TBR

To Be Read – August

I had huge problems with choosing my TBR list this month. In one hand, I want to have a list ready so that I don’t have to think about what book to read next, but at the other hand I do not wish to “constrict” myself in what books to read. Not now when my desire to read is somewhat fragile.

But in the end I chose five books and they are as following.

augusti.JPG Book one is written by a Norwegian journalist and to this date is not yet translated to English. It probably will in the future and I can imagine the title will be directly translated too something like this. “Swim with the drowned.”

Book two is the second book in Throne of Glass series. I did not find the first book that fantastic but people keep saying it is worth continuing so I will try one more book. Keeping an open mind.

Book two is the second book in the legend of the ice people series. I have read it before but now when I have the whole series I’m reading it from scratch.

Wicked by Jana Deleon is the fourth book about Shaye Archer. The third one was an hell of a ride and it has taking me until now to feel myself mentally ready for the next one.

The last book is one by Kristen Ashley I have had in my kindle for years. It is some time since I read anything by KA now and instead of buying a new book, I thought I should read the one I already have.

And as usual there will be one more book but which one I do not yet know due to that my book club not yet have had our monthly meeting. 🙂

What are you planning to read in august?

Everyday things · TBR

TBR March

march.JPGNew month, new To Be Read list. I’m quite happy with my results from February. I had selected 6 books (one was a February book club book) and I read all besides one. Well actually two since I DNF’ed one of them.

“The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” is the one I never started in February. I have put it on my list for March since this is a book I really want to read, I just didn’t get to it last month.

Other than that I have the fifth book in the Winston Brothers series, the fourth book in the Colorado Mountain series and the first book in a new series, The Nevernight Chronicle. The last one, “A court of Thorns and Roses” are actually a reread I have had a desire for lately.

There will also be a sixth book on the list but that one I do not know until my book club have had its meeting on Wednesday. Pretty excited for March and I think this will be a great reading month.

What are you planing on reading in March?

 

Fantasy/Paranormal · Fiction/Science Fiction · Romance · Young, New adult/College

Throne of glass – Sarah J. Maas

40512568| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: Meet Celaena Sardothien. Beautiful. Deadly. Destined for greatness.

In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake. She got caught.

Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament – fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?

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My thoughts: I’m a little disappointed actually. I know I can’t compare this to the ACOTAR series but it is hard not to. And to be honest, this is not what I expected from an author like Maas, who where one of my top favorite author in 2018. Very underwhelming after years of hearing that this is THE YA series to read. I expected more and not to walk away with an unsatisfying feeling.

Every reviewer and booktuber I follow loved Celaena. I however did not. She is arrogant, mean, lame and high on herself. She is such an over hyped character that it is a disappointment to read the book about her. To be that young, for having had such a hard life and after a year as a slave in the most notorious salt mines, you would expect her to be more humble toward life and not as vain and shallow. Her and most of the characters have no dept, no smooth development and the plot is slow and quite overrated. Maas have been raised to the skies for her strong, female protagonists and deep YA relations, but I saw noting of that here.

There is some attempt to romance and love/triangles but that just fell flat. It is not good. Nothing that got my heart pumping or the need to keep reading. You really get to know Dorian and Chaol and they both are so much better in my opinion than Celaena, which is supposed to be the main heroine character to love and follow. There is nothing unique or original. And the plot is just weird. There is some questionable decisions and there is more of a telling the story than showing the story. All the action and important parts, where jump over and later retell so that we, the readers, knew what had happens since last. No, not good.

To be honest I do not know if I will continue the series. At first I gave the book three stars but after a night’s sleep and the time of writing this review, I realize that I was too generous and lowered it to two. It is not as bad as a one star rating but certainly not as good as a three. It wasn’t as mind-blowing as I expected and it was nowhere near as well written as the ACOTAR series. Both in the character development, plot and settings.

Is it worth more of my time?

Everyday things

2018 Summary

2018

Goodreads has this neat little feature that at the end of the year, they show you some statistics of your reading year. Like how many books and pages you have read. Whats you average in rating and some other fun stuff. And off course I’m going to show you how my reading year have been.

I’m pretty happy with it. I did read some really great books in 2018. I have started to be a lot more selective with which book I do read and feel I hit some real jackpots. But I also have read some not so great books. That’s just life I guess.

