Mid-year book freak out tag

Thank you to the lovely Katie @ Read with Katie for tagging me! The mid-year book freak out tag was created by two fabulous YouTubers, Read Like Wildfire and Earl Grey Books, they’re pretty awesome book vloggers so go take a look at their channels.

Some of these books didn’t come out in 2017, but I read them this year, so it counts…

The best book you’ve read so far in 2017

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

This was kind of an unexpected treat, I’d seen it mentioned online and as a fan of dark fantasy novels I hoped I’d enjoy it, but I didn’t expect to love it quite as much as I did. I’ll post a review soon, but suffice it to say this is definitely the best book I’ve read this year, and probably since A Court of Mist and Fury this time last year. It’s bloody, and sexy, and really, really dark (literally, for a book called Nevernight there’s a surprising amount of darkness). If you like your YA fantasy on the more mature side, check this little beauty out. The sequel, Godsgrave, comes out this year and I cannot wait to read it.

Best sequel of 2017 so far

The Sleeping Prince (The Sin Eater’s Daughter #2) by Melinda Salisbury

I’ve read a few sequels this year, but the only one I’ve given 5 stars to is The Sleeping Prince. The Sin Eater’s Daughter was one of my favourite books of last year, and book two is a bit of a departure from book one, mainly due to the fact it has a completely different protagonist who we didn’t meet in the first book. As you read further it becomes clear how the new story ties in, and I actually think it was a stroke of genius to show a different side to the events of the story – it takes place after book one, but is set in another town and reveals more of the fictional world and its inhabitants, which I love. If you like quite traditional fantasy inspired by fairy tales then you’ll love this series. The third and final book came out this year and is sitting on my bookshelf just waiting to be read!

A new release you haven’t read yet but want to

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare

I’m stealing Katie’s answer to this one because I received my copy of Lord of Shadows a week or two ago and it’s just sitting on my shelf waiting for me to finish my library books so I can dive right in. Cassie’s books are the kind I need to read as soon as they come out in case I get spoiled on Twitter or Instagram. I’m definitely planning to read this one as soon as possible, I really enjoyed Lady Midnight, although if we’re being honest it was probably my least favourite Shadowhunter novel so far (sorry everyone, I know it’s a lot of people’s favourite). But I love all the characters and I’m so intrigued about the laws for parabatai who fall in love and the consequences, so I’m really excited to read this sequel, even if it breaks my heart (Julian & Emma, Mark & Kieran, all the ships!).

Most anticipated release of the second half of 2017

Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff

Surprise! Not. I cannot wait to see where Mia goes next, the end of Nevernight broke my heart (please don’t be true!) and I need to find out what happens to all my favourite stabby babies – and Mr. Kindly (smol cat of shadows).

Honourable mention: Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

I’m not quite as excited for this book as the usual Throne of Glass novels, I’m expecting to not see anything of Aelin, Rowan and the gang, so that’s slightly disappointing. I am excited to find out what happened when Chaol and Nesryn travelled to the Torre Cesme to find a healer for Chaol’s spinal injuries. Everyone was pretty disappointed when Chaol wasn’t even mentioned in Empire of Storms, despite the short story included at the end of the book, so I’m glad he’s getting his own full length novel (it was intended to be a novella but Maas has trouble trimming her word counts, clearly!). After A Court of Wings and Ruin, it’s clear Maas is trying really hard to write more diverse characters and she has done well in depicting realistic portayals of depression and PTSD in the past, so I’ve got high hopes for her depiction of Chaol’s disability.

Biggest disappointment

The Shadow Queen by C. J. Redwine

I feel like I’m harping on about this now, but I’ve decided to put The Shadow Queen down and maybe come back to it later and try again. I struggled through the first hundred pages and had a stack of library books and new releases building up on my shelf that were calling to me, so I reluctantly DNFed this one. As a fairy tale retelling, there’s no reason why I don’t love this book, so I’m hoping I’ll enjoy it more second time around. There’s nothing I can put my finger on as to why I wasn’t loving it, so I suspect it’s just me.

Biggest surprise

Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence

I’d heard of Mark Lawrence before I picked this one up from the library, but being adult fantasy it wasn’t at the top of my list. Until I received the February Illumicrate with Lawrence’s newest novel, Red Sister. I decided to start at the beginning with Lawrence’s first book, which isn’t set in the same universe as Red Sister, but I figured would be a good place to start and an introduction to his style. Well, I absolutely loved it, I practically inhaled it on holiday in Turkey this April. I’ve just started King of Thorns, book two in the Broken Empires series, and I’ve got Emperor of Thorns ready to go straight after. It’s a similar sort of vibe to Nevernight, so if you’re into dark and bloody adult fantasy, check it out.

Favourite new author

Definitely Jay Kristoff. I’ve heard such good things about the Illuminae series too, so I plan to read those at some point this year.

Newest fictional crush

Ronan Lynch from The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater. I might not be his type, but this is fiction after all!

Newest favourite character

Mr. Kindly from Nevernight. A sassy talking cat, made from shadows who drinks fear? Where can I get one?

A book that made you cry

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

The series finale made me tear up once or twice – I won’t spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read it yet, but there was a particular death that really got to me. I’ll let you guess which one in the comments!

