I have noticed that I do a fair bit of complaining. That sometimes, I’ll get so upset that that’s all I’ll talk about are things that don’t feel good to me. I want to see if by challenging myself to be more positive and to not being a focus on something discomforting that I’ll be able to more often discuss and focus on the things that do feel good.
I want to see how my life changes if anything at all changes in the next 30 days. Just keeping in mind in each moment to focus on what’s good about a situation. To ease the way I converse with others. I’m curious about how my relationships will change too. If things will become more playful or just feel better in general.
It’ll be an interesting experiment. So from now on to March 20th I will not complain. And if I do a little at least I’ll make a conscious effort to stop and change the way I’m talking about whatever I’m talking about in a more positive way.
I’ll track how my day went over the next 30 days and how things feel. Name the good things. Talk about if I slipped up or if I’m doing particularly well about it. It’ll be a good challenge for my mental health.
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!
As a part of Team Poseidon I will be completing the following reading challenges in the month of June!
Mandatory Challenges
Read a book set at sea or on a coast: Replica by Lauren Oliver
“Lyra’s story begins in the Haven Institute, a building tucked away on a private island off the coast of Florida that from a distance looks serene and even beautiful. But up close the locked doors, military guards, and biohazard suits tell a different story. In truth, Haven is a clandestine research facility where thousands of replicas, or human models, are born, raised, and observed. When a surprise attack is launched on Haven, two of its young experimental subjects—Lyra, or 24, and the boy known only as 72—manage to escape.
Gemma has been in and out of hospitals for as long as she can remember. A lonely teen, her life is circumscribed by home, school, and her best friend, April. But after she is nearly abducted by a stranger claiming to know her, Gemma starts to investigate her family’s past and discovers her father’s mysterious connection to the secretive Haven research facility. Hungry for answers, she travels to Florida, only to stumble upon two replicas and a completely new set of questions.
While the stories of Lyra and Gemma mirror each other, each contains breathtaking revelations critically important to the other story. Turn the book one way and read Lyra’s story; turn the book over and upside down and read Gemma’s story. The two distinct parts of this novel combine to produce an unforgettable experience for its two young heroines—and its reader.”
Never knew this book took place off the coast of Florida on an island. Made this the perfect fit for this challenge and I’m so excited to read this!
A main character that uses a sword: Flame in the Mist by Renée Ahdieh
“The daughter of a prominent samurai, Mariko has long known her place—she may be an accomplished alchemist, whose cunning rivals that of her brother Kenshin, but because she is not a boy, her future has always been out of her hands. At just seventeen years old, Mariko is promised to Minamoto Raiden, the son of the emperor’s favorite consort—a political marriage that will elevate her family’s standing. But en route to the imperial city of Inako, Mariko narrowly escapes a bloody ambush by a dangerous gang of bandits known as the Black Clan, who she learns has been hired to kill her before she reaches the palace. Dressed as a peasant boy, Mariko sets out to infiltrate the Black Clan and track down those responsible for the target on her back. Once she’s within their ranks, though, Mariko finds for the first time she’s appreciated for her intellect and abilities. She even finds herself falling in love—a love that will force her to question everything she’s ever known about her family, her purpose, and her deepest desires.”
I’m pretty sure the main character uses a sword in this book if I’m wrong please correct me.. otherwise I’ll have to re-read Graceling..but I’m pretty sure there is sword use in this book. I’m hoping this is a good fit
Non-human main character: The Lost City by Amanda Hocking
“The storm and the orphan
Twenty years ago, a woman sought safety from the spinning ice and darkness that descended upon a small village. She was given shelter for the night by the local innkeepers but in the morning, she disappeared―leaving behind an infant. Now nineteen, Ulla Tulin is ready to find who abandoned her as a baby or why.
The institution and the quest
Ulla knows the answers to her identity and heritage may be found at the Mimirin where scholars dedicate themselves to chronicling troll history. Granted an internship translating old documents, Ulla starts researching her own family lineage with help from her handsome and charming colleague Pan Soriano.
