Let's Do This! | Readathon

This weekend I'll be participating in my first ever readathon! It's called the 24 in 48 Readathon and  you can find more information here. In short, readers must read for 24 hours over the course of 48 hours starting from 12:01 Saturday morning to 11:59 Sunday night.

I'm super excited and I can feel the reading juices flowing! It took a while to warm myself up to set to-be-read lists, thinking myself a "free-spirited" reader; however, I realized they're very good when needing to chip away at never-ending TBR piles.

So without further ado, here's my TBR stack (in reading order) for the readadon!

1. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
2. Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins
3. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (if I get this far)

Soothingly Pensive, A Gothic Inspiration and The Worst Sequel | Review

Soothingly Pensive

This is the best book I read in 2014. And I knew this was something special while reading Jeevan's first chapter as he strolls through the snow-covered park. It was absolutely beautiful. Each point of view felt like I was comfortably sitting inside the mind of each character as their thoughts, anxieties, and dreams passed by. The book was so soothingly pensive despite its apocalyptic circumstances.

Usually, post-apocalyptic and dystopian novels dwell on violence, destruction, and the fall of morality. But what's remarkable about Station Eleven is that it doesn't do that. There's endurance which is shown as each character is somehow connected with each other, bringing forth one of the purest form of hope I've seen in a novel.

 A Gothic Inspiration

This book is such an inspiration. In many YA books, I notice historical events are a backdrop to support the romance, paranormal, fantasy, and or supernatural elements of the book. However, The Cure for Dreaming most definitely does not do that. Cat Winters constantly reminds her readers that this book is predominantly a novel about women's suffrage and rights in America and how one girl reflects many others who have had to overcome their limitations during a time fraught with sexism.

It's also amazing how she captures the cusp of this historical movement, while seeping in the creep factors so appropriate for Halloween. I love how she brings the supernatural and paranormal, genres specific to Europe and the east coast, to the Pacific north west. Such transformations are refreshing.

This is one of the best YA books out there and I recommend it to historical and paranormal/supernatural lovers alike. After reading the last page, I was filled with so much promise!

The Worst Sequel to a Trilogy

This is by far the worst sequel to a series I've ever read. Usually, when forbidden lovers finally come together, there is a sigh of relief. I let out a breath of exasperation. Kaidan and Anna's relationship is full of flaws like any other normal relationship. I have no issue with that. What bothers me is the pretense of resolution when there was none, as seen in the chapter when both arrive at Kaidan's bachelor pad and begin cleaning the place up as if they were cleaning up all the problems in their relationship. It was horrible. The imbalance of their relationship is horrible. I'm sure I wasn't the only one ripping my hair out whilst reading Anna's sheer neediness and Kaidan's stupidity. There is a point when a story veers from angsty romance to petty drama.

There was also no character development from anyone. Most of Anna's prophet work was done by her father and friends. And we as readers didn't get any insight on this big strategy. All of Anna's friends were one-dimensional and rotated around for character exposure, rather than significance.

There was so much promise for this series! I loved the paranormal concept, but it really fell apart in Sweet Peril. I actually had to stop reading the book for a week after Anna and Kaidan reunited because I was so frustrated. But I'm going to give this series another chance by reading Sweet Reckoning. 

How to Survive Your Book Buying Ban | Bookish Musings

Do you buy way too many books? Have you been spending more money on books than food? And have you not finished most of the books you bought in recent months? If so, a self-quarantined Book-Buying Ban is in order!

What's a Book-Buying Ban? Well, its exactly what it sounds like. Additionally, it's when readers, quite simply, stop purchasing books because their TBR (to-be-read) pile has gone up and too many books have been on the back-burner. 

I've put myself on the Book-Buying-Ban for obvious reasons. Also, my TBR list has actually hindered my book-shopping experience. Shopping for books is not as enjoyable as it used to be because I'm always thinking of unfinished books and it drives me nuts! It's not the book themselves, it's me and it's got to end.

Thus, I've compiled a list to aid me in Book-Buying endeavors because book-buying bans are a lot harder than you'd think. These tips have helped me successfully achieve my book-buying ban and I hope they help you as well :).

1. Set a goal, usually a number of books you'd like to finish before your next book purchase. Considering the number of books I had on my TBR pile, I set my goal to finish at least five books.
2. Set a deadline. This could be a holiday, birthday, the end of the month, etc. For me, I received a Barnes & Noble coupon that expires on November 16th, which became my deadline. Voila!
3. Resist temptation, in other words avoid bookshops! This is the most simple, yet most difficult obstacle to overcome. Personally, after a hard day at work I have the urge to visit my local bookshop and submerge myself with books and words. It is so tempting! But I think of my goal and deadline and steer (literally) away from the bookshop when driving home.
4. Pick up a random book that has been sitting on your shelf for months and start reading! Most likely, you'll realize the book is amazing and you'll wonder why you hadn't read it sooner. This is true! For example, The Salinger Contract by Adam Salinger had been sitting on my shelf for months. One night, I randomly picked it up and it became one of the best books I read this year.

And The Best Quote of The Year Goes To | Bookish Musings

"That the author is speaking only to us, that he is writing only for us, that no one on Earth has the same relationship to that author as we do. I have the same fantasy every time I read a book I love, no matter who wrote it, no matter when it was written. That the author has written his book only for me." The Salinger Contract by Adam Langer

Ghosts, Asylums and Vampires | Recommendations

"Autumn is the hardest season. The leaves are all falling, and they're falling like they're falling in love w ith the ground."

