Monthly Wrap-Up: January ’19

After starting the month kind of sluggish, I feel like January ended up being a really good month in terms of reading and blogging. My Kernels of Nonsense feature feels like its been in hibernation for the last couple of years, but I’ve already done two posts for it with a couple more drafts in the works. I’m really looking forward to all the backlist books I have lined up and am hoping in general to get to more of the books I own. With my Goodreads challenge goal set at 50, I feel like I have more time to spend on the books I’m reading and maybe even some more time rereading. This month I read six books which included two rereads. I did another buddy read this month with Carolyn @ A Hundred Thousand Stories. We tackled Holly Black’s The Wicked King which was really good and whose review is already up on the blog. I have three ARCs lined up for February and they are all by Latinx authors. I’m very excited to get started. I introduced a different format for reviews called the snapchat review this month, which might be replacing my mini-reviews. I’ve already done two and am kind of in love with the format.

(Book covers below are linked to my reviews, unless otherwise specified.) 

Favorite Book This Month:

My favorite read in January was Susan Dennard’s Bloodwitch. I’ve been waiting for this one for ages and it lived up to all my expectations. It’s my first five-star read of 2019 and I’m so happy that I made time to reread the first two books before diving into this one. I forgot so much. My review for this one goes up this upcoming week, so be on the lookout. Cover is linked to Goodreads.

Least Favorite Book This Month:

No book this month received less than three stars.

Reviews Posted This Month:

 

Read, Review Coming Soon:

(covers linked to Goodreads)

Notable Blog Posts This Month:

2018 Fourth Quarter Book Haul: Is This Self-Control? – My final book haul of 2018 where I actually didn’t spend that much money on books.

2019 Beat the Backlist Challenge TBR – I was a little late getting this out, but here is my list of priority TBR books I’m going to get to this year.

Kernels of Nonsense: I’ve Been a Bad, Bad Book Blogger – In which I showcase all the ways in which I fail at book blogging. Despite the title, this was actually a really fun post to put together.

Kernels of Nonsense: Favorite Four-Star Reads of 2018 – I’m on fire with two Kernels of Nonsense posts this month. Here I highlight my favorite four-star reads that even though they weren’t five-stars, still deserve a lot of love.

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books I Read in 2018 – Let’s also go ahead and highlight those 2018 five-star reads though.

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2019 by Latinx Authors – There are so many amazing books by Latinx authors coming out this year. Here is a peek at some of them.

Reading Challenges:

Aside from the Goodreads challenge, I’m only taking part in one reading challenge.

1. The Beat the Backlist Challenge 2019 is hosted by NovelKnight. I haven’t picked up any books toward this goal yet.

• Challenge Goal: 10 books; Current Count: 0 books

February Releases I’m Excited For:

 

Did you have a sluggish start to your 2019? Anything new on your blog you’re featuring in 2019? Which January read was your favorite? Let me know in the comments and feel free to leave me a link to your own wrap-up post and I’ll be sure to visit.

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Blog Tour | ARC Review & Giveaway | The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

I am delighted to be a part of The Gilded Wolves Blog Tour for Wednesday Books. Roshani Chokshi has always been an author who has wowed me with her writing. When I heard of this latest release, I was beyond ecstatic. It’s my pleasure to bring you an ARC review of The Gilded Wolves and an opportunity to win a copy of the book from the publisher. Details at the end of the post.

Title: The Gilded Wolves
Author: Roshani Chokshi
Series: The Gilded Wolves, #1
Pages: 464
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: January 4th 2019
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher which does not influence my review**

      “Set in a darkly glamorous world, The Gilded Wolves is full of mystery, decadence, and dangerous but thrilling adventure.
      Paris, 1889: The world is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. In this city, no one keeps tabs on secrets better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier, Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. But when the all-powerful society, the Order of Babel, seeks him out for help, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance.
      To find the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin will need help from a band of experts: An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian who can’t yet go home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in all but blood, who might care too much.
      Together, they’ll have to use their wits and knowledge to hunt the artifact through the dark and glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the world, but only if they can stay alive.”

     “A creaking sound lit up the silence. Séverin jerked his hand back. Too late. The bear’s teeth lengthened in a blink, forming narrow little bars. Enrique took one look at Séverin’s trapped hand, turned pale, and bit out a single word: ‘Shit.'”

