2021 Read This Quarter I

What I read this quarter, 2021: Quarter I

January, February & March

- - -

1. The Empress of Salt and Fortune        REVIEWED ✦✦✦.5✧

2. Across the Green Grass Fields        audiobook REVIEWED ✦✦✦.5✧

3. The Inheritance Games        audiobook  ✦✦✦✦✧

4. Among the Beasts and Briars       audiobook  ✦✦✦✦.5

5. One by One       audiobook  ✦✦✦✦✧

6. Instant Karma       audiobook  ✦✦✦.5✧

- - -

7. Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor        audiobook REVIEWED ✦✦✦✦✦

8. Winterborne Home for Mayhem and Mystery        audiobook REVIEWED ✦✦✦✦✦

9. Tulevaisuuden lukujärjestys       Non-fiction ✦✦✦✦✧

10. Story of your life       ebook, short story ✦✦✦✦✧

11. The Shadows Between Us       audiobook ✦✦✦✦✦

Re-Read: The Wrath and the Dawn

Data (not including rereads):

Author:

          82 % female,

          18 % male

Genre:

         36.4 % fantasy,

         27.3 % realistic fiction,

         9 % crime,
         9 % sci-fi,

         9 % non-fiction,

         9 % romance

Pages:

       3 007 p

Format:

         73 % audiobooks,

         18 % physical books,

         9 % e-books

Average:

         4.18

Arcs:

          9 % sent to me (for honest reviews)

*For more info check my Goodreads: link*

Read on lovelies,

S

 

The ‘To-Be-Read’ Book Tag

How do you keep track of your TBR pile?

I use Goodreads (link) and an excel spreadsheet for keeping everything up to date. I also have a yearly blog post about my TBR which I update: link

Is your TBR mostly print or ebook?

Well, my Goodreads To Read shelf includes all the books I want to read so also books I don't own are included. Then I have separate TBR shelves for ones I own depending on the format.

For books in general on my "Want to Read" shelf there are 25 (+15 classics/Christie books). Currently of those I have 7 audiobooks I want to read (which I don't own but classify here), 8 e-books (to read that I own) and 1 physical book.

This is completely different to how it used to be, but I don't like owning books I didn't love so I tend to read them either in another format or from the library before choosing to buy a physical copy

How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?

I usually now which genre I'm in the mood for and scroll through my Goodreads TBR and just choose one. I also tend to already choose my next read whilst reading something else

A book that has been on your TBR list the longest?

It was Sorcery and Cecilia, but I recently DNF'd it, so now I think it is Soul of Stars?

A book you recently added to your TBR pile?

My most recent (and only) physical book I have and haven't read yet is Iceman

A book on your TBR strictly because of its beautiful cover?

I don't think I've ever done this purely on the cover! Sure scrolling through Goodreads I see beautiful books, but then I read the synopsis and based on that it might be added to my "Want to read"

A book on your TBR that you never plan on actually reading?

I don't have an answer to this, since I actually want to read everything on my TBR! Though this does remind me that I do own two other physical books I haven't completely read, but they are in another category (Grimm's complete fairytales and Aeosop's fables)

An unpublished book on your TBR that you are excited for?

Gilded, the new book by Marissa Meyer

A book on your TBR that basically everyone has read except you?

Hmm I'm really not sure on this one. The book on my "Want to Read" shelf with most ratings on Goodreads is Fablehaven #3 so that I suppose?

A book on your TBR that everyone recommends to you?

Taking us back to the previous question, the Fablehaven series is only on my list because it was recommended to me

A book on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

My next read is Shadows Between Us though I really want to get to Sky Beyond a Storm, but I'm waiting for the right mood to finish that last book

The number of books on your Goodreads TBR shelf?

I already mentioned this, but my "Want to Read" shelf has 25 books, "Classics/Christie-to-read" has 15

Read on lovelies,

S

Winterborne Home of Vengeance and Valor : review

 Winterborne Home for

Vengeance and Valor

& Mayhem and Mystery

by Ally Carter

*eARC kindly provided by the publisher through NetFalley in exchange for an honest review!*

SUMMARY

April didn’t mean to start the fire. She wasn’t even the one who broke the vase.

She had absolutely no intention of becoming the only person who knows that Gabriel Winterborne, the missing-and-presumed-dead billionaire, is neither missing nor dead and is actually living in the basement of Winterborne House, sharpening his swords and looking for vengeance.

Now that April knows Gabriel Winterborne is alive, it’s up to her to keep him that way. But there’s only so much a twelve-year-old girl can do, so April must turn to the other orphans for help. Together, they’ll have to unravel the riddle of a missing heir and a creepy legend, and find a secret key, before the only home they’ve ever known is lost to them forever.

Goodreads' link to the book!

Release Date: March 3rd 2020 & March 2nd 2021

- - -

Stars: ✦✦✦✦✦

So as usual, I'll tell 5 things I liked about the book and 0 things I didn't care for.

I don't think it's any secret that I really enjoy books by Ally Carter, with these literally being the 14th and 15th book I've read from her (excluding short stories, which I have also read).

The Gallagher Girls was the first series I remember being frustrated at since I had to wait a year for the next book, again and again - and yes this is a sign of a good series! And my 5th post - ever - was a review of that (though I don't recommend going back to read those first ones!).

My point here is, that when I heard of this new middle grade series by her I added it to my tbr without really know long what it's about, and it did not disappoint!

And it probably doesn't need to be said that when the next one comes, I'll be here for it!