Here is some fun facts about my reading year 2018.

2018
avarageavarage2most ratedmost,least

2018reading
Number of physical books:
49
Number of e-books:
76
Number of audiobooks:
25

Top 5 favorite books:
Sweet Dreams by Kristen Ashley
A court of mist and fury by Sarah J Maas
From Lukov with love by Mariana Zapata
Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
Assassin’s code by Jonathan Maberry

Most memorable:
A court of thorns and roses by Sarah J Maas

Most emotional book:
Beartown by Fredrik Backman

Worst book hangover:
Dark lover – J.R Ward

Best cover design:
A glimmer of hope by Steve McHugh

Best first time author:
N0S4R2 – Joe Hill

Least favorite book:
Brilliance By Marcus Sakey

Biggest disappointment:
At Peace By Kristen Ashley

Everyday things

Top 5 Exciting 2019 releases

In 2019 there is a lot of sequels expected to be released. Many of these is series I have not read or yet been able to catch up in the order of already released books. But I did find some few I’m excited to read.

34020885The Seduction Expert by Saya Lopez Ortega
Still with no synopsis published on Goodread, I hear a lot of talk about this one. There is 160 ratings and 4.08 in average rating. This is clearly one book I need to read. According to some of the reviews I have read it is a funny, sexy and a great book to get over a book hangover with. Expected publication is May 27th 2019.

 

40097951.jpgThe Silent patient – Alex Michaelides
This dark thriller, mystery is marked as THE debut novel of 2019. There is a lot of talk about this suspense filled novel about an criminal psychotherapist working with the biggest case of his life. With 518 ratings and an average rating of 4.32 this is a book I do not want to miss. Expected publication is February 5th 2019.

 

acotar.JPG

Untitled ACOTAR book – Sarah J Maas.
It was first announced that the fourth book in the A Court of Thorns And Roses series was expected to be published in the late 2019. This has however been changed according to information on Goodreads. But it is still marked as expected to be released in 2019. So I list it anyway, because I can hardly wait for this one.

 

40597254.jpg

In her sights – Katie Ruggle.
Even though I wasn’t overly fan of Ruggles latest series and still have one book left to read, I’m excited about the release of this new series. I love her writing and I do hope this new series will be more my taste. Because I absolutely loved the first series she wrote so I know she can. Expected publication is March 26th 2019.

 

30315692.jpgBeard Necessities – Penny Reid
I have not yet read the fifth book in the series but since I have loved all the others, I can’t imagine that the fifth would for some reason make me not continue the series. This is the six book in the series about the Winston brother and focused on Billy. Finally! 🙂 Expected publication is October 7th 2019.

Monthly summary

November Summary

monthlysummery2

I’m not that happy with November. I worked so much that I didn’t have much time for reading. It mostly went in audiobooks and I did reread a couple of books for the reason that it was easy on my mind.

But it is starting to slowing down on work now and i’m exciting for the last exciting month of the year. And soon it is Christmas. Woho! :o)

Favorite book this month: A court of frost and Starlight by Sarah J Maas
Least favorite book this month: 
At peace by Kristen Ashley

Number of physical books:
4
Number of e-books:
 3
Number of audiobooks:
4
Total pages: 4521
Female authors: 8
Male authors: 4

