Tag: fantasy

Top Ten Tuesday | Books I Meant to Read in 2023 but Didn’t Get To

Posted January 22, 2024 by Haze in Top Ten Tuesday, Weekly Book Memes / 58 Comments

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl that features a different bookish topic every week.

Today’s topic is Books I Meant to Read in 2023 but Didn’t Get To

Oh, the shame!

Not only are there so many books that I meant to read in 2023 but didn’t, some of them go so far back on my TBR list, I don’t even remember what they’re about or if I still want to read them! These are just the few that I most want to read, and I really hope I get to them some time this year!

Top Ten Books I Meant to Read in 2023 but Didn’t Get To

Top-Bottom, Left-Right:

  1. The Rook by Daniel O’Malley – Well, the whole Checquy series, actually. This is the first book in the series, and I’ve read it a while ago. I meant to reread this and then the rest of the series in 2022, but I didn’t, and then I meant to read it in 2023, but didn’t. The good news is, I got the audiobook last week and have started reading it, finally! So hopefully I’ll actually finish the series this year.
  2. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir – I keep meaning to read this and the rest of the series too, but this one isn’t my fault. It took a long time to get to me on the waitlist, and I had other books in the queue as well, and didn’t manage to get to it before I had to return it again for the next reader. Let’s hope the timing works out for this year!
  3. Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer – And yet another series I meant to read. I hear great things about it, I just haven’t gotten around to it.
  4. The Glass Chateau by Stephen P. Kiernan – This is one of my favorite authors and I’ve read all his other books. I was so excited when this book came out last year, and I meant to read it, but I took it for granted and before I knew it, the year ended and it’s still unread!
  5. The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang – I loved the first book in this series, and I have this and the next book on my high priority list. The first book was good but a little heavy, and I’m afraid the next books will be too, so I’m procrastinating a bit.
  6. Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller – By all accounts, I think I’d love this book and I keep meaning to read it but I just haven’t picked it up yet.
  7. Between Us by Mhairi McFarlane – I’m not too ashamed of this one because it’s relatively new, but I originally planned to read it as soon as it came out, so I hope I get to it this year.
  8. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster – I’ve had this on my physical bookshelf for a couple of years and I keep meaning to read it. It was supposed to be one of the first books I meant to read this year too, but I haven’t gotten to it yet.
  9. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon – I won’t lie, I’m a bit intimidated by the size, but then again I do love big books. I’m not in a hurry to read this, but I do want to try to get to it before the end of 2024.
  10. Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder – This series has been on my TBR for years and years and years. I hope to at least read the first book this year!

Did you read any of these books? What did you think of them? Are they worth still keeping on my TBR for 2024?

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Book Review | Light Bringer by Pierce Brown

Posted January 15, 2024 by Haze in Book Reviews / 1 Comment

Light Bringer by Pierce Brown

Darrow returns as Pierce Brown’s New York Times bestselling Red Rising series continues in the thrilling sequel to Dark Age.

The measure of a man is not the fear he sows in his enemies. It is the hope he gives his friends.”—Virginia au Augustus

The Reaper is a legend, more myth than man: the savior of worlds, the leader of the Rising, the breaker of chains.

But the Reaper is also Darrow, born of the red soil of Mars: a husband, a father, a friend.

The worlds once needed the Reaper. But now they need Darrow. Because after the dark age will come a new age: of light, of victory, of hope.


For the Reading Challenge(s):
2024 52 Book Club Reading Challenge (Prompt #7: At least four different POVs)
2024 Finishing the Series Challenge
2024 Audiobook Challenge
2024 Library Love Challenge


The Reason

It’s the sixth book in the Red Rising series, and I spent the last year and a half reading (and rereading) the first five books.

The Quotes

“I’m not really blessed at keeping friends. But you are. I truly respect that. I know how special your friends are to you, how protective you are of them. And it means…quite a bit to me that you’ve invited me into your pack and made me feel welcome. No…it means everything, really. Without this, without your friends, I’m very much alone.”

“Forgetting is essential to learning, just as exhaling is essential to breathing. Breathe out, then in. Find the self, then lose it once again. Thus, the path goes ever onward.”