+1 | The writing simply grips you along for a ride

+1 |It's whimsical like middle grade often is, but without being too whimsical

+1 | Adventure and actions galore

 +1 |The combination of characters all fleshed out with stories, dreams and fears

+1 | The interaction between friends and all the other types of relationships

Read on lovelies,

S

The Cake Book TAG

The Cake Book TAG

Today is my birthday, and in honor of that here is the cake book tag!

And I'm trying to keep the answers to books I read (or reread) last year

FLOUR

A BOOK THAT WAS A LITTLE SLOW TO START OFF BUT REALLY PICKED UP AS IT WENT ALONG

The Empress of Salt and Fortune. It is tiny and packed, but it took me some time in the beginning to get used to the style (you can find my review up on the blog in two weeks!)

BUTTER

A BOOK THAT HAD A RICH, GREAT PLOT

The Turn of the Key had a variety of characters with an indescribable atmosphere, all intertwining into a cohesive murder mystery plot unlike another I've read

EGGS

A BOOK YOU THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE BAD BUT ACTUALLY TURNED OUT QUITE ENJOYABLE

I don't think I ever pick up a book thinking it'll be bad, but a book that was better than expected would be Faith: Taking Flight

SUGAR

A SUGARY, SWEET BOOK

Kasie Wests books, fluffy and easy books to fly through and the perfect answer for me - but not a read from last year though.

Oddly enough I didn't read any "sweet" and "fluffy" books last year, with the closest being Book Love the graphic novel about a book lover

ICING

A BOOK THAT COVERED EVERY SINGLE ELEMENT THAT YOU ENJOY ABOUT A BOOK (FUNNY MOMENTS, ACTION MOMENTS, SAD MOMENTS, ETC.)

The Lady Janies books, I read My Calamity Jane last year, but My Lady Jane in particular fits this question. From humor and action to romance, they have it all

SPRINKLES

A BOOK SERIES THAT YOU CAN KIND OF TURN BACK TO FOR A LITTLE PICK ME UP WHEN YOU’RE FEELING DOWN

The Harry Potter books would be the first thing that comes to mind, but I didn't reread any last year

Alice in Zombieland series are exactly this though as well, quick and easy reads to go back to!

THE CHERRY ON TOP

YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK THIS YEAR SO FAR

Out of the 5 books I've read this year (at the time of writing this), my favourite is Among the Beasts and Briars

Read on lovelies,

S

Update: Things Are Happening

 Blog Update:

Things are happening

I had mentioned when I took my Winter break that I'll be starting back up in February, which I will do starting Saturday the 20th on a biweekly schedule as before - for now.

But just as a heads up, the content might not be as regular and similar as to what it was before. We will all be figuring out what this will look like as the year progresses!

For now I want to continue with the pattern of one review a month, one tag a month, and something slightly different for a post in months with three posts.

I'm sure things will change even though that's the plan for now, I mean just look back at 2013 when I started! But I'll still be here, and you can always see what I'm reading on my Goodreads page: link.

Read on lovelies,

S

2021 Anticipated Reads, New Releases and Goals

 2021 Anticipated Reads, New Releases and Goals

2020 list: link

Anticipated reads (already out):

> Inheritance Games, Barnes

> Moment of Truth, West

> Winterborne Academy for Home for Vengeance and Valor, Carter

> Once Upon a Con #3, Poston

> A Sky Beyond the Storm #3, Tahir

> Of Curses and Kisses, Menon

> One by One, Ware

New releases:

> My Contrary Mary, The Lady Janies

> The Heart Principle, Hoang

> Across the Green Grass Fields, McGuire

Goals: (same as last year)

> Read more classics than I have been (ideally maybe 5 in 2021)

> Another goal is to expand what I read

> Finish series and not push the last book back

Read on lovelies,

S

TBR 2021

 TBR 2021

This is a work in progress, last updated: October 5th

Like the one for last year (link), these are books I own but haven't read yet.

Start of the year: 12

           Gotten 2019 (the ones I *need* to get to zero by the end of the year!)

           Gotten 2020 (the ones I'll try to get to zero by the end of the year)

           ARCs and books sent for review

TBR:

         1. Sorcery & Cecelia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot  DNF

               .2 Soul of Stars ebook

               .3 The Beautiful ebook 

               .4 Sisters of Sword and Song (pub. Jun. 23rd -20) ebook

   .5 Of Curses and Kisses ebook

   .6 River at Night ebook

   .7 One By One ebook

   .8 Bookish and the Beast ebook

   .0 Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valour ebook

   .10 The Inheritance Games ebook

   11. Iceman Kimin matkassa

   .12 Moment of Truth ebook

   .13 Shadows Between Us audiobook

   .14 Blade of Secrets audiobook

   .16 Sky Beyond the Storm audiobook

   .17 Pride and Premeditation audiobook

   .18 My Contrary Mary ebook

   .15 Pygmalion audiobook

   .16 Fellowship of the Ring audiobook

   .17 The Two Towers audiobook

   .18 Return of the King audiobook

   .19 Girl at Heart ebook

   .20 Gilded audiobook

   .21 Hawthorne Legacy ebook

CLASSICS:

>1. Andersen 15/99

>2. Aesop's Fables 63/384
+ Jane Austen x2 (Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park)
+ Christie x4 (Crooked House, Curtain, Peril at End House, Death in the Clouds)
+ Other x2 (Great Gatsby, Treasure Island)

*For stars and more info check my Goodreads: link*

Read on lovelies,

S