Fall is my absolute favorite season. I don't think I truly fell in love with this season until I went to Paris and saw the breath-taking trees au Jardin des Plantes change color. That was also the beginning of my love affair with the color Orange (as you can see my blog layout). Sorry Purple, step aside.

And what better way to celebrate the fall season than a 

*drumroll* 

HALLOWEEN BOOK RECOMMENDATION! ... list... favorites... get chyo hands on.

 

Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix was recently published last month and I did an in-depth review of an advanced-readers-copy last month right here. At first glance, the cover looks like an IKEA catalog, but if you look closely you can see the horror lurking in the... picture frames. The book is Saw-like but it's definitely refreshing. Employees of an IKEA-like furniture superstore called Orsk decide to take on a graveyard shift after finding continual signs of break-in and vandalism.They're in for a surprise as a simple floor sweep takes them deep into the horrifying history and secret of the land Orsk is built upon.

The Asylum by John Harwood is a Gothic horror treasure. His Victorian-inspired narration is nostalgic of the Classics, but also uniquely addicting. I love it! I also consider my discovery of this book a bit John Harwood-like (teehee). I had stumbled upon an obscure review in an out-dated Literary Review magazine. Immediately intrigued, I tracked down the only hardcover copy in Los Angeles at a small bookshop on the coast of Malibu. This horror thriller is about Georgina Ferrars who wakes up at an asylum in the English countryside with no memory of how she got there. On top of that, her identity has been stolen dun, Dun, DUN!

Halfway to the Grave is book one of the Night Huntress series, which is one of my favorite paranormal romance series. If you like this book, you're in for a treat because the series is complete with six additional books! Half human, half vampire Catherine Crawford hates vampires. In fact, she's made it her duty to go out and kill them with the hope of finding her vampire father. After meeting Bones, a sexy vampire bounty hunter, she forms an unlikely partnership with him to go after the bad guys. There's action, blood, snappy and witty dialogues, and sexy times. I also recommend the spin-off Night Prince series.

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa is book one of the Blood of Eden series and one of my all-time favorite YA series. It's a heady combination of vampires, romance, and dystopia, with a hint of Walking Dead nomadism and zombie-like abominations. The Immortal Rules follows Allison Sekemoto in a vampire-dominated world where everyday is a test of life or death. This is not your typical girl-meets-vampire love story. It's raw, gutty, and evokes controversial questions of humanity and morality. And Allison is one of my favorite YA heroines of all time. ALL TIME. She has so much character development. When people hear of character development, they think of a character becoming stronger, wiser, and perhaps more kick-ass, but Allison is already all of those things. That's why it's so remarkable seeing her grow in other ways. 

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead | Review

Discovered: Movie Trailer

Status: Read

Purchased: Kobo

Mode: E-Book

Goodreads Rating: **

Summary:

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . . -Goodreads

In-Depth:
I thoroughly enjoy vampire tropes and was excited to begin the Vampire Academy. Thank goodness, I didn't jump in and purchase the boxed set because I didn't completely enjoy the first book.

I admit, I don't read many YA books that emphasize high school life. It's difficult for me to read from a heroine's POV that is fully in high school mode when my own gap between now and high school is increasing. However, the vampire world building and the intricacies of social and class hierarchy were truly fascinating.

My biggest and only problem with the book was Rose. Yes, I heard this character goes through extensive character development throughout the series (thank goodness), but she truly annoyed me in Vampire Academy. I know that her reckless and passionate behavior are causes of her being shadow-kissed, but that doesn't excuse the fact that she was a judgmental douche. And it's hard to relate and cheer-on a judgmental douche. I did not like her judgments of Natalie just because she was "plain and boring". I cringed when reading what she did to Mia, despite the fact that Mia was just as horrible. And I had to take a break after her horrible behavior with Christian. I don't care if she's a badass novice soon-to-be greatest Guardian of all. My admiration for a character is built on character, not action.

Reading from Rose's POV was so irritating that I hurried to finish the book just to be done with her. I'm still thinking about continuing with the series just to see how much Rose develops but not anytime soon.  

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton | Review

Discovered: Goodreads

Status: Read

Purchased: Barnes & Noble

Mode: Hardcover

Goodreads Rating: ***

Summary: 

"On a brisk autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman arrives in Amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt. But her new home, while splendorous, is not welcoming. Johannes is kind yet distant, always locked in his study or at his warehouse office-leaving Nella alone with his sister, the sharp-tongued and forbidding Marin.

But Nella's world changes when Johannes presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. To furnish her gift, Nella engages the services of a miniaturist-an elusive and enigmatic artist whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in eerie and unexpected ways . . ." -Goodreads

In-Depth:
I picked up the book thinking it was a historical drama, yet I was pleasantly surprised with the suspense. It was addicting and the buildup was refreshing. Jessie Burton perfectly captured the emotion and chaos of pure shock. I literally dropped the book on one occasion.

