The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater
The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Book Haul
This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
Naughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
Madly by Amy Alward
Tsarina by J. Nelle Patrick
The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey
Once Again by Cameron Dokey
Naughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
Madly by Amy Alward
Tsarina by J. Nelle Patrick
The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey
Once Again by Cameron Dokey
Book Bucket
The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton. and Jodi Meadows
The Last Star by Rick Yancey
This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
The Crown's Game by Evelyn skye
The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski
The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough
Lotus and Thorn by Sara Wilson Etienne
Saga Vol. 2 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
Wonder Woman Vol. 1 by Brian Azzarello, Cliff Chiang, Tony Akins, Dan Green, Matthew Wilson, Jared K. Fletcher
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton. and Jodi Meadows
The Last Star by Rick Yancey
This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
The Crown's Game by Evelyn skye
The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski
The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough
Lotus and Thorn by Sara Wilson Etienne
Saga Vol. 2 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
Wonder Woman Vol. 1 by Brian Azzarello, Cliff Chiang, Tony Akins, Dan Green, Matthew Wilson, Jared K. Fletcher
Blogging
- Lies I Live By by Lauren Sabel Blog Tour
- I celebrated my 6 month blogaversary!
- Claire and I sorted the characters of the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas into Hogwarts Houses over on Book Conversion.
Looking Ahead-Blogging
WOW! For the first time in a looooong time, I have nothing ahead of me! No tours, no interviews, no guest posts--nothing! Not that I don't love those things, it's just they can be stressful, especially when you have anxiety! So it's nice to have a little break now and then!
Monthly Snapshots
Around The Blogosphere/Vlogosphere
- Jo takes on whether there's a double standard between males and females in YA.
- Daniella talks very respectfully about making the transition from YA to adult.
- Alyssa started a book bloggers group pinterest board.
- Jess imagines a world without ARCs.
- Angel discusses the representation of Muslims in YA.
- Inge talks about the reasons why authors need bloggers.
- Becca used Snapchat filters on book covers and it may or may not have gone horribly wrong...
- Joey reflects on why he reads hyped books even if he know he'll dislike them.
- Cait discusses age and YA in response to this article from The Gaurdian.
- Amanda talks about originality and worth in the blogging community.
- Alicia discusses the downsides of using Twitter to have community conversations.
- Olivia reflects on the state of learning literature in the American school system.
- Melanie tells male protagonists how to bring sexy back!
- YA Interrobang asks why adult books are winning YA awards.
- Carrie evaluates if the KonMari method of cleaning works for avid readers.
- Ardis has an absolutely wonderful conversation about the representation of the autism spectrum in the media.
- Cait has written a very helpful guide for muggles on what kinds of magic book bloggers actually do and I totally shared this with all of my friends and family via Facebook.
- Kourtni talks about the importance of accurate representation of marginalized groups.
- Krysta argues for why we need religious diversity in literature.
- Madeline discusses what makes a "strong female character" and why strong female characters are important.
- Jen wonders at what point does releasing a new prequel/companion/novella becomes beating a dead horse with a stick.
- Reg has some sage advice for all you green-eyed book bloggers out there.
- Aine asks if negative reviews change your opinion of a book.
- Jenny discusses why book reviews are relevant and vital.
- Veda lists how heroines have changed from classic fairytales to Aelin Galathynius.
- Fadwa weighs the pros and cons of participating in memes.
- Nisha wonders if books should have maturity ratings.
- Melanie advises on how to kill off characters.
- Jo argues the case for rereading books.
My Favorite Things
- The Flash has become my summer show and a new favorite!
- I rediscovered my love for singer Charli XCX
- Have you heard of this little ol' musical called Hamilton???
- My new glasses make me feel super pretty
AHHHHHH YOU'RE AN ARCHIE FAN TOO?!?!?! I'm liking the reboot so far as well, but I don't think it can ever beat the ones I grew up with. And I'm excited and also kind of nervous about the TV show. I feel like they're going to change too much and it won't be the Riverdale I know and love...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, enough of my Archie babbling. I'm so glad you enjoyed The Rose and the Dagger! I totally agree it was a great conclusion to the series, even though it was a bit bittersweet.
Also happy 6 month blogoversary!!!