With The Gilded Wolves, Roshani Chokshi has constructed a unique fantasy heist novel that also functions as a commentary on cultural theft under the guise of historical preservation. Séverin Montagnet-Alarie thought he knew his place in the world, as heir to House Vanth. But when the other heads of the Houses of France turned him away, denying him his rightful place as the next patriarch of House Vanth, Séverin made it his mission to steal back what had been taken from him. With a team of smart and unusually gifted individuals, Séverin has caused a myriad of trouble for the Order of Babel, the organization in charge of the Houses of France, stealing back artifacts belonging to his own House and returning stolen cultural artifacts to their countries and peoples of origin. When Hypnos, patriarch of House Nyx offers Séverin a second chance at claiming his inheritance in exchange for stealing a mysterious artifact from another House, Séverin’s blind ambition lands him and his crew in the middle of a conspiracy that will test each character’s resolve and pit them against a dangerous organization.

The Gilded Wolves has one of the best casts of characters I’ve come across. I love how each character has their own personality, set of skills, and way of perceiving in the world. Chokshi excels at creating characters whose cultural and sexual identities are incredibly important to them. Identity is the driving force behind all of their motivations and heavily influences how they see themselves. Séverin is obsessed with reclaiming his birthright and isn’t afraid to take dangerous risks in order to do so. Though a natural leader, he isn’t always honest with himself and holds the faulty belief that if he can just become patriarch, he’ll have everything he’s always wanted. Tristan is Séverin’s closest companion, having grown up in a number of foster homes alongside him. Tristan is more interested in his pet tarantula than his adopted brother’s schemes, but they are both fiercely protective of one another. Laila is in her element when she is either in the kitchen baking or taking care of others. Masquerading as a courtesan becomes incredibly resourceful as she is able to gain access to places that would otherwise be closed off to Séverin and his crew. Laila’s past is the most mysterious. Save for Séverin, no one knows of her ability to read memories tied to objects. This gift, or perhaps more aptly a curse, is tied to her origins that even she doesn’t quite understand.

One of my favorite things about this group of characters is the witty dialogue and no one exemplifies this more than the young historian Enrique. From the get-go, he had me in stitches. His humor is always a breath of fresh air and I really like that Chokshi’s doesn’t sacrifice the rest of his character for the sake of comedic relief. Enrique not only has a passion for history, but for his country’s freedom. The Philippines has been under Spain’s thumb for the last 300 years and Enrique wants to be part of helping his country gain independence. Zofia is more adequate when it comes to making bombs than making friends. Some of the most rewarding scenes in this one involve Zofia and Laila. The latter shows incredible patience, slowly helping Zofia come out her shell. The final character is the enigmatic Hypnos, the young patriarch of House Nyx, who was once childhood pals with Séverin. Hypnos is both arrogant and charming. Though regarded as more of an enemy at first, Hynpos feels draw to Séverin and his friends, to their camaraderie, for there’s no denying that Hypnos’s easy smiles actually hide a loneliness underneath.

If you like fantasies rooted in history, Chokshi’s latest novel is the one for you. Chokshi pays close attention to detail, bringing not only her characters, but this world to life. It took a little bit of time for me as a reader to be comfortable moving through this intricate world, but once I did, it was one I wasn’t quite ready to let go of with the closing pages. Forging was an aspect that I really wanted to explore more of. There are individuals in this world able to manipulate matter and the mind, the latter of which is highly regulated as it includes the ability to control minds and create illusions. The former takes on many forms, including the ability to manipulate metal and stone into different forms, even lifelike creatures.

If you like tragic heroes, found families and impossible heists, Roshani Chokshi’s The Gilded Wolves is one you don’t want to miss. I’ll be spending the next year eagerly anticipating the sequel and reeling from this one’s gut-punch of an ending.

4/5

★★★★

PRAISE FOR THE GILDED WOLVES

“Chokshi has created an inclusive and authentic cast with obvious chemistry and affection for one another and infuses the tale with witty banter and twists. A delectably intriguing adventure for all teen shelves.” — School Library Journal, Starred Review

“Evocative writing, sumptuous set pieces, and vividly sketched, authentically flawed characters distinguish this immersive tale of found family and star-crossed romance. Kaleidoscopic narration complements the intricate, high-stakes plot and allows Chokshi to showcase numerous aspects of her richly imagined universe all the way to the closing cliff-hanger.” — Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows and Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code converge in this dazzling new fantasy… An opulent heist adventure that will leave readers voracious for more.” — Kirkus, Starred Review

“Chokshi delivers a thrilling, gritty new fantasy set in an alternate nineteenth century Paris… Chokshi shines as a master storyteller in her newest novel; the setting, world building, plot, and conflict are all staggering. However, the elements that perhaps shine the most are the history, riddles, mysteries, and science, woven together in a world brimming with power and magic.” — Booklist, Starred Review

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: ROSHANI CHOKSHI is the New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen, A Crown of Wishes, and Aru Shah and the End of Time. Her work has appeared in Strange Horizons, Shimmer, and Book Smugglers. Her short story, “The Star Maiden,” was longlisted for the British Fantasy Science Award.