“The point of war is not to kill your enemies, but to come to an acceptable peace while losing as few people as possible.”

“If a man cannot learn from his mistakes, then what hope is there but to kill us all at first sin?”

The Characters

There are a lot of notable characters in this series, and in this book, but I’ll focus on the ones that stand out to me and that I feel were most important to this book.

Darrow – the main protagonist, the Reaper, the leader, and the one everyone rallies around. Totally flawed character and makes a lot of mistakes and enemies, but I love him.

Sevro – Darrow’s best friend and right hand man. I love him, and I hate it when Sevro and Darrow are apart or at odds.

Cassius – I was ambivalent about him, but I’ve grown to love him in this book.

Lysander – one of the antagonists. Cassius mentored and raised him a bit, but their values don’t align.

Fa – another antagonist. Fierce and scary, but a great antagonist and such a great part of the story.

My Thoughts

I have journeyed long with the characters in this series, and I have fallen in love with so many of them. I know their stories, I know the things they went through to get where they are now. From the 4th book onward, there had been no rest, no peace for the good guys. Everything seemed to be going against them and the stakes just kept getting higher. In this book, it was more of the same. I think maybe in the first three books, everything seemed to go well for them to the point of being unrealistic maybe? But these last three books, it’s like everything kept going wrong and I felt so frustrated for them. There were some wins, and some very strong scenes in the later part of the book, and I loved them because we really needed the wins. But there is still a 7th book and we don’t have a proper resolution yet. My beloved characters are far from safe, and I am still so anxious for them. I need the 7th book, and I need them to be okay!

My Feels

This book… just kills me. My emotions are all over the place! I loved so many of the scenes, I love when the good guys emerge triumphant, I love how powerful those scenes were, and I cheered for the wins. And then there were some quiet scenes that were no less powerful. The friendships, the love, the trust, and the feeling of knowing your friends have got your back. It’s heartwarming. And it’s also heartbreaking. This series, with the last 5 books, have broken my heart over and over again, and with this 6th book, it has broken me again. I am inconsolable!

Spoiler
That scene where Cassius and Darrow had a moment, and talked about how they loved each other and was grateful for each other, made me cry so hard. It was so heartwarming and I loved them so much. And it was then I knew Cassius was in danger! Why give me that scene if not to break my heart into a million pieces later?! And sure enough! I am devastated!

My Rating

5/5 stars. How could it be anything else?

Have you read this book? Would you read this book? Did you like the book or do you think you would like it?

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Top Ten Tuesday | Most Anticipated Books for 2024 Jan – Jun

Posted January 8, 2024 by Haze in Top Ten Tuesday, Weekly Book Memes / 58 Comments

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl that features a different bookish topic every week.

Today’s topic is Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2024

There are so many that I’m so excited for!!! Almost all of these are authors I have read and loved, and I would read anything they write so that’s why I can’t wait for these. I know they are going to be good!

Top Ten Most Anticipated Books Releasing Jan-Jun 2024

Top-Bottom, Left-Right:

  1. The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo – releasing Feb 13. She’s a Malaysian author writing about Malaysian Chinese folklore. I’ve read The Ghost Bride and The Night Tiger, both written by her and I loved them. I’m very excited for this one.
  2. The Bride Bet by Tessa Dare – releasing Jan 15. This is the fourth book in the Girl Meets Duke series, and I’ve read the first three, so obviously this is next on the list!
  3. What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher – releasing Feb 13. I love T. Kingfisher, and I loved the first book in this series. I didn’t even know there was going to be a second book, but of course I have to read it too!
  4. Funny Story by Emily Henry – releasing Apr 23. I’ve read several of Emily Henry’s books and always enjoy them. This one has a storyline that is just too good to pass up.
  5. The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe – releasing May 14. The first book I read by Tess Sharpe is the first book in this series, The Girls I’ve Been, and I was hooked. I love her strong female protagonists, and I was so excited to find out she wrote a sequel.
  6. The Dark Fable by Katherine Harbour – releasing Jan 30. The only author on this list whom I’ve never read. I’m not sure what to expect and I hope I won’t be disappointed, but I love the premise and I love fantasy stories, so I’m excited to read this!
  7. You Like It Darker by Stephen King – releasing Mar 21. I mean, it’s Stephen King. I haven’t read all his books but I’m sure going to try, and his new stories keep getting better so of course I’m going to read this.
  8. The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden – releasing Feb 13. I loved The Winternight Trilogy and I am very interested in this story. I want to read it!
  9. The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo – releasing Apr 9. I loved many of Leigh Bardugo’s books, and I am very interested in this story too. Anticipating it very much!
  10. The Bad Weather Friend by Dean Koontz – releasing Jan 23. I’ve only read one of Koontz books so far and I loved it, and I keep meaning to read more. I love the premise of this book, it sounds so deliciously creepy and I just can’t wait to read it.