The runaway and the mystery
But then Ulla meets Eliana, a young girl who no memory of who she is but who possesses otherworldly abilities. When Eliana is pursued and captured by bounty hunters, Ulla and Pan find themselves wrapped up in a dangerous game where folklore and myth become very real and very deadly―but one that could lead Ulla to the answers she’s been looking for.”
I’m pretty sure the main character is a troll/fae the whole thing is about finding her heritage and the magic me thinks means she’s troll. I’m basing this on the description.
Trident finish a book in exactly 3 days: What Unbreakable Looks Like by Kate McLaughlin June 16th
“Lex was taken–trafficked–and now she’s Poppy. Kept in a hotel with other girls, her old life is a distant memory. But when the girls are rescued, she doesn’t quite know how to be Lex again.
After she moves in with her aunt and uncle, for the first time in a long time, she knows what it is to feel truly safe. Except, she doesn’t trust it. Doesn’t trust her new home. Doesn’t trust her new friend. Doesn’t trust her new life. Instead she trusts what she shouldn’t because that’s what feels right. She doesn’t deserve good things.
But when she is sexually assaulted by her so-called boyfriend and his friends, Lex is forced to reckon with what happened to her and that just because she is used to it, doesn’t mean it is okay. She’s thrust into the limelight and realizes she has the power to help others. But first she’ll have to confront the monsters of her past with the help of her family, friends, and a new love.
Kate McLaughlin’s What Unbreakable Looks Like is a gritty, ultimately hopeful novel about human trafficking through the lens of a girl who has escaped the life and learned to trust, not only others, but in herself.”
I am on the blog tour for this novel so I’m going to get it read first and do it in the three days so I’m prepared to write my post about it and have it up on the 16th. This will be a hard novel to read. The topic is a difficult one, but a necessary one I think. I’ll divide it up evenly for the three days.
Read a book you haven’t heard much about before: Glass Town Wars by Celia Rees
“
A new novel by the bestselling author of Witch Child: an adventure story drawing on the early writings of the Brontë children
All these Glass Town intrigues. No matter how long you’d been absent, how far you’d travelled, once you were back, it was as though you had never been away.
Tom and Augusta are from different places and different times, but they meet in a virtual world to combine forces in battle, to save a kingdom, escape a web of deceit and find love. In a place where fictions can be truths and truths fictions, learning who to trust is about more than friendship, it is about survival.
Glass Town Wars, inspired by the early writing of the Brontës, is a captivating, magical novel by the renowned Celia Rees.”
It’s safe to say I hadn’t heard a peep about this book before I saw the cover on Netgalley and requested it. I’ve not seen anyone talk about this book. Nothing. I was intrigued by its cover and so that’s why I requested it. I’ll be excited to discover what awaits inside.
Advanced challenges (can only be begun after the mandatory challenges)
A Book Featuring a character you would not get along with: Little Creeping Things by Chelsea Ichaso
“A compulsively readable debut with a narrator you just can’t trust, perfect for fans of Natasha Preston.
As a child, Cassidy Pratt accidentally started a fire that killed her neighbor. At least, that’s what she’s been told. She can’t remember anything from that day. She’s pretty sure she didn’t mean to do it. She’s a victim too. But her town’s bullies, particularly the cruel and beautiful Melody Davenport, have never let her live it down. In Melody’s eyes, Cassidy is a murderer and always will be.
When Cassidy overhears what sounded like an abduction and Melody goes missing, Cassidy knows she should go to the cops, but… She recently joked about how much she’d like to get rid of Melody. She even planned out the perfect way to do it. It’s up to Cassidy to figure out what really happened, because if she comes forward without a suspect, she knows people will point fingers at her. Again. And she can’t let that happen.
But the truth behind Melody’s disappearance will set the whole town ablaze.”
I don’t know if I’d get along with someone who jokes about and plans on how to get rid of someone else. In fact I’d probably not get along with them much at all.