A book that made you happy

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J. K. Rowling

This was an absolute treat to read! Growing up with Harry Potter, it was devastating when I finished the final book and thought I’d never get to live in that world again. I read the other two companion books at the time, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (now a movie, in case you didn’t know!) and Quidditch Through the Ages. This was the last book (before the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child screenplay came out) that I hadn’t yet read. I saw it in my local library and had to get it, and I’m glad I did, I enjoyed every second of it and laughed and cried whilst reading.

Favourite book to movie adaptation you’ve seen this year

Logan

Not strictly a book, as I haven’t seen any book-to-movie adaptations yet this year, but it’s a graphic novel I think, so that counts right? And it was amazing, a totally gripping and heartbreaking movie, let alone superhero movie (which I’m obsessed with anyway). If you haven’t seen it and you’re in any way slightly interested in X-Men definitely watch it immediately (you don’t have to like X-Men, but it’s better if you know a bit of back story).

Favourite review you’ve written this year

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

I fell in love with The Scorpio Races after years of it sitting on my TBR untouched and unloved. It reminded me of my all-consuming love for Maggie Stiefvater, which had been hidden, but never lessened, in the years since I read The Wolves of Mercy Falls and the Books of Faerie. Since reading The Scorpio Races, I’ve ploughed through almost all of The Raven Cycle, and I’m dying to get my hands on All the Crooked Saints. I loved writing this review because I was so happy to have rediscovered a favourite author and discovered a new favourite book.

Most beautiful book you bought or received so far this year

Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones

Just look at that cover! Am I right? This was another book that came in the February Illumicrate, and I haven’t cracked it yet, but it’s an absolute stunner. It’s a sort of Labyrinth reimagining as far as I understand, with a young girl seduced by the Goblin King. I think it’ll be a lovely wintery read, so I might save this one until later in the year.

Books you need to read by the end of the year

There are so many! I’ll try to keep this brief:

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
Illuminae & Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Gentleman Bastard series by Scott Lynch
The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye
The Young Elites by Marie Lu
The Gold Seer Trilogy by Rae Carson
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

I nominate

Louise @ Dragonspire UK

Julianna @ Blots of Ink and Words

Sarah @ Between the Pages

And as always, if you want to do this tag but I haven’t tagged you, feel free to give it a go!

Lyndsey

Ten book series I want to read

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday theme is ten series I’ve been meaning to read but haven’t, so get ready to scream at me in the comments for not having read your faves yet! TTT is a weekly meme hosted by the fabulous ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish, head over there and check out next week’s topic so you can join in the fun.

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

First on my list is The Lunar Chronicles because it’s probably the biggest, most popular series I still haven’t read yet. I’m taking part in a buddy read of Cinder next month, so this one is due to be rectified very soon! Have you read The Lunar Chronicles? Would you recommend it? I’m not usually a sci-fi fan, but I can’t escape how well-loved this series is.

Lux by Jennifer L. Armentrout

This one has been on my list for absolute years, and I’ve heard the love interest is serious book boyfriend material, but I’ve just never gotten round to it. If you’ve read Lux, did you love it? It has great Goodreads reviews, but I worry it will be a little too Twilight for my taste…

Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab

Now, this one I really, really need to rectify! A Conjuring of Light came out this year so I can finally binge the whole series, I just need to get my hands on it. I have a feeling I’ll be waiting a while if I request it from the library…

Monsters of Verity by Victoria Schwab

Continuing the Schwab love, I also need to read This Savage Song and Our Dark Duet. Like, immediately. Which Schwab series would you recommend I read first?

The Young Elites by Marie Lu

I haven’t read any Marie Lu yet, but I hear all good things, so this is right up there on my list. It’s said to be a villain origin story, which sounds amazing (Vicious by V.E. Schwab is another villain origin story on my list) and it has a pretty high rating on Goodreads, so I’ll check this one out soon too.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

I’m not usually a fluffy contemporary girl (in case you didn’t notice from all the fantasy on this list!) but I’ve seen so many people flailing over this series and how cute and adorable it is, how diverse and amazing it is, so I put it straight on my TBR. This is another trilogy where the final book was released recently, so I won’t have to worry about a long wait between books!

The Falconer by Elizabeth May

Set in 19th Century Scotland? Yes, please! The Falconer sounds amazing, and I follow the author on Twitter and she’s just fabulous, so I’m dying to get round to this series soon.

Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

I don’t even have an excuse for not starting this series, I own Rebel of the Sands and have Traitor to the Throne on hold at my library. I’ll definitely read this one in the next few months!

Gentleman Bastard by Scott Lynch

This is billed as part Robin Hood, part Ocean’s Eleven – how good does that sound? Living near Sherwood Forest, I have a soft spot for anything even remotely Hoody. Anti-heroes are definitely my jam, just ask Kaz Brekker. I’m definitely going to see if my library has this now…

Penryn & the End of Days by Susan Ee

This is another that has been on my list for years, and I’m slightly worried might not be my thing anymore. My tastes have changed quite a bit since Fallen and Hush, Hush. If you’ve read this, would you recommend it now?

Time for you to sound off in the comments – have you read any of these? Loved them? Hated them? Pop your TTT post links in the comments too, I need more series recs to add to my vertiginous TBR!

Lyndsey

Review: Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater

Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Magge Stiefvater Review

I am really burning through The Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater! I’ve already downloaded The Raven King and as soon as I finish listening to Nevernight by Jay Kristoff I’ll be getting stuck into the series finale.

If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, you can check out my no spoiler reviews here: The Raven Boys and The Dream Thieves.

TL;DR Gansey is still looking for Glendower, Adam is still proud, Ronan is still angry