Unfortunately, I was left hanging at the end with no closure involving the Miniaturist and her figurines. The revelation of the Miniaturist was definitely a surprise, despite the lack of the fantastical I had presumed. I can see how the Miniaturist was kind of a mirror-figure, rather than a prophetess, who provided a reflection on the lives of women. However, the book's tackle on one-too-many subjects muddied the subject of the Miniaturist herself. Don't get me wrong, I definitely enjoyed the family drama and Burton's touch on gender, sexuality, race, social classes, religion, and economy. But I picked up the book based on the premise of the title itself and I was left hanging.  

Book Riot Quarterly Box #BKR04 | Unboxing

Recently, a friend said to me "You read books to get away from everything." A bit flustered, I nodded along since she was kind of correct. But later I realized that there is this stereotype that voracious readers read books in order to escape the "suckiness" of everyday life. This could be partly true, but it is mostly horribly wrong.

Book Riot and Quarterly did an awesome job with this quarter's theme of how books, stories, pictures, words, and all that jazz bring about magic. And personally, the theme helped me address the previously mentioned stereotype. I don't read just to escape from the realities of life; I could do that by meeting up with friends, drinking, etc. There's more to reading than that! I read to tap into the magic most non-readers couldn't dare imagine. This connection I have with authors, stories, sentences, and pictures is a passion, not a past-time. 

So I'm really really excited to jump into this quarterly box! Despite all the magic floating around I feel like this box of goodies will also ground me in understanding, if not fully, the complexities of reading and the lasting effects of books. These days I've been floating from one story to another, maybe I'll even crack the readers' code to immortality. Just kidding, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore references anyone?

  

Without further ado~

#BKR04 in a nutshell

The one and only note from Book Riot! It's also my map to navigate and reference through all the awesomeness.

The first thought that popped into my mind when I flipped through its pages was "Wow book, you really get me!" What We See When We Read is that book I've been searching for without really knowing I've been searching for it. This edition includes personal foot-notes from Peter Mendelsund. Man, I feel special. And there are illustrations! I need more illustrations in my life so this is perfect.

I really like what Book Riot is doing with their Quarterly box genre selections. Last quarter, there were YA, romance, and fantasy books. This quarter The Salinger Contract is a thriller for bibliophiles. I never know what to expect!

These are Literary Quote Prints from Obvious State and I received quotes from F. Scott Fitzgerald and Jorge Luis Borges! My parents think I buy way too many prints for myself, but I guess it's alright as long as I didn't pay for these. Wait, I did pay for these! Then why do they feel like presents... #MyPersonalChristmas

Book goodies! Everybody loves good ol' custom-made stickers, buttons, and bookmarks. But wait, that's not just a bookmark! Its a free e-book, or a code to redeem a free e-book, called Maps and Legends: Reading and Writing Along the Borderlands by Michael Chabon, a series of essays championing story-telling.

And last but not least, a Read Harder water bottle. Yes Book Riot, I shall. I can't wait to whip this out at work tomorrow.

World After by Susan Ee | Review

Discovered: Goodreads

Status: Read

Purchased: Barnes & Noble Online

Mode: Paperback

Goodreads Rating: ****

Have you once imagined angels as ethereal cherubs, floating on cotton candy clouds? Well, the angels of World After will turn every perception you had upside down. 

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Synopsis:

After dipping her feet in the world of angels, Penryn attempts to recuperate her family with the fledgling human encampment called The Resistance. However the Youngs are too strange even for a group of apocalypse survivors. Paige has become a child-Frankenstein with a questionable appetite and Penryn's close encounter with death has people convinced that she's much closer to the devil. Also, her mother's continued psychotic shenanigans aren't exactly neighborly. Amid rising tensions, people capture Paige thinking she's a monster; however, chaos ensues as the angels' latest science experiment descends upon the encampment. The encampment is in shatters and Paige has disappeared. In order to get Paige back, Penryn must embark on another mission that takes her deeper into the schemes and politics of angels.

In Depth:

World After is fascinating due to its blend of science fiction and horror. Angels running mad-scientist experiments? Maddening! I would've never imagined such a scenario in the angel trope as such scenarios are usually found in science fiction and extraterrestrial books. Yet, the angels of World After are like a different species altogether. They're cold, ruthless, and sterile. Although Susan Ee's take on angels is refreshing, I personally believe she may have strayed a bit too far from the angel trope. If you ignore the small bit about Judgement Day, World After is another novel of extraterrestrial invasion and human experimentation. Fortunately, this issue did not divert my enjoyment from the book. I found the angels' agenda shocking and their politics intricate and surprisingly human.

Revisiting Penryn's POV was also a delight. She is a force to be reckoned with in the YA genre. In World After, her strength, bravery, and sass grew as she was bombarded with more apocalyptic dilemmas and obligations. But Susan Ee painfully reminds us that Penryn is not a robot. She is very human and very young. Her act of locking away her problems behind a steel door shows that she's clearly a girl who was forced to grow up too early.

Yes, Penryn is mature beyond her years but she still has a lot to learn, regarding the complexities of humanity and sisterhood. Don't get me wrong, Penryn is an amazing older sister but after Paige's change, she has a hard time reconciling her sisterly emotions and familial obligations. Her sisterly emotions have not caught up to her post-apocalypse logic as she learns that providing food and shelter are not all there is to being an older sister.