A book shorter than 200 pages: The Stranger by Albert Camus
“Through the story of an ordinary man unwittingly drawn into a senseless murder on an Algerian beach, Camus explored what he termed “the nakedness of man faced with the absurd.””
I was looking for a book to read under 200 pages and found this book. I don’t own really any books that are less then this so finding this classic was awesome. I’d never heard of it before and I’m super intrigued by it.
A book published in the last 5 years: The Orchid Throne by Jeffe Kennedy
“In the Forgotten Empires magic is forbidden, dreams are destiny, and love is the greatest power of all…
A PRISONER OF FATE As Queen of the island kingdom of Calanthe, Lia will do anything to keep her people free―and her secrets safe―from the mad tyrant who rules the mainland. Guided by a magic ring of her father’s, Lia plays the political game with the cronies the emperor sends to her island. In her heart, she knows that it’s up to her to save herself from her fate as the emperor’s bride. But in her dreams, she sees a man, one with the power to build a better world―a man whose spirit is as strong, and whose passion is as fierce as her own…
A PRINCE AMONG MEN Conrí, former Crown Prince of Oriel, has built an army to overthrow the emperor. But he needs the fabled Abiding Ring to succeed. The ring that Lia holds so dear to her heart. When the two banished rulers meet face to face, neither can deny the flames of rebellion that flicker in their eyes―nor the fires of desire that draw them together. But in this broken world of shattered kingdoms, can they ever really trust each other? Can their fiery alliance defeat the shadows of evil that threaten to engulf their hearts and souls?”
Published September 24th, 2019 this book like a majority of the books on this list is published within the last 5 years.
A book featuring magical creatures: The Emporer’s Blades by Brian Staveley
“In The Emperor’s Blades by Brian Staveley, the emperor of Annur is dead, slain by enemies unknown. His daughter and two sons, scattered across the world, do what they must to stay alive and unmask the assassins. But each of them also has a life-path on which their father set them, destinies entangled with both ancient enemies and inscrutable gods.
Kaden, the heir to the Unhewn Throne, has spent eight years sequestered in a remote mountain monastery, learning the enigmatic discipline of monks devoted to the Blank God. Their rituals hold the key to an ancient power he must master before it’s too late.
An ocean away, Valyn endures the brutal training of the Kettral, elite soldiers who fly into battle on gigantic black hawks. But before he can set out to save Kaden, Valyn must survive one horrific final test.
At the heart of the empire, Minister Adare, elevated to her station by one of the emperor’s final acts, is determined to prove herself to her people. But Adare also believes she knows who murdered her father, and she will stop at nothing―and risk everything―to see that justice is meted out.”
I think by the cover alone you can tell there is magic creatures in this book. I mean giant flying hawks sound pretty darn magical to me.
A book with a blue cover: Witchmark by C.L. Polk
“In an original world reminiscent of Edwardian England in the shadow of a World War, cabals of noble families use their unique magical gifts to control the fates of nations, while one young man seeks only to live a life of his own.
Magic marked Miles Singer for suffering the day he was born, doomed either to be enslaved to his family’s interest or to be committed to a witches’ asylum. He went to war to escape his destiny and came home a different man, but he couldn’t leave his past behind. The war between Aeland and Laneer leaves men changed, strangers to their friends and family, but even after faking his own death and reinventing himself as a doctor at a cash-strapped veterans’ hospital, Miles can’t hide what he truly is.
When a fatally poisoned patient exposes Miles’ healing gift and his witchmark, he must put his anonymity and freedom at risk to investigate his patient’s murder. To find the truth he’ll need to rely on the family he despises, and on the kindness of the most gorgeous man he’s ever seen.”
This cover is a gorgeous blue and inside it is a highly praised novel I can’t wait to read!
The next book in a series: The Morning Flower by Amanda Hocking
I’m not going to put the about on this one cause it’s book 2 to The Lost City. I thought it’d be perfect to read for this cause I’m reading the first book in my mandatory challenges.