Have you read any of these authors? What did you think of them? What are your most anticipated books this year?

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The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks | Book Review

Posted December 27, 2023 by Haze in Book Reviews / 4 Comments

The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks

Every harvest moon, the Witch Collector rides into our valley and leads one of us to the home of the immortal Frost King, to remain forever.

Today is that day—Collecting Day.

But he will not come for me. I, Raina Bloodgood, have lived in this village for twenty-four years, and for twenty-four years he has passed me by.

His mistake.

Raina Bloodgood has one desire: kill the Frost King and the Witch Collector who stole her sister. On Collecting Day, she means to exact murderous revenge, but a more sinister threat sets fire to her world. Rising from the ashes is the Collector, Alexus Thibault, the man she vowed to slay and the only person who can help save her sister.

Thrust into an age-old story of ice, fire, and ancient gods, Raina must abandon vengeance and aid the Witch Collector in saving the Frost King or let their empire—and her sister—fall into enemy hands. But the lines between good and evil blur, and Raina has more to lose than she imagined. What is she to do when the Witch Collector is no longer the villain who stole her sister, but the hero who’s stealing her heart?

The Reason

I came across this book browsing on my library’s catalog. I loved the premise, and I enjoy a good fantasy series, so I thought why not? I also wanted to read a couple of first in series, if I could, before the end of the year.

The Quotes

“Something must always be lost if you’re ever to gain. Don’t fear this. You will never move forward if you never leave things behind.”

“Think of the thing you want most in this world. It’s where true power comes from. We often hold the most will for our strongest desires.”

“There is no victory without sacrifice.”

The Characters

I really like Raina and Alexus as characters. In fact, I quite like many of the characters in this book. Raina is mute, and communicates with her hands, and that’s how she does her magic too. Alexus is the Witch Collector, and he’s an enigma, at least at first, but then we get to know him better. I also really like Helena and Nephele, the Frost King, Colden (love the punny name!), Rhonin, and even the villain Prince. To be clear, I don’t like the villain Prince as a person, but I like the character.

Also to be clear, I’m not sure I like the characters themselves, but rather, I like their backstories and how mysterious they were. There’s still so much we don’t know about many of them, and their backstories that have been told so far in this book have been very interesting. I’m curious to find out more!

My Thoughts

Here’s the funny thing, I don’t think the book was written very well. It goes on too long and there are several parts that made me frustrated because of how slow they were. The story doesn’t flow very well either, there were a lot of non-movements, stalling, back-and-forths, plans and “side-quests” that went awry and didn’t serve the story. Even the ending felt disjointed, it was like the author didn’t know where to end the book, probably because there are sequels, but the bottom line is that it wasn’t written very well. And I think that’s a shame because there’s a good story there, but the storytelling leaves much to be desired.

I should also mention that I listened to this book on audio. I started it on audio and stopped about 40% in because I couldn’t catch some of the low voices. I was going to try to get a print copy instead, but I wanted to finish this before the year was over, so I decided to push through and finish it on audio anyway. I did end up having to repeat a few parts to catch certain details, but for the most part, it wasn’t too bad.

My Feels

I feel ambivalent at this point. I’m still very curious about the characters and the story, and I would like to read more and find out more about them, but I wouldn’t feel the loss if I just never read the next books.