Penryn faces more apocalyptic dilemmas regarding her feelings for Raffe. I'm going to agree with other reviewers and bemoan the lack of Raffe in World After. C'mon, he the YA eye candy! Yet, I do like how Penryn and Raffe's relationship isn't as explosive as other YA couples. In many paranormal romances, characters get together with such eagerness despite the obvious taboo; however, Penryn and Raffe are slow and definitely wary of each other. There is definitely a lot trust building in both Angelfall and World After and I'm sure the character building/romance will be phenomenal once we progress with the series.

Angelfall Susan Ee | Review

Discovered: Goodreads

Status: Read

Purchased: Barnes & Noble Online

Mode: Paperback

Goodreads Rating: ****

Did you grow up in a Christian family or at least around one? If so, you probably heard about the Second Coming and Christian apocalypse. Susan Ee takes this religious expectation and fear and spins it into a YA epic of survival, family, and loyalty.

  

I began my summer with a vampire apocalypse and now I'm ending it with an angel apocalypse!

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Synopsis:

The world as Penryn knows it has come to an end. Angels, the ethereal creatures we've often dreamed of,  have descended from heaven and destroyed civilization. The surviving humans have scattered, some forming dangerous gangs, while angels parole our cities. The only thing on Penryn's mind is to keep her mentally unstable mother and disabled younger sister, Paige, alive while moving from point A to point B. However things go awry when she and her family get caught in a battle among angels. Paige is kidnapped and Penryn is stuck with the dying angel, Raffe. Now she must form an unlikely pact with her enemy in order to save Paige and keep her family together. Their mission takes them through the ruins of Silicon Valley and San Francisco as they try to come to terms with a world overrun with angels and other creatures that were never meant to dwell on earth.

In Depth:

If I can describe Angelfall with one word it would be refreshing. It's unbelievable how fast I finished the book. It easily eclipsed the primary book I was reading. Heck, it eclipsed work, food, and sleep.  I was an hour late to work because I couldn't get up in time after reading Angelfall until 3 in the morning. I was hooked! 

What's refreshing about the structure of Angelfall is that the chapters are short. Usually when a book has long chapters (25-40 pages) I need to take breaks before I start on another one. But the short chapters of Angelfall increased my pace. I just needed to read one more chapter, then another and another... and another. 

Penryn is a refreshing heroine. Sure, she's ruthless, brave, and sassy like many other YA heroines, but her interaction with Raffe is unique. I've read many badass heroines kind of wilt and soften when interacting with their male love interests; however Penryn is different. She  asserts her strength with Raffe by saving his ass multiple times, getting into fights, and throwing herself in danger for the ones she loves.  Although Raffe is the ancient and powerful angel, Penryn is stronger. 

Also, her overall goal is a refreshing change from the goals of other dystopia heroines. Many heroines are fighting to save the fate of humanity and bringing down an evil, all-powerful enemy. But Angelfall stands out with Penryn's less ambitious goals. She just wants to save her sister and keep her family together. She's accepted the fact that the world sucks and angels are hateful. Now she's going to deal by not budging from her very realistic priority. She's very human with realistic goals many young adults can relate to.

Lastly, I personally loved the Silicon Valley and San Francisco setting. Susan Ee does an amazing job describing the nature and culture of Northern California. I lived there for four years while in college, so it was startling to visualize such a familiar place flipped  upside down.

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I definitely recommend Angelfall to those looking for a unique take on YA dystopias and fallen angels.

The Smell of Books: A Short Confession | Bookish Musings

Ah, the smell of books. Please don't look at me with judgmental eyes and pretend you don't know what I'm talking about.

The smell of old book B.O. while you're walking down library aisles. That magical whiff when you crack open the spine of a newly published hardcover. It's such a special sense that Robin Sloan named a chapter in Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, "The Smell of Books".

I acquired this special sense of reading when I had the sudden realization that the book I was holding was more than an inanimate object with words and pages. Rather, the book was alive! And all things that live and breathe also smell.

So next time you pick up a book, lean in for a good whiff. You'd be surprised that each book has its unique smell. Hey, you may even be able to associate a particular smell (sweet, musky, sour, bitter) to a particular genre or trope. For example, all the vampire books I own have a sour, dusty smell. My set of The Darkest Minds and Divergent series, which are both YA dystopias, smell jarringly sweet!
 
I'm not generalizing and saying all vampire books smell sour and all YA books smell sweet. This is a confession of my own reading fetish (a fetish I know many readers share). My other point is to encourage readers to expand their reading senses beyond seeing, feeling, and hearing. Lean in and take a whiff.

Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix | ARC Review

Discovered: BookRiot Youtube

Status: Read

Received: First Reads Giveaway from Quirk Books and Goodreads

Mode: Paperback

Goodreads Rating: ****

Ever wish you could sleep over at an Ikea?

Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix takes that simple curiosity of retail comfort and terrifies it into all things that go bump in the night. 

Synopsis:

Horrorstör is about an Ikea knock-off chain called Orsk where eerie things start to happen at one of its retail locations in Columbus, Ohio. Employees clock-in to find broken furniture, defecated sofas, and reversing escalators. Naturally, upright manager Basil Washington needs to do something about it and that something involves gathering a team of store partners to investigate during a graveyard shift. That team involves reluctant Amy, the ever-kind Ruth Anne, and quirky couple Matt and Trinity. And they're in for a surprise as a simple floor sweep takes them deep into the horrifying history and secret of the land Orsk is built upon.   