One of your most anticipated books: The Unstoppable Wasp by Sam Maggs
Ahhhhhhhhh! Ever since I learned of Sam Maggs existence I have stanned her hard. I haven’t read anything from her yet, but I got approved for this on Netgalley and I’m Soooooo excited!!!!! Literally going to finished all the mandatory challenges as fast as possible for the sake of reading this book!
That is all the books! I’m so excited about this read-a-thon and I can’t wait to share my opinions on all these books with all of you!!!
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!
I asked this question to myself the other day and got started on it. I was curious? What would it do to my blog if I posted everyday? What would my stats end up looking like? Would it help me to do so. In some of my darker moments blogging and writing out what was going on and how I was feeling helped me to feel sane. It grounded me and gave me something to focus on that was good.
This community has been the kindest most welcoming and powerful communities I’ve ever been a part of. It became more then about writing about books and sharing that passion. It became a place where I could be myself and say what was on my mind regardless of the day. If I needed to talk about something I could here and that’s one of my favorite parts of blogging.
So I wonder, if starting today I blogged every single day for a year, how would it change me? What would change for me because of it? What relationships would I build and what people would I get to know through doing this? How much would I get to discuss? What stories would I get to share? In what ways would I challenge myself?
That is my motivation for wanting to try. Ultimately, I know I could. I could see myself sitting down and writing a blog post every single day. So that’s what I’m going to do. To all of you reading. Thank you for coming on this journey with me. It’ll be a hell of a ride!
THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!
It’s time for another episode of The ABC Challenge! This time it’s the Letter “U”.
On to the books!
Memorable Books that Start with the Letter “U”:
Use the Force: a Jedi’s guide to the Law of Attraction
This book randomly came into my life and sense then I have read and learned a lot about the law of attraction. I’m still new to it, but sometimes it surprises me how well it can work.
Unhinged
This is my favorite cover of the Splintered series because Morpheus is my fav and he is absolutely gorgeous! He looks somewhat like an Elvis with long hair and I adore the circus vibes! I never have enough praise for the Splintered series!
Books I would Love to Read Starting with the Letter “U”:
Unpresidented by Martha Brockenbrough
“A riveting, meticulously researched, and provocative biography of Donald J. Trump from the author of Alexander Hamilton, Revolutionary.
Born into a family of privilege and wealth, he was sent to military school at the age of 13. After an unremarkable academic career, he joined the family business in real estate and built his fortune. His personal brand: sex, money and power. From no-holds-barred reality TV star to unlikely candidate, Donald J. Trump rose to the highest political office: President of the United States of America.
Learn fascinating details about his personal history, including:
-Why Trump’s grandfather left Germany and immigrated to America
-Why Woodie Guthrie wrote a song criticizing Trump’s father
-How Trump’s romance with Ivana began―and ended
-When Trump first declared his interest in running for President
Discover the incredible true story of America’s 45th President: his questionable political and personal conduct, and his unprecedented rise to power.
Richly informed by original research and illustrated throughout with photographs and documents, Unpresidented is a gripping and important read.”
I follow the woman that wrote this on Twitter and the research she put into this book is incredible. It is the only book on Trump I am interested in. I despise him. However, from what she’s said the history of his life and how he got to presidency is in a way fascinating. Plus, I love that it’s from a woman’s perspective.
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
“Fighting to survive in a ravaged world, a Dweller and a Savage form an unlikely alliance in New York Times bestselling author Veronica Rossi’s “unforgettable dystopian masterpiece” (Examiner.com).
Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—known as The Death Shop—are slim. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild—a savage—and her only hope of staying alive. A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile—everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria’s help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption.
In alternating chapters told in Aria’s and Perry’s voices, Under the Never Sky subtly and powerfully captures the evolving relationship between these characters and sweeps readers away to a harsh but often beautiful world. Continuing with Through the Ever Night and concluding with Into the Still Blue, the Under the Never Sky trilogy has already been embraced by readers in twenty-six countries and been optioned for film by Warner Bros.”