It’s time for a GIVEAWAY. Enter to win a copy of The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi. Click on the Rafflecopter link below to enter, details below.

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

Giveaway Details:

• Giveaway runs from January 16th at 12:00 am through January 22nd at 11:59 pm (PST)
• Open to US residents only
• One lucky winner will win one a copy of The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
• Winner will be selected randomly and emailed (you have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen)
• You must provide your name and shipping info, so I can send it to the publisher
• Prize will be provided by the publisher

2018 Fourth Quarter Book Haul: Is This Self-Control?

I feel like the end of 2018 just rushed by. I resisted about three different Book Outlet sales and a myriad of Barnes & Nobles coupons during the last couple of months of the year. I’m so proud of myself, I may buy a book in celebration. Or is that too counter-productive? I only bought six books in the last three months which is the least amount I’ve purchased in a quarter this year. I did, however, end up with a few more books because of some very generous people. I’m hoping to show just as much self-control next quarter, but have you seen all the new releases coming out?! I recently made a list of books I want to preorder (I might do a post), and there are tons!!!! It will be a true test of self-control. Alright, let’s get to the books already.

Books I Bought:

1. Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan – I got a really good deal on this one from Barnes & Noble, but am a little sad I didn’t get to read it before the end of the year. Hopefully I can find time this month or next.

2. For a Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig – I’ve heard nothing but good things about this novel which deals with both mental health and colonization in a fantasy setting. How cool is that? Still haven’t read it though.

3. Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore – I preordered this one because of course I preordered this one. Anna-Marie McLemore continues to astound with her storytelling ability. I swear, she infuses her books with some kind of magic.

4. Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhouse – You may recall that this was my favorite read of 2018. I think it was like two days after I finished my library copy that I purchased this one for myself. Read it if you haven’t already.

5. Not Even Bones by Rebecca Schaeffer – I bought this one solely on the recommendation of other bloggers and am glad I did. It was one of the best books I read in October when I was reaching for the creepy and spooky reads.

6. Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enríquez – I’ve been really curious about this short-story collection, but couldn’t find it at my library and it was so expensive to buy on Amazon. I ended up purchasing this little edition of it from Book Depository.

ARCs + Author-Sent:

7. Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard – The lovely, generous, kind-hearted Amber Elise @ Du Livre sent me this ARC because she saw how excited I was about it. I am planning a quick reread of the first two books before diving into this one.

8. Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal – This is a P&P retelling that takes place in Pakistan. I was the lucky winner of a Goodreads giveaway for an ARC of this one. I’m not sure I will have time to read it before the release, but I will try to get to it soon.

9. & 10. Suffer the Children and One of Us by Craig DiLouie – I mentioned in a past post that I wanted to read the former novel, but couldn’t get my hands on a copy. Imagine my surprise when the author reached out to me and asked if I’d like a copy of his two novels. Both of these sounds so eerie and I cannot wait to read them.

Christmas Gifts:

11. Jade City by Fonda Lee – After not so subtly providing a list of books I wouldn’t mind finding under the Christmas tree, I ended up with these final three books to close out 2018. I’m really excited about this fantasy book and got a real thrill out of how big this one was. I feel like I need to pick up more big books in 2019.

12. Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Marie Machado – Yes, I’m so happy I own a copy of this short-story collection. I cannot wait to read these stories again.

13. Monstress, Vol. 3: Haven by Marjorie M. Liu, Illustrated by Sana Takeda – I finally got my hands on the third volume of this amazing graphic novel series. I cannot wait to crack it open.

And there you have it! Have you read any of these? Any I need to get to right away? Which books were you gifted this holiday season? Let’s talk in the comments!