In Depth:

Do you know the true horror of Horrorstör? It's the idea that the paranormal is not limited to haunted houses, schools, and hospitals. It's found in everyday retail stores and the furniture we bring into our homes. Orsk is a satire on the labor and culture of the retail industry. The exaggerated company motto plastered all over the store does nothing to ebb the monotony of mindless work, nor does it hide the sterile corporate mindset we see at the end of the book. Also, Horrorstör shows that the work and furniture we take for granted could be perverted into something horrifying and unforgiving. 

My Favorite Parts:

What's great about this book is that it reads like a movie. At first, I started reading Horrorstör as a secondary book, to take breaks from the primary book I was reading at the time. After three chapters, it took the place of my primary book. I was hooked! The narrative and story flowed and I was easily visualizing every chapter as if I was watching a horror film inside my mind. 

Lastly, if you've done some research you'll know that the book was created to look like an Ikea catalog. One my favorite parts of Horrorstör is the illustration and description of a piece of furniture in the beginning of every chapter. And that piece of furniture takes precedent in that specific chapter. It was scary and awesome flipping through the pages and seeing the growing perversion of each furniture. 

All I'm asking of Grady Hendrix and Quirk Books is a sequel to Horrorstör! I love the Amy-Basil duo and would love to see them kicking more ghost-butts!

I'm A Happy Book-shopper | Bookish Musings

I've always considered book-shopping a solitary activity. I spend a lot of time at bookstores, perusing book covers, spines, and synopsis. The art of book-shopping is many things to me, myself and I: therapeutic, fun, adventurous even stressful. So I didn't realize how one friendly comment from a fellow book-shopper would change my book-shopping experience.

Again, I was at a bookstore, aiming for a therapeutic experience after a stressful week at work. Perusing the YA, fantasy, and fiction shelves, I was randomly picking and dropping books, not really considering to buy this book or that book. For a moment, I had The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern in my hand when out of nowhere a woman says to me "That's a great book." 

I was caught off guard that someone had actually spoken to me at a bookstore! Weird, huh? One would think there would be a rumble of verbal activity among book lovers, but I noticed that bookstores are often silent with shoppers who seem to have raised a wall between themselves and everything not books.  

The nice woman and I had a conversation about The Night Circus for about a minute. And I realized, sometimes it's not the reviews on Goodreads and Amazon that convince me to buy a book; rather it's the friendly interactions with shoppers that spark my interest and wallet.

To Binge or Not To Binge? | Bookish Musings

I'm ashamed to say that it's been almost a month since my last post. But hey, I had a MEGA book haul with three trilogy sets. So far I finished the Blood of Eden Trilogy, The Grisha Trilogy, and 2/3 of The Inheritance Trilogy. I'm so glad I found these trilogies because they're amazing stories. So amazing that I've been spacing out at work thinking of vampire apocalypses, villainous love interests, and tempestuous gods. But after three weeks of intense reading, I've come to question the concept of binge reading, especially for the sake of reading X amount of books during a certain period of time.

The onslaught of reading five books in one week has prevented me from actually soaking up each story. Although, I'm gobbling books like Patrick up there, I'm not really savoring them. Sure, I finally know the fate of the world after a vampire apocalypse or Darkling takeover, but I'm not halting my breaks to ask questions of morality and other symbolic issues related to the hefty plot. Binge reading has caused my reading experience to become more plot driven and usually that's not all there is to a novel. Under the artistic frothing of each latte is the rich and complex flavor of coffee. Coffee gurus, anyone? 

I think there's been too much hype for finishing X amount of books during a certain period of time, usually a month. I've been watching a lot of "Monthly Wrap-Up" videos on Youtube and the sheer number of books finished by some Book-tubers is clearly admirable. I mean, I even got motivated, put on my speed-reading pants, and finished ten books last month. Unfortunately, I realized I've been reading for the sake of finishing books on my TBR shelf, rather than actually reading for pleasure.

So back to the initial question, To Binge or Not To Binge?  In short, that's up to you. Who am I to tell you how many books you should or shouldn't read in a month? As a reader, one thing I hate above all is book snobbery and bookators (book-dictators), who are disillusioned to think that they have the right to dictate reading practices. Just throwin' that out there. But once you set yourself to these reading goals/marathons, remember it's alright to halt the breaks. It's not a race y'all, it's reading.

The Dreamblood Series by N.K. Jemisin | Review

I just want to take a moment and appreciate the covers of both books.

 

[sigh...]

Discovered: BookRiot.com

Status: Read

Purchased: BookRiot Quarterly Box; Barnes & Noble Online

Mode: Paperback

Goodreads Rating: *****

Aren't they beautifully epic?! A few posts back, I received The Killing Moon from the Book Riot Quarterly box. It was one of three books and I was instantly enamored with the cover. It's just so effin' pretty! Then I read the synopsis and was instantly hooked. 

I've never been an adventurous fantasy reader. My foray into "things beyond reality" is limited to the paranormal. My alternate reality "comfort zone" consists of vampires and a sprinkling of werewolves. So I was pretty surprised when my "need-to-read-like-now" radar perked after getting my hands on The Killing Moon. Maybe it was the excitement of receiving my first Book Riot Quarterly? Probably. I also couldn't resist the pull of the unique and seductive world of the Dreamblood.