Fun dystopian Sci-fi with romance! Couldn’t ask for more.
Thank you all for reading! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below!
The ABC Book Challenge continues with the letter “N”. I’m still going strong with this and honestly after so much time has past, I’m really proud. After this there are 12 more posts and possibly 2 bonuses that I’ve thought about since I first decided to take on this challenge. But, that’s for the future. On to the books!
Memorable Books that Start with the Letter “N”:
Night World
The Night World Series is one of my favorites from the start of my reading career. One day I will own this version of these books, but for now I am happy to own the older versions I used to own many years ago.
New Moon
Another old book that was actually the reason I started getting into reading. I no longer own any of the Twilight saga, but I will never forget the books that brought me into the world of reading.
Books I’d love to read Stating with the Letter “N”:
Nocturna
“To Finn Voy, magic is two things: a knife to hold under the chin of anyone who crosses her…and a disguise she shrugs on as easily as others pull on cloaks.
As a talented faceshifter, it’s been years since Finn has seen her own face, and that’s exactly how she likes it. But when Finn gets caught by a powerful mobster, she’s forced into an impossible mission: steal a legendary treasure from Castallan’s royal palace or be stripped of her magic forever.
After the murder of his older brother, Prince Alfehr is first in line for the Castallan throne. But Alfie can’t help but feel that he will never live up to his brother’s legacy. Riddled with grief, Alfie is obsessed with finding a way to bring his brother back, even if it means dabbling in forbidden magic.
But when Finn and Alfie’s fates collide, they accidentally unlock a terrible, ancient power—which, if not contained, will devour the world. And with Castallan’s fate in their hands, Alfie and Finn must race to vanquish what they have unleashed, even if it means facing the deepest darkness in their pasts.”
I’m in this for the cover. It’s completely gorgeous. The fact that this is an own voices novel is a plus.
Never-Contented Things
“Prince and his fairy courtiers are staggeringly beautiful, unrelentingly cruel, and exhausted by the tedium of the centuries—until they meet foster-siblings Josh and Ksenia. Drawn in by their vivid emotions, undying love for each other, and passion for life, Prince will stop at nothing to possess them.
First seduced and then entrapped by the fairies, Josh and Ksenia learn that the fairies’ otherworldly gifts come at a terrible price—and they must risk everything in order to reclaim their freedom.”
Again here for the cover.. it’s so creepy cool! Seems like people either love or hate this book, but I’m in it for the gamble.
Thanks for reading! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below.
I haven’t done this challenge in AGES! However, I promised I would see this through to the end and I keep my promises. So this challenge is back and we are continuing on with the letter “K”.
Memorable Books that Start with the Letter “K”:
Honestly, this is the first time I cannot find any books I’ve read that fit starting with the letter “k” just strictly with the letter “k” and that are also memorable. I’d read one book way back when called Kissed by an Angel and I didn’t even like it. So as far as this goes. This is my first failure. In my defense the letter K is kinda hard to come by as the very first letter in a title. I just haven’t read any good books with this letter.
Books I’d love to read starting with the letter “K”:
Kingdom of Ash
I’m not using the description here, because I don’t want any spoilers. However, this book is one I definitely want to read and badly! I’ve really enjoyed the Throne of Glass series and this book sounds like it’s going to be no exception.
Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix
I own Forest of a Thousand Lanterns and I can’t wait to read it! I know I’m going to love both books in this series! Again I’m not including the description as this is a second book and I haven’t read either yet.
Thanks for reading! This was short, but took me forever to do, because I didn’t expect not having read a memorable book starting with “K”. It was pretty shocking. Have you read a memorable book starting with “K”? Let me know down in the comments below!
You know I’m back from my sort of hiatus when this challenge comes out for a swing. It’s back to the regularly scheduled programming. Welcome back to the ABC Book Challenge!