85459Northern Lights – Nora Roberts
Settings: Alaska, USA Pages: 637 Published: 1991
Genres: Romantic, suspense, mystery, fiction, contemporary.
My rating: Reread – First time I gave 5/5
Links: Review
22016387Royal Assassin – Robin Hobb
Settings: The Realm of the Elderlings  Pages: 648 Published: 1996
Genres: Epic, High fantasy.
My rating: 4/5
Links: Review
Book 2 in The Farseer series.
31076583A court of frost and starlight – Sarah J Maas
Settings: Fantasy World Pages: 229 Published: 2018
Genres: Fantasy, young adult, romance.
My rating: 5/5
Links: Review
Book 3.1 in The A court of thorns and roses series.
25214258The Devil’s star – Jo Nesbo
Settings: Oslo, Norway Pages: 387 Published: 2003
Genres: Crime, mystery, thriller.
My rating: 4/5
Links: Review
Book 5 in The Harry Hole series.
38208505Lazarus – Lars Kepler
Settings: Stockholm, Sweden Pages: 543 Published: 2018
Genres: Crime, mystery, thriller.
My rating: 2/5
Links: Review
Book 7 in The Joona Linna series.
170448Animal farm – George Orwell
Settings:
 England Pages: 144 Published: 1945
Genres:
 Classic, fiction, fantasy, politics.
My rating:
 4/5
Links:
Review *Review at goodreads
11665750At Peace – Kristen Ashley
Settings:
 Brownsburg, Indiana, USA Pages: 660 Published: 2011
Genres:
 Contemporary, romance, suspense.
My rating:
 1/5
Links:
Review
Book 2 in 
The Burg series.
32355670.jpgStuffed – Jessica Gadziala
Settings: USA Pages: 123 Published: 2016
Genres: Contemporary, romance.
My rating: 4/5
Links: Review *Review at goodreads
31188235The Chemist – Stephenie Meyer
Settings: Washington DC / Texas, USA. Pages: 522 Published: 2016
Genres: Thriller, fiction, mystery, romance, suspense.
My rating: 5/5
Links: Review *first read review
This is a reread. Review is from the first time I read it.
16055994Monster – Micael Dahlén
Settings: All over the world Pages: 235 Published: 2011
Genres: Nonfiction, true crime.
My rating: 1/5
Links: Review
30315673Beard in mind – Penny Reid
Settings: Green Valley, Tennessee, USA Pages: 393 Published: 2017
Genres: Romance, contemporary, humor, funny.
My rating: 4/5
Links: Review
Book 4 in The Winston Brothers series.
Fantasy/Paranormal · Romance · Young, New adult/College

A court of frost and starlight – Sarah J. Maas

31076583| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: Hope warms the coldest night.

Feyre, Rhys, and their close-knit circle of friends are still busy rebuilding the Night Court and the vastly-changed world beyond. But Winter Solstice is finally near, and with it, a hard-earned reprieve.

Yet even the festive atmosphere can’t keep the shadows of the past from looming. As Feyre navigates her first Winter Solstice as High Lady, she finds that those dearest to her have more wounds than she anticipated–scars that will have far-reaching impact on the future of their Court.

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My thoughts: Can you love a couple of characters as much as I love Feyre and Rhysand? O my god how wonderful they are. This is the book about just after the war. Wounds need to heal and order need to be restored. It is powerful, wonderful, happy yet so sad that it breaks your heart. And it gives you a sneak peek on what will come in the future. Because yes, there will be more books in the Court of Thorns and Roses series and o my, I can hardly wait.

It is as good as you would expect. The writing is still the same and Maas is still the queen. I wouldn’t say that the book is especially exciting or anything like that. Not really that much happen, but it is a closure for the old and a beginning for something new. Perfect little middle book while you are waiting for the next one. Oh I hope it comes soon.

This is so far the best series I have read this year. Yes it is that good. All of the books. Two received five star and two received four star. Wish to read more? Her you have my other review.

A court of thorns and roses
A court of mist and fury
A court of wings and ruin

Fantasy/Paranormal · Romance · Young, New adult/College

A court of wings and ruin – Sarah J. Maas

23766634.jpg| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin’s maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit – and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well.

As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords – and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

In this thrilling third book in the #1 New York Times bestselling series from Sarah J. Maas, the earth will be painted red as mighty armies grapple for power over the one thing that could destroy them all.

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My thoughts: I have gone on a total Sarah J. Maas binge and did finish the third book last Friday. This was such a great series. I still have A court of frost and starlight to read and there is rumoured to be released at least 3 more books but I don’t have much more information than that to give. I do believe that the next books to come is about some of the biggest characters around the main ones, judging by how this one ended. And it did end in a satisfying way in my opinion.

I didn’t find it to be just as good as the second one and a little lower than the first one. Still a solid four in rating. I think it is the wars fault. The book is a lot darker in every aspect than the first two books and there was some long patches with not that much happening. The war was a huge and overwhelming plot which frustrated and didn’t quite make sense some of the times. The worst part was that after 300 + pages about the war, it was just boring. Well, at least until I had like 100 pages left of the book. Then the shit hit the fan and I constantly worried that it would end badly. But what a ride.