In The Killing Moon, we have Ehiru and Nijiri, Gatherers of the Hetawa, which is the religious cult of Gujaareh. And there is Sunandi, a fierce diplomat from the neighboring and rival city-state of Kisua. In the face of a megalomaniac Prince, a Reaper, political and religious conspiracy, and world war, these three characters journey to achieve a far-reaching diplomatic endeavor to preserve the fate of humanity

The Shadowed Sun is set ten years after the conclusion of The Killing Moon. It mainly follows Wanahomen, the exiled son of the previous megalomaniac Prince, and Hanani, a Healer of the Hetawa. It also follows Tiannet, a young woman whose struggles show that power and greed are not limited to ruling political and religious bodies. Recurring characters such as Nijiri and Sunandi are also present as everyone comes together to reclaim Gujaareh from Kisuati rule. In addition to war, our characters must battle an epidemic that has crossed political lines into the dreamworld. To put it simply, Jemisin takes the world she's built in The Killing Moon and flips it upside down in The Shadowed Sun and it's pretty damn epic! 

While The Killing Moon and The Shadowed Sun are nostalgic of ancient Egyptian culture, Jemisin manages to weave a fantastical and independent world with its own culture, politics, and mysticism. The startlingly familiarity of certain aspects of the setting is thought provoking. For instance, both books present a world that is fascinatingly contradictory. In The Killing Moon, love and sexuality are presented unbound by our own traditional definitions of the norm, yet Gujaareh is governed by a monarchy and single religion. In The Shadowed Sun, the Banbarra tribe is presented as barbarian and nomadic, yet the customs are role reversing. Men wear veils, while women rule and conduct family businesses. Doesn't this just sound so cool?

Both books have opened the doors of adult fantasy for me. Whilst reading, I'm usually the voyeur peering into the world and lives of the book. Rarely do I have a book where I feel like I'm walking side by side the characters. The Dreamblood series seem to have bridged that gap between reader and book.

Young Adult, Fantasy and Everything In Between | Book Haul

Do you ever have that constant thought of meaning to buy some particular item/s? And that desire to buy those items constantly bothers you night and day? So you just go to the store and run your hands all over said items wishing you had the capacity to purchase them? Well, that happens to me A LOT (you know you do this too). And I have a love/hate relationship with my URRRRge to buy everything on my TBR pile. I love the fact that there are just so many damn good books to read out there. But I also hate the fact that I don't have them yet! 

So I went a little mega on my book haul this month and just bought most of the books I've been wanting to read. Yes, it'll take a while to read them but at least I have them in my hands, right? And I am ecstatic! 

I've already completed reading The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms before publishing this post! Don't judge me; there was a gap between the arrival of my first batch and second batch. 

Without further ado, here's my mega book haul!

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

After reading Eleanor & Park I just had to get Fangirl. It's just not enough reading just one of Rainbow Rowell's books. I see Fangirl on the shelves of every Barnes & Noble I happen to peruse and the YA BookTube community is raving about it. So Fangirl, COME. TO. ME.

How To Tell Toldeo From the Night Sky by Lydia Netzer

This is a lovely book I heard of on one of the episodes of The Book Riot Podcast, in which Rebecca Schinsky and Amanda Nelson rave about this new release. Since I trust Book Riot's recommendations I knew I would love this book as well. Also, I don't read a lot of books with an astrology premise. The last one I read was The Movement of Stars by Amy Brill and I loved it. It's about time I get lost in the stars again.

The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin

Speaking of getting lost in stars, let's get lost with hunky gods, goddesses, and godlings. After being sucked into the Dreamblood series, I just had to get my hands on N.K. Jemisin's other works. This trilogy was published before the Dreamblood series and it's just as good. I already finished The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms and the feels, THE FEELS! A review is well under way people!

The Blood Eden Series by Julie Kagawa

A paranormal dystopian! A vampire romance! And *drumroll* an Asian/American heroine in a YA series. Now, you don't see that often. Naturally, I had to get my hands on this series. Yes, there are many books out there with similar premises. Heck these days, the YA genre is dominated by dystopias and vampires. But a vampire + dystopia? I peruse a lot of paranormal books and I have yet to come across another series that combine both premises. If there are others, feel free to recommend. And although I've been really into fantasy lately, I've always been a lover of paranormal fiction. Since high school, I found those elements more sexy and trilling. So I just know I'll get a unique reading experience with The Blood Eden series while still dipping into one of my favorite genres. Also, hurrah to Julie Kagawa and Harlequin Teen for bringing diversity into YA literature. 

The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

Have you seen this trilogy everywhere? Good, so have I. I've heard of this trilogy on Book Riot, Twitter, and BookTube; and I've seen it on the YA front shelves of every bookstore. I admit, I wasn't able to jump on the boat/moment of other big name trilogies, so I didn't want to miss out on this one. But that's now the only reason why I've bought these. I'm actually a lot more interested in this trilogy than any other books that have been turned into movies. I admit (again), I'm not as excited to read this as I am of my other books, but I have a pretty good feeling that I'll end up loving them all the same. Woohoo books!  

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson | Review

Discovered: Goodreads and BookRiot.com
Status: Unfinished
Purchased: Barnes & Noble
Mode: Hardcover
Goodreads Review: *

The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson was recently published on July 8, 2014 by Henry Holt and Co. This is the same publisher that published the successful Shadow and Bone Trilogy. The Kiss of Deception is the first book of The Remnant Chronicles, another fantasy series that perked my fantasy-loving senses. I was really eager for this book and I really wanted to like it, but unfortunately I couldn't. The act of forcing myself to read for the sake of getting my money's worth was making me miserable. So after 250 pages I set the book aside and returned it to Barnes & Noble.