Monthly Wrap-Up: December ’18

I am literally putting this monthly wrap-up together last minute because I completely forgot about it (let this not be an omen for 2019). I didn’t read as many books as I thought I would in December, but it still felt like a quality month. I picked up five novels in December including two rereads (Uprooted by Naomi Novik and The Cruel Prince by Holly Black). The latter I buddy read with Carolyn @ A Hundred Thousand Stories. One of the things I was itching to do (and still am) was to do a few rereads and I’m glad I at least got to these two. For 2019, I will be joining the Goodreads challenge yet again, but am making my goal 50 books. This is the least amount of books I’ve ever aimed for and my main reason for doing so is I don’t want to feel a ton of pressure in the latter part of the year. I will also be joining the Beat the Backlist challenge as well, which I still need to put together a post for, but look for it soon.

(Book covers below are linked to my reviews, unless otherwise specified.) 

Favorite Book This Month:

My favorite read in December was Tashi Suri’s sweeping fantasy Empire of Sand. Loved the world-building and I swooned so much because I am a sucker for a slow-burn romance. My review for this one will go up in a week or so. Cover is linked to Goodreads.

Least Favorite Book This Month:

Rebecca Hanover’s The Similars was a bit of a mess. I really liked the concept, but didn’t feel like the story was very well-executed. Expect my mini-review of this one sometime this week.

Reviews Posted This Month:

 

 

Read, Review Coming Soon:

(covers linked to Goodreads)

Notable Blog Posts This Month:

Can’t-Wait Wednesday: The Wicked King by Holly Black – I already have plans for this second novel and after finishing my reread of the first book, I could not be more excited.

Top Ten Tuesday: Fifteen Winter Releases I’m Excited For – There are a ton of wonderful sounding books coming out this winter. Check out my most anticipated list.

End of the Year Book Tag – A quick tag that helped to wrap-up December.

9th Annual End of the Year Book Survey: 2018 Edition – The annual questionnaire is back in which I look back at all the books that stood out in 2018.

Reading Challenges:

Aside from the Goodreads challenge, I only participated in one reading challenge. I can’t remember if 2019 debuts can be included in this number, but I’m going to count it. So I missed my goal by two books which is kind of surprising because I’m so used to picking up a bunch of debuts, but this year I didn’t get to as many. It happens.

1. The 2018 Debut Author Challenge is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. I read one debut in December and that was The Similars by Rebecca Hanover.

• Challenge Goal: 12 books; Final Count: 10 books

January Releases I’m Excited For:

 

Which read was the highlight of your December? Which book will be your first priority in 2019?  Let me know in the comments and feel free to leave me a link to your own wrap-up post and I’ll be sure to visit. Happy New Year!

9th Annual End of the Year Book Survey – 2018 Edition

It’s time for the annual End of the Year Book Survey! This survey was created by Jaime @ The Perpetual Page Turner and is a great way to look back on the reading year. I love sharing which books really stood out to me each year and this time around, I didn’t forget, so I’ve been working on this one since early December. So yay me! Let me know if you are also doing this survey and leave me a link to your own post in the comments. Covers/Titles are linked to Goodreads. Let’s get to the books.

**2018 FINAL READING STATS**

Number Of Books You Read: 68
Number of Re-Reads: 4 1/2 (currently in the middle of The Cruel Prince reread)
Genre You Read The Most From: Fantasy (not surprising)

1. Best Book You Read In 2018?

Every year this question is so cruel, but this year it feels extra cruel. I’ve read some really fantastic books this year and to make me choose which to highlight feels impossible. Which is why I am naming six favorite 2018 reads because no one can tell me I can’t. In the order in which I read them:

1. The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
2. Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
3. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
4. Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali
5. Blanca y Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
6. Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhouse

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

I’ve had a lot of good luck with graphic novels, enjoying nearly every one I’ve picked up. Unfortunately, I did not like Welcome to Lovecraft (Locke & Key, #1) by Joe Hill like so many others did.

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

Amy Tintera’s Ruined really surprised me. If you asked me before I read it whether or not I would enjoy it, I would have bet that it wouldn’t be a positive read for me, but it really worked for me and I’m really intrigued by many of the characters and am very interested in seeing what happens next.

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

I’m hoping that I pushed enough people to read Lily Anderson’s Undead Girl Gang. I really love everything that she’s written and I’m really hoping she gets more recognition.

5. Best series you started in 2018? Best Sequel of 2018? Best Series Ender of 2018

I read many really good first books in a series, but I’m going to mention The Cruel Prince by Holly Black and The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty. Both impressed me as series openers and I can’t wait to continue both series.

For best sequel I am going with Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova. I am so in love with this series and eagerly awaiting the announcement for the third novel.