My Rating

3/5 stars. It’s got great elements, but bad storytelling.

Have you read this book? Would you read this book? Did you like the book or do you think you would like it?

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Book Beginnings and the Friday 56 | The Witch Collector

Posted December 22, 2023 by Haze in Book Beginnings, Friday 56, Weekly Book Memes / 6 Comments

Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Gilion @ Rose City Reader for sharing the opening lines of the book you want to feature.

The Friday 56 was started and hosted by Freda @ Freda’s Voice and is currently being temporarily hosted by Anne @ My Head is Full of Books for sharing a couple of lines from page 56, or Chapter 56, or at 56%, or however you want to interpret the number 56, of your featured book.

Note: For Blogspot users, I am unfortunately not able to comment on your posts if you don’t have Name/URL enabled on the comments. I’m not being snobbish, I promise! I’d love to leave comments if you’d consider enabling it. Thank you!

My Featured Book

The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks

Every harvest moon, the Witch Collector rides into our valley and leads one of us to the home of the immortal Frost King, to remain forever.

Today is that day—Collecting Day.

But he will not come for me. I, Raina Bloodgood, have lived in this village for twenty-four years, and for twenty-four years he has passed me by.

His mistake.

Raina Bloodgood has one desire: kill the Frost King and the Witch Collector who stole her sister. On Collecting Day, she means to exact murderous revenge, but a more sinister threat sets fire to her world. Rising from the ashes is the Collector, Alexus Thibault, the man she vowed to slay and the only person who can help save her sister.

Thrust into an age-old story of ice, fire, and ancient gods, Raina must abandon vengeance and aid the Witch Collector in saving the Frost King or let their empire—and her sister—fall into enemy hands. But the lines between good and evil blur, and Raina has more to lose than she imagined. What is she to do when the Witch Collector is no longer the villain who stole her sister, but the hero who’s stealing her heart?

My Book Beginnings:

It’s been eight long years since the Witch Collector took my sister.
Every harvest moon, he rides into our valley, black cloak whipping in the wind, and leads one of us to Winterhold, home of the immortal Frost King, to remain forever.

My Friday 56:

“I can’t, Raina.” She glances around with wary eyes. “I swore that if I wasn’t chosen for Winterhold this year that I would convince my father to take me to Malgros to enlist in the Watch. If something happened to him… If he doesn’t return…” She sets her mug aside and frames her face with her hands. “I can’t leave my mother and sisters.”

My Thoughts

I got to Chapter 19 of the book (about 40%) while listening on audio, but it started getting more difficult to hear the low voices the narrator made, and I found myself missing too much. I decided to wait until I got my hands on a print copy for this, so I’m waiting on the library and this book is stalled until a copy becomes available.

Up until 40% of the book, and even though I’m missing details from the low voices, I quite enjoyed the book and the concept. I find the Witch Collector and the Frost King very mysterious, and I want to know more about them. There’s still a lot we don’t know about the world itself too. It’s a series, so I guess we have time to learn more, but I hope we’ll get some basic answers in this book.

Have you read this book? Would you read this book? What do you think of it?

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Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi | Book Review

Posted December 16, 2023 by Haze in Book Reviews / 1 Comment

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.

Now we rise.

Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.

The Reason

I’ve seen this book pop up a couple of times on Bookstagram, and then it was available on Libby while I browsed, so I thought why not? I was also looking for new series to try and this one sounded really good.

The Quotes

“As it fades, I see the truth – in plain sight, yet hidden all along. We are all children of blood and bone. All instruments of vengeance and virtue. This truth holds me close, rocking me like a child in a mother’s arms. It binds me in its love as death swallows me in its grasp.”

“When your opponent has no honor, you must fight in different ways, smarter ways.”

“You crushed us to build your monarchy on the backs of our blood and bone. Your mistake wasn’t keeping us alive. it was thinking we’d never fight back”

The Characters

I listened to this on audiobook, so if I misspell the names, I apologize!

The four main protagonists are Zelie, Tsain, Amari, and Inan. I find their characters all very interesting in how dynamic they are. They aren’t the same people from beginning to end, they are changeable, flexible, they have good and bad days, times when they are strong and fierce, and other times when they are weak and defeated.