First, the plot was quite boring even after 250 pages. The most exciting part happens in the beginning when Lia runs away from her father's kingdom due to an unwanted arranged marriage. But it's not much of a surprise considering readers already know that from the synopsis. After, there are 200+ pages of Lia's new life in Trevia with her BFF Paulina. I was waiting for something, ANYTHING, to happen. Perhaps, the exciting parts are supposed to be the love triangel between Lia, Rafe, and Kaden. Yet I found their interactions trivial. It was an all too familiar love triangle scenario that could be taken out and placed into any other genre. Also, I found the world bland. There was nothing unique or captivating about Morrighan or Trevia, which reminded me of Cinque Terre or any other Italian coastal city.

Second, the writing was redundant. I agree, the writing and descriptions were nice, almost flourishing. But it was also redundant considering the lack of momentum in the plot. Yes, Lia and Paulina have an amazing friendship and Trevia is so beautiful, but I already knew that 100 pages ago.

Third, I did not respect the characters enough to take them seriously. Personally, I find something wrong with the concept of a privileged girl choosing to live the tough life of labor just to prove a point to herself and her family, compared to a girl born into such circumstances. If you think about it, Lia had it pretty good. She's a princess who had access to shelter, food, and an education. Both her parents are living and she's surrounded by loving brothers.

I won't nitpick the selfishness of the whole running away part because that would defeat the original premise of the story. I understand and even sympathize those teenage feelings of fierce independence and rebellion. But after 250 pages, I did not see any character development from Lia. For one thing, her sense of judgement diminishes as she is unable to sense an assassin right under her nose. Isn't she a skilled rider who was able to lose her pursuers? Conveniently, all except for Rafe, Kaden, and Walther. Instead, she doubts Gwyneth, who has the foresight to sense danger. This is one of the many contradictions in Kiss of Deceptions. Right before this sudden doubt, Lia had felt a close bond among the ladies after revealing Pauline's predicament.

In addition to Lia, I found the other primary characters ( Pauline, Rafe, and Kaden) to be wishy washy teens full of contradictions. True, I did not finish the book and don't know whatever deception/s came to closure. Unfortunately, I was no longer invested in the story and characters to find out.

Giving Up On A Book | Bookish Musings

Recently, I gave up on a book. I read about 250 pages, a bit more than half of said book, then set it aside and returned it to the bookstore. I was quite deflated. If you'd been as eager as I was for this book, you probably would have had the same slump in your shoulders that day.

I don't usually not finish a book because, naturally I read a book I want to read. However, there are times when I just cannot finish a particular book for the following reasons:

Keep in mind, these are my personal opinions and I don't speak for the general reading population.

• The plot is boring. Quite simple, really. The book may be about the most horrendous crime in the west coast, a fantastical world war in another dimension, or a crazy family in the roaring twenties; however I lose interest if the plot is lackluster. The premise could be intriguing, maybe even unique, but if the story is going no where or certain situations get chewed on and on like stale gum, I need to stop.
• The writing is redundant. I admit, not every book I read had the best writing. I recall some having punctuation errors and others having a lack of punctuation. However, the writing of some of those books was fun; it flowed with the plot and characters. Although it did not conform to traditional (and at times pretentious) standards of fiction, the writing made my reading experience enjoyable. Unfortunately, writing could be redundant to the extent that it causes the story to become just words on a page. When the setting of the book or the relationship one character has to another are described over and over again, the writing is redundant. The prose may be fluffy, but it no longer compliments the characters or the plot. I get bored! The world of the book dissipates and my window into another time or existence shatters. I'm just skimming two-dimensional words and pages.
• I no longer respect the main character/s. Sure, a character may be a cold and ruthless murder or any other heinous being an author could conjure, but he/she has a depth and vitality I cannot brush off. I want characters to evoke emotions of love, anger, hate, fear, even annoyance that contribute to my reading experience, not deter it. I no longer respect a character when she loses his/her legitimacy to the point that I cannot stand him/her. I do not see the attributes the readers and author have given him/her. Have you ever had that feeling you just wish you never met a certain character? Yes, that feeling.

You may have read this as a rant (because it partly was), but it is also a statement that it is absolutely okay not to finish a book or even like a book you've read. Read what you want to read and don't read what you don't want to read (unless, of course, you're forced to read a book for class). Personally, there has always been an obligation to read or finish a book. But I learned that such "rules" only deter the pleasure I get from reading. Don't be obligated to read or finish a classic. And don't feel guilty to set aside a popular book so you could get back to your more particular tastes. 

It's like church. When my mom forces me to go every Sunday, I begin to dread it. I won't let that happen to my reading.    

Magical Realism and Gothic Historicals | Review

 

Discovered: Barnes & Noble
Status: Read
Purchased: Kobo
Mode: Kobo Glo

My previous post has my in-depth reflection of The Enchanted by Rene Denfeld. As previously stated, The Enchanted is one of the most enthralling novels I've read this year. The book is chiefly enthralling due to its magical narrative. You may even mistake is as a fantasy, but its stark portrayal of prison and vice will leave you gasping at the horrors humans are capable of. Yet The Enchanted also portrays redemption and the power of hope even among despair and wretchedness.