Memorable Books that Start with the Letter “J”:
Jane Eyre
“Fiery love, shocking twists of fate, and tragic mysteries put a lonely governess in jeopardy in JANE EYRE
Orphaned as a child, Jane has felt an outcast her whole young life. Her courage is tested once again when she arrives at Thornfield Hall, where she has been hired by the brooding, proud Edward Rochester to care for his ward Adèle. Jane finds herself drawn to his troubled yet kind spirit. She falls in love. Hard.
But there is a terrifying secret inside the gloomy, forbidding Thornfield Hall. Is Rochester hiding from Jane? Will Jane be left heartbroken and exiled once again?”
One of my all time favorite classics Jane Eyre of course is one of the most memorable reads of my life. I read it as an audiobook and it is the only audiobook I’ve ever read.. and it was so good! I love everything about Jane Eyre!
Just One of the Boys
“Alice Bell has one goal: to play for the elite junior hockey team the Chicago Falcons. But when she’s passed over at tryouts for being a girl, she’ll do anything to make her dream a reality…even disguising herself as her twin brother. With her amazing skills on the ice, Alice is sure she’ll fit in easily. That is, until she starts falling for one of her teammates…
Hayden Tremblay, star of the Falcons, can’t keep himself out of the penalty box. Constantly living in the shadow of his older brother, Hayden’s losing his passion for hockey. But when he gets shown up on the ice by the Falcons’ new rookie, Hayden’s determined to teach the kid a thing or two. Little does he guess that “Al’s” surprises on the ice are just the beginning…”
This book made my heart all fuzzy and warm. I read it because I think I’ve always wanted that romance on the ice (one of the places where I’ve felt the most free and beautiful). I’ve always loved figure skating romance movies and the girl who skated who skated for almost 5 years sometimes wishes she could go back and feel that kind of freedom again.
Books on my TBR that Start with the Letter “J”:
Jane Steele
“Reader, I murdered him.
A Gothic retelling of Jane Eyre.
Like the heroine of the novel she adores, Jane Steele suffers cruelly at the hands of her aunt and schoolmaster. And like Jane Eyre, they call her wicked – but in her case, she fears the accusation is true. When she flees, she leaves behind the corpses of her tormentors.
A fugitive navigating London’s underbelly, Jane rights wrongs on behalf of the have-nots whilst avoiding the noose. Until an advertisement catches her eye. Her aunt has died and the new master at Highgate House, Mr Thornfield, seeks a governess. Anxious to know if she is Highgate’s true heir, Jane takes the position and is soon caught up in the household’s strange spell. When she falls in love with the mysterious Charles Thornfield, she faces a terrible dilemma: can she possess him – body, soul and secrets – and what if he discovers her murderous past?”
Well, well, well, if it isn’t a rendition of my most memorable read with the letter “J”. A really awesome one that I’m really mad that I own and haven’t read yet. Plus it has one of the most awesome covers ever!
Jane
“Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, a world-famous rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance.
But there’s a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane’s much-envied relationship with Nico is soon tested by an agonizing secret from his past. Torn between her feelings for Nico and his fateful secret, Jane must decide: Does being true to herself mean giving up on true love?
An irresistible romance interwoven with a darkly engrossing mystery, this contemporary retelling of the beloved classic Jane Eyre promises to enchant a new generation of readers.”
Ohh.. wow. Could this be another Jane Eyre retelling that I own and haven’t read yet? Why yes indeed! Can you all see my problem? I need help. I also need more Jane Eyre retellings to add to my collection cough cough *brightly burning* cough. I swear I’m going to read the two I have. I swear it!
Thanks for reading! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below. Let me know if your doing this challenge and if so what letter you are on? I don’t know why I love this challenge so much, but I do!
Another day, another post of this challenge! We are into the letter “I” now. Let’s see what books this letter brings!
Memorable Books that Start with the Letter “I”
Impulse
“Sometimes you don’t wake up. But if you happen to, you know things will never be the same.