I really like Maas way or writing. It is easy on the eyes, simple to understand and doesn’t make a book on 700 pages seem long and overwhelming. However I do have to say that I did find her way of using the words this time somewhat repetitive. Like the words mate and dream kept being mentioned all the time. I actually read a review where a reader had counted how many times the word “mate” is mentioned in the book and if I do recall correctly it is over 200 times. I do agree that, that is to excessive use of the word. But other than that, the writing is as I’m now associates with a book by Maas.

To judge this book and this series in one way I would have to say that this is the best series I have read so far this year and would highly recommend for everyone who has not yet read it.

Fantasy/Paranormal · Romance · Young, New adult/College

A court of mist and fury – Sarah J. Maas

17927395.jpg| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

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My thoughts: Do not read this review if you not yet have read the first book because I don’t want to unintentionally ruin it for you. So this is a SPOILER ALERT. Read on by your own free will. I have warned you. 😉

I have no words! Oh I’m lying to you. I have so many words and feelings that it is a big chance this review is just a rant about how much I love this book. Love, love, love, loved IT. I don’t know what to say in order to express how stunning this series is. I’m starstruck and was sporting a major book hangover before I was even done and I just had to get my hands on the third book right away. I could not, was not, ready to leave the world of Prythian or its people like Feyre, Rhys and all the others. That the book ended on a major cliffhanger did not surprised me either.

This is in my opinion a work of art. The so small details in the first book made so much more sense in the second. It’s a beautiful way Maas has tied the books and story together. She has a talent with slowly changing the readers mind and thoughts about different subjects like for an example Tamlin, Rhysand, Lucien and the world of Prythian. You fall even harder in love and I admire Feyre. I connect with her and it is just a wonderful, heartbreaking and intense ride throughout the 600 pages. Not once did I feel the slowness of the story as I did in the first book.

I love the development, the magic, the love, fear, feelings and so much more that Maas has crammed in there. And hate! I feel so much hate towards some of the characters. They are hideous, mean and what I once thought is no longer the truth. It is so intense to follow that I even dream about it at night. I’m so high-strung that I should start meditate to be able to mentally tackle the third book. I feel so much that I’m ready to burst. Aren’t it a wonderful feeling? 🙂

Fantasy/Paranormal · Romance · Young, New adult/College

A court of thorns and roses – Sarah J. Maas

22839894.jpg| GOODREADS | MY RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥|

Goodreads synopsis: Feyre is a huntress.

She thinks nothing of slaughtering a wolf to capture its prey. But, like all mortals, she fears what lingers mercilessly beyond the forest. And she will learn that taking the life of a magical creature comes at a high price…

Imprisoned in an enchanted court in her enemy’s kingdom, Feyre is free to roam but forbidden to escape. Her captor’s body bears the scars of fighting, and his face is always masked – but his piercing stare draws her ever closer. As Feyre’s feeling for Tamlin begin to burn through every warning she’s been told about his kind, an ancient, wicked shadow grows.

Feyre must find a way to break a spell, or lose her heart forever.

Untitled

My thoughts: How am I supposed to review this one? This… this fantastic, unbelievable imaginative, angst riddled and intense product, written by a queen. A book who rips, ravages and breaks you into a million pieces before it reassembles you at the end. But you as a human will never be the same. It changes you and the view I once had are long gone and forgotten. I am and for ever will be a different person after this. That is how good it was, with such an impact that it even was hard to read on sometimes. I have heard that the second book is even worse, with more tears, more pain… just more of everything. And I can’t wait to read it.

A court of thorns and roses or ACOTAR, was a major hype a few years back. Everyone I knew and followed on YouTube, Instagram and in the groups on Facebook could not stop talking about it. The synopsis never intrigued me back then and even when I started it, I was still a bit skeptical. I often have problems with YA and often find YA Fantasy to be overrated and without any real depth and almost always has that stupid love triangle drama that I hate with every fiber of my body.

So why did I read it? Well I just wanted something new and unpredictable and I wanted it directly. Meaning, I didn’t want to order online and wait several days for it to arrive and I didn’t want a e-book either. I wanted something real. This one was the only book my local bookstore had on English that remotely interested me. And I’m so glad that I bought it.

The only (two) problem I have with the book is the pace. It was to slow but still had that simmering feeling that something will soon happen, then it didn’t and it drove me nuts. And some things was not explained enough. I do not read that much fantasy and would have liked a little more explanation on some things. But other than that, I’m happy.