Discovered: Books On The Nightstand
Status: Read
Purchased: Barnes & Noble
Mode: Hardcover

If you're looking for a book that has you walking away in soot and blood, The Quick is definitely for you! A recommendation on Books On The Nightstand twitched my interest, but it wasn't until I saw the book's cover at my local Barnes & Noble retailer that I got really interested.  I mean look at it, a sepia photograph of a classic dapper Oxford gentleman reading beside a gorgeous bookshelf. But wait! The photograph is tainted with blood. At first glace, The Quick is a Gothic adventure just waiting to happen and I was hooked after reading the synopsis.

The Quick is about various characters that get entangled in the politics and violence of London's darkest society. It is very easy to ruin the twist of this book, so if you want that "WTF" moment I urge you to just pick it up and read it without doing too much research. Before you know it you'll be drawn into London's bloodiest secrets while strolling through its darkest alleys and inside its most exclusive club.

Magic

 

Discovered: Oyster
Status: Read
Purchased: Oyster
Mode: iPhone

Dragonwyck by Anya Seton is another Gothic romance marvel I picked up at Oyster. Hooray for Oyster for their awesome Gothic Romance list! First published in 1944, Dragonwyck follows Miranda Wells, a young woman from a humble farm, who goes to live with her mother's distant wealthy cousin, Nicolas Van Ryn, as companion to his wife and daughter. At Dragonwyck, Miranda, who had always disdained her humble upbringing, is instantly wooed by the rich and bourgeois lifestyle. She also becomes infatuated with Nicolas who embodies all her romantic notions of genteel and masculinity.

Dragonwyck is a Gothic indulgence. There is the ill-fated love between a young and naive heroine and the older mysterious gentleman. We see this kind of pairing in Rebecca and Jane Eyre. And the story includes other Gothic elements such as the haunted manors, married men and their first wives, mysterious deaths, etc. But Dragonwyck is more than just an angsty love story. It shows the destructive consequences of excess and perceived invincibility. Materialism, class snobbery, even romantic naivete are no longer defenses against the force of social trends and tensions of the time as we see Miranda and Nicolas face their own limitations.

Stay tuned next month for another post on Frontlist Favorites and Backlist Marvels!

The Enchanted by Rene Denfeld | Review

Discovered: Barnes & Noble

Status: Read

Purchased: Kobo

Mode: Kobo Glo

The Enchanted by Rene Denfeld was published on March 4, 2014 by Harper Collins. I first noticed it on the front shelves at my local Barnes & Noble retailer. I picked it up thinking it was a fantasy because of its title and grim cover. I initially thought the three horses to be unicorns (haha). After reading the synopsis, I set the book aside because I was intimidated of reading a story about prison. I admit, I tend to read books about friends, love, and happy endings because I want the lingering emotions of a finished book to be happy not grim. But after much consideration, I quickly purchased The Enchanted on my Kobo Glo before I changed my mind. And let me say, The Enchanted is one of the most enthralling novels I read this year. 

The book takes place at an old unnamed prison. Most of the story is narrated by one of  the inmates on death row. Our narrator has been stuck in his cell for quite some time, separated from general population inmates due to the horrors of his crime. Yet his mind goes beyond the boundaries of his solitary confinement as we learn about the prison and its inhabitants through his point of view. The story is mainly driven by "the lady" as she attempts to save York, a fellow inmate, from death row. As an investigator, she is hired by attorneys to build cases in defense of death row inmates. It is a unique career that questions her own sense of morality and humanity. You ask, why defend and sympathize with murderers? And then you ask, what is this lady's history and what has she gone through? She decides to accept York's case because, unlike previous death row inmates, he has chosen death over life in prison. 

The Enchanted is chiefly enthralling due to its magical realist narrative. It was this element of the novel that propelled me to continue reading despite raw issues of prison corruption, death row, rape, and murder. Our narrator, whose name we later find out to be Arden, sounds surprisingly innocent and childish as he weaves his magic. There are the men between the walls, the flibber-gibbets in the crematorium, and the golden horses underground. The prison seems really enchanted!

Yet despite the magical elements of the novel and prison, Rene Denfeld does not undermine the horrors of humanity. We see it in the prison among the more villainous inmates and their cronies. We see it among the guards who protect the thieves, rapists, and murders rather than protect the victims. But how could there be victims in prison? Are they not all criminals, whose crimes effect the good and innocent? The Enchanted tackles these questions, which stem from our tendencies of clumping evil from the good. 

Also, The Enchanted brings up an enlightening question: Are the inmates cold-blooded murderers or are they also victims of a much larger and broken system? Rene Denfeld suggests that there is always a story beyond the crime. While criminals are cold-blooded killers, they are also products of their own tragic and abusive upbringings. York and the lady are both victims of early childhood sexual abuse, yet the former is behind bars while the latter is free. Again, the strong division we place between good and evil is not so clear.  

The Enchanted truly drew me into the magical and frightening world of prison. At times, I couldn't believe what was happening because the voice seemed so guileless, almost childlike. Yet, the magical realism does not deter the novel from delving into human nature and the complicated divide between good and evil. It also approaches complicated processes of forgiveness and healing among victims and criminals.