Three lives, three different paths to the same destination: Aspen Springs, a psychiatric hospital for those who have attempted the ultimate act—suicide.
Vanessa is beautiful and smart, but her secrets keep her answering the call of the blade.
Tony, after suffering a painful childhood, can only find peace through pills.
And Conner, outwardly, has the perfect life. But dig a little deeper and find a boy who is in constant battle with his parents, his life, himself.
In one instant each of these young people decided enough was enough. They grabbed the blade, the bottle, the gun—and tried to end it all. Now they have a second chance, and just maybe, with each other’s help, they can find their way to a better life—but only if they’re strong and can fight the demons that brought them here in the first place.”
This book as I have mentioned somewhere on my blog before is a hard book to read emotionally. I read this book at a perfect time where my mental health wasn’t so vulnerable and I felt some sort of strength. It’s weird to think I always said this when I read this long before I knew that I had depression. I knew that a different time this would have triggered some dark thoughts. So I always advise care when reading this.
Illuminae
“This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.
The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.
But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it’s clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.
BRIEFING NOTE: Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes”
What a brilliant novel this is!!! I loved the sarcasm, the adventure, the everything!!! I need to get my hands on a copy of Gemina!!
Books on my TBR that start with the Letter “I”:
Ink
“On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.
Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they’ll both be targets.
Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.”
I’ve had this book on my shelves for a while now. I’ve always had a love for Japan and Japanese culture and reading a book set in that place would make me very happy.
I Have Lost my Way
“A powerful display of empathy and friendship from the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of If I Stay. Around the time that Freya loses her voice while recording her debut album, Harun is making plans to run away from home to find the boy that he loves, and Nathaniel is arriving in New York City after a family tragedy leaves him isolated on the outskirts of Washington state. After the three of them collide in Central Park, they slowly reveal the parts of their past that they haven’t been able to confront, and together, they find their way back to who they’re supposed to be. Told over the course of a single day from three different perspectives, Gayle Forman’s newest novel about the power of friendship and being true to who you are is filled with the elegant prose that her fans have come to know and love.”
I read an excerpt of this and was sent an arc that I still haven’t gotten too *yikes*. However, what I have read of this is absolutely breathtaking. I know that this is going to be a 5 star read based off of one chapter. I can’t wait to free my Netgalley tbr and read this!
Thanks for reading! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below. What books starting with the Letter “I” do you love?
Don’t think I forgot about this.. it’s time to keep this train going!
Memorable Books that Start with the Letter “H”:
Heir of Fire
Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak―but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth . . . a truth about her heritage that could change her life―and her future―forever. Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons, but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?
The bestselling series that has captured readers all over the world reaches new heights in this sequel to the New York Times best-selling Crown of Midnight. Packed with heart-pounding action, fierce new characters, and swoon-worthy romance, this third book will enthrall readers from start to finish.
This isn’t my favorite book in the TOG series, but I did enjoy it. It was set up a lot of the great events in the future. It’s a great novel!
Hunting Prince Dracula
In this New York Times bestselling sequel to Kerri Maniscalco’s haunting #1 debut Stalking Jack the Ripper, bizarre murders are discovered in the castle of Prince Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Dracula. Could it be a copycat killer…or has the depraved prince been brought back to life?
Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper’s true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe’s best schools of forensic medicine…and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.
But her life’s dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school’s forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.
I love this book! The Stalking Jack the Ripper series is one of my favorites and I can’t recommend it enough! This was a lovely sequel.
Books I Would Love to Read Beginning with “H”:
Hidden Pieces
Embry Woods has secrets. Small ones about her past. Bigger ones about her relationship with town hero Luke and her feelings for someone new. But the biggest secret she carries with her is about what happened that night at the Sea Cliff Inn. The fire. The homeless guy. Everyone thinks Embry is a hero, too, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Embry thinks she’ll have to take the secret to her grave, until she receives an anonymous note—someone else knows the truth. Next comes a series of threatening messages, asking Embry to make impossible choices, forcing her to put her loved ones at risk. Someone is playing a high stakes game where no one in Embry’s life is safe. And their last move…is murder.