For most of the book, it’s Zelie, Tsain, and Amari on the same side, and Inan who is the villain pursuing them. I loved the way that the individual relationships between Zelie, Tsain, and Amari evolved through the book. Love, hate, anger, support, etc.

Inan, however, is the most complex character. I heavily dislike him as a person, but I absolutely love him as a character. One that moves the story along and makes you really think about people and what makes them tick.

My Thoughts

I loved the story! I love the world-building, the lore, the history, the people. It feels big and vast, and I love how it completely transports me into that world. The people and relationships in the story are by far the most interesting thing though. There’s so much push/pull, ups and downs, rational thinking vs. emotional feeling. This book manages to evoke so much of that with the characters, and it extends to the reader.

My Feels

So many different feelings evoked. Anger and frustration, distrust and caution, hope, heartbreak, warmheartedness, fear, triumph, satisfaction. I felt it all. I must say that Inan evoked the most feelings in me. Again, I don’t like him, but I am in awe of Tomi Adeyemi’s understanding of people in order to be able to write a character like him.

There’s also a lot of prejudice and senseless violence in the book that angered and horrified me. And there are scenes in the book when you can feel the hopelessness, the helplessness, the feeling of not being able to do a single thing to change anything or make things better.

At the end of the book, Tomi says in her Author’s Note:

“Children of Blood and Bone was written during a time where I kept turning on the news and seeing stories of unarmed black men, women, and children being shot by the police. I felt afraid and angry and helpless, but this book was the one thing that made me feel like I could do something about it. I told myself that if just one person could read it and have their hearts or minds changed, then I would’ve done something meaningful against a problem that often feels so much bigger than myself.”

I feel like she achieved what she set out to do. She captures the human condition so well in this book, and all the complicated and irrational thoughts and feelings that come with prejudice and indoctrination of prejudice. Maybe that’s why I am so fascinated by Inan’s character. He encapsulates a lot of people we maybe know in real life, maybe even some of his flaws being things that we see in ourselves.

My Rating

5/5 stars. I loved it, and honestly, I think this is one I will come back to again and again. I cannot wait to read the next books, and apparently there’s a movie in the works too. I’d be all over that!

Have you read this book? Would you read this book? Did you like the book or do you think you would like it?

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Book Beginnings & the Friday 56 | Children of Blood and Bone

Posted December 15, 2023 by Haze in Book Beginnings, Friday 56, Weekly Book Memes / 4 Comments

Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Gilion @ Rose City Reader for sharing the opening lines of the book you want to feature.

The Friday 56 was started and hosted by Freda @ Freda’s Voice and is currently being temporarily hosted by Anne @ My Head is Full of Books for sharing a couple of lines from page 56, or Chapter 56, or at 56%, or however you want to interpret the number 56, of your featured book.

Note: For Blogspot users, I am unfortunately not able to comment on your posts if you don’t have Name/URL enabled on the comments. I’m not being snobbish, I promise! I’d love to leave comments if you’d consider enabling it. Thank you!

My Featured Book

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.

Now we rise.

Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.

My Book Beginnings:

Pick me.
It’s all I can do not to scream. I dig my nails into the marula oak of my staff and squeeze to keep from fidgeting. Beads of sweat drip down my back, but I can’t tell if it’s from dawn’s early heat or from my heart slamming against my chest. Moon after moon I’ve been passed over.
Today can’t be the same.

My Friday 56:

As we tear through the streets lined with pastel-colored buildings, two troops of royal guards fight to take us down. Their shouts grow loud. Their footsteps pound even louder. With swords drawn, they close in, only a few paces behind.

My Thoughts

I am currently at Chapter 24, about 40% into this book and I’m enjoying it very much. I thought the book beginning and the Friday 56 quotes were really strong quotes that keeps the reader engaged, and I realized that I feel that way about the whole book so far. It’s really exciting and fast-paced, and filled with constant tension, it never stops! I want to keep reading but I’ve got adult responsibilities (boo!) and gotta get them done before coming back to the book.

Have you read this book? Would you read this book? What do you think of it?

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