My favorite series ender I read in 2018 was Elizabeth May’s The Fallen Kingdom. This one made me feel all the emotions and I am really looking forward to seeing more books by this author.

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2018?

Going to resist naming a bunch of debut authors and go with Seanan McGuire and Courtney Alameda. With the former I finally pick up a book from (Every Heart a Doorway) and with the latter, it was kind of like I rediscovered her with Pitch Dark.

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

I don’t pick up short story collections very often, but I fell in love with Carmen Marie Machado’s eerie and strange Her Body and Other Parties.

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

Courtney Summer’s Sadie was an unputdownable mystery. I grew so invested in Sadie’s story that I was racing to the end.

9. Book You Read In 2018 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

There were a lot of really good books I read in 2018 that I can totally see myself rereading. At the top of the list is Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s The Beautiful Ones. I found that book so satisfying and loved nearly every little thing about it.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2018?

There were so many beautiful covers this year, but one that stands out to me is Dhonielle Clayton’s The Belles. It’s such a gorgeous cover and makes me want to take all the book pictures.

11. Most memorable character of 2018?

I felt a really deep connection to Janna from Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali. She completely stole my heart. I wanted to wrap her in a blanket and protect her from the world. I just found out Ali is writing a sequel and I could not be more excited.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2018?

I don’t even have to think about this one. Anna-Marie McLemore astounds, enchants and beguiles with her writing. Blanca y Roja was everything I love about magical realism and fairy tales. McLemore is such a gifted writer whose every word feels like magic.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/Life-Changing Book of 2018?

I could go several different directions with this one, but I’m going with Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X because it was a novel that challenges me to read outside of my comfort zone.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2018 to finally read? 

This one easily goes to Sandhya Menon’s When Dimple Met Rishi. I can’t believe it took me so long to read this book, but it was fantastic. If you ever need a book that will make you smile from start to finish, this is the one you need to reach for.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2018?

This is a difficult one, but I’m sharing a little excerpt from The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo.

“Late into the night I write and
the pages of my notebook swell
from all the words I’ve pressed onto them.
It almost feels like
the more I bruise the page
the quicker something inside me heals.”

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2018?

The shortest book I read this year was Melissa Lozado-Oliva’s poetry collection peluda which I loved so much. I didn’t read a ton of big books this year, the longest was Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor at 536 pages.

17. Book That Shocked You The Most?

How can I not mention Tiffany D. Jackson for this category. Monday’s Not Coming ended up being such a compelling read. It another one of those books that make you want to turn back to the first page just to be sure about what you read.

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

*slams hand on table* Let me tell you about Maggie and Kai from Rebecca Roanhouse’s Trail of Lightning. Maggie is the broody one who keeps people at arm’s length. Kai is a ray of sunshine who makes every page he’s on light up. They are amazing together and I love them.

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

I’m going to include the entire crew in Natalie c. Parker’s Seafire. I love how supportive these girls are of one another.

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2018 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Let’s see, I would have to name Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s The Beautiful Ones and Anna-Marie McLemore’s Blanca y Roja.

21. Best Book You Read In 2018 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.:

Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince has been my consistent answer when it comes to questions involving hype. I really had no intention of reading this one, but it felt like everyone and their mothers were recommending it and so I caved. But it ended up being such a fantastic read and the sequel is now one of my most anticipated 2019 releases.

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2018?

Kai from Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhouse. Listen, he is a ray of sunshine and I love him and will protect him no matter what.

23. Best 2018 debut you read?

Factoring everything in, I’m going to go with The City of Brass by S.A. Charkraborty. I was so impressed with everything in this one. The characters and world-building were top-notch.

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Mirage by Somaiya Daud stands out to me for its vivid and multilayered world-building. I can’t wait to see more from this author.

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Mentioning Sandhya Menon’s When Dimple Met Rishi again because I have never been happier reading a book this year than when I was reading this one.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2018?

I am a crier. Well, not in real life, but fictional stories always make me cry for some reason. Elizabeth Acevedo’s The Poet X had me in tears multiple times.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

I say again, Lily Anderson’s novels are a must. I mentioned Undead Girl Gang earlier, but here I will mention another of her novels I picked up this year. Not Now, Not Ever is a smart, fun contemporary loosely based on The Importance of Being Earnest. Read her books!

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

This one goes out to History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera, who loves to crush all his readers’ souls with each book he writes.

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2018?

I think Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi is going to usher in a new era of fantasy books and I for one cannot wait.

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

I’m only mad about Justina Ireland’s Dread Nation because we have to wait so long for the sequel. I’ve heard both 2019 and 2020 dates and in all honesty, both of these are too long away. Okay, maybe not mad, just sad. *cries*

1. New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2018?

Special shout out to Carolina @ Fictionologyst. I’m so glad I was lucky enough to be paired with you for the Summer 2018 Comment Challenge. I think you are amazing and I’m so happy we’ve gotten to bond over books.

2. Favorite post you wrote in 2018?

I love all of the posts I did for Latinx Heritage Month. I worked really hard on these and was really happy I could help spread the word about all the wonderful books written by Latinx authors. You can check out my series here.

3. Favorite bookish related photo you took in 2018?

Don’t know if I have a favorite photo, but this one seems to be pretty popular over on Tumblr.

4. Best bookish event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events,  etc.)?

Does visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter count for this one? I finally got a chance to visit this truly magical place. My Potterhead heart was so full. I can’t wait to go back again.

5. Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2018?

I received my first physical ARCs from publishers this year and I was over the moon.

6. Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

I had to lower my Goodreads goal this year because I was kind of stressing about meeting it. I’ve decided I am going to keep my goal at 50 next year, so I don’t stress about it so much.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

My most popular blog post this year that wasn’t a meme was Latinx Heritage Month, Part II: New & Upcoming Releases. If you are curious about books by Latinx authors being published between this October through 2019, check this out. I managed to find 50+ titles.

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

I do wish my post Latinx Heritage Month, Part III: Latinx Poets You Should Know got a little more love. These poets are absolutely incredible and I need more people to know them by name.

9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

I finally gave in and became a Barnes & Noble member. So far it has been very worth it, though my bank account might disagree.

10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I met my Goodreads challenge and came up a little short with the Debut Author Challenge and I’m okay with that.

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2018 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2019?

I have neglected this latest release from Naomi Novik and must make the time in early 2019 to pick up Spinning Silver. I reread Uprooted this December because I wanted to pick up something I was sure to love and it has me very excited to finally dive into this Rumpelstiltskin retelling.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2019 (non-debut)?

Do you know how much I love Roshani Chokshi’s writing? So so so much. I’ve already preordered The Gilded Wolves and am now counting down the days until I have this one in my hand. The cover for this one is so pretty, I can’t wait to see it in person.

3. 2019 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

There are so many 2019 debuts I am itching for, but I’m naming We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia. And yes, I’ve already preordered this one.

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2019?

Again, there are a ton of sequels I am looking forward to. One I’m particularly excited about it The True Queen by Zen Cho. Sorcerer to the Crown is one of my favorite novels and now that we are getting a sequel/companion novel, I could not be happier.

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2019?

I’m hoping to get to more books on my shelf which is why I am joining the Beat the Backlist challenge. Look for my sign-up challenge in early January.

6. A 2019 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone (if applicable):

I’ve only read one 2019 release, but felt pretty eh about it.

End of the Year Book Tag

I love doing end of the year tags and while I am still working on completing the annual End of the Year Book Survey, I thought I’d tackle this short one in the meantime. I was tagged by the lovely Annemieke @ A Dance With Books. She is one of my favorite bloggers and if you haven’t had a chance to check out her blog, you should do so now. Covers are linked to Goodreads.

1. Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

I am usually a strict one-book-at-a-time kind of bookworm, so I don’t have any partially read books I’m scrambling to complete by the end of the year.

2. Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

I feel like the only time there is a dramatic shift in my reading choices is back in October when I pick up all the spooky reads I can get my hands on. While I do associate big fantasy books with the winter, it doesn’t necessarily translate to a change in my reading habits.

3. Is there a new release that you’re still waiting for?

There are several new releases I wish I had my hands on, but I think any more book buying I may do will have to wait until the next year.

4. What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

I am planning a buddy reread of Holly Black’s The Cruel Prince with Carolyn @ A Hundred Thousand Stories, I have an ARC of The Similars by Rebecca Hanover I need to start today, and I’m hoping to pick up Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan, but I’ve been in the mood for rereads, so we will see.

5. Is there a book you think could still shock you & become a favorite of the year?

If I do get to Girls of Paper and Fire I am sure I will be blown away.

6. Have you already started making reading plans for 2019?

No, I have not, but I am contemplating joining the Beat the Backlist challenge hosted by Austine @ NovelKnight. It’s a pretty popular challenge that I think would do me some good. I have way too many backlist books on my shelf that need reading.

Tagging anyone who would like to take part. Leave me a link to your post and I will be sure to visit!