I always need a good thriller in my life. I can’t believe it took me so long to get into this genre, but I adore it now!
Hole in the Middle
Morgan Stone was born with a hole in her middle: a perfectly smooth, sealed, fist-sized chunk of nothing near her belly button. After seventeen years of hiding behind lumpy sweaters and a smart mouth, she’s fed up with keeping her secret. On the dance floor one night, she decides to bare all.
At first she feels liberated . . . until a few online photos snowball into a media frenzy. Now Morgan is desperate to return to her own strange version of normal—when only her doctors, her divorced parents, and her best friend, Caro, knew the truth. But tragically Morgan’s newfound openness and Internet celebrity seem to push those closest to her further and further away.
Then a new doctor appears with a boy who may be both Morgan’s cure and her destiny. What happens when you meet the person who is—literally—your perfect match? Is being whole really all it’s cracked up to be?
I love magical realism and this sounds like that to me. It’s weird and strange, but if it was reality what would happen?? Those are the questions that this genre answers and I am all for it!!
Thanks for reading! Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below. I would love to hear if you are also participating in this challenge. I missed creating these posts!
I know it’s been a while, but don’t think I forgot about this incredibly fun challenge! Let’s see what I can come up with for the letter “G”.
Memorable Books that Start with the Letter “G”:
Graceling
Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.
She never expects to fall in love with beautiful Prince Po.
She never expects to learn the truth behind her Grace—or the terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.
With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.
Graceling is the book that started my love for Kristin Cashore and all of her works. If there ever was a riveting fantasy that literally stole your breath it is this book. I’m so very deeply in love with it.
Gilded Cage
In modern-day Britain, magic users control everything: wealth, politics, power—and you. If you’re not one of the ultimate one-percenters—the magical elite—you owe them ten years of service. Do those years when you’re old, and you’ll never get through them. Do them young, and you’ll never get over them.
This is the darkly decadent world of Gilded Cage. In its glittering milieu move the all-powerful Jardines and the everyday Hadleys. The families have only one thing in common: Each has three children. But their destinies entwine when one family enters the service of the other. They will all discover whether any magic is more powerful than the human spirit.
Have a quick ten years. . .
I have always loved the concept for this book. When I read it I truly enjoyed all the political nuance and plot. It’s a great book for sure!
Books I would love to read starting with the letter “G”:
Given to the Sea
Everyone has a place.
Khosa was born to be fed to the sea, to prevent the kind of wave that once destroyed the Kingdom of Stille. She can’t be sacrificed until she produces an heir, but human touch repulses her…except for the touch of the Indiri.
Dara and Donil are the last of the Indiri, a native race with magic that’s seductive—a force of nature—but dwindling since the Pietra slaughtered their people.
Witt leads the Pietra, the fierce warriors who are now marching on the Kingdom of Stille. The stone shores of Witt’s kingdom harbor a secret threat, and to ensure the survival of his people, he’s prepared to conquer every speck of Stille’s soil.
Vincent stands to inherit the throne of Stille, but has no wife to share it with. When the beautiful and mysterious Khosa arrives without an heir, Vincent knows that his father will stop at nothing to make sure she fulfills her duty. Torn between protecting his kingdom and protecting the girl whose fate is tied to its very existence, Vincent’s loyalty is soon at odds with his heart.
While royals scheme, Pietrans march, and the Indiri struggle to survive, the rising sea calls for its Given, and Khosa is destined to answer.
Give me a book centered around the sea and I’m happy. I’ve been wanting to read this gem for a good while now!
Gemina
Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.
The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.
Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.
When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.
But relax. They’ve totally got this. They hope.
I Loved Illuminae and all I want is the second book so I can deep dive into the saga once more. I just know I will love it!
Thanks for reading! What “G” letter books have you read and loved or want to read? Have you joined on the ABC book challenge?
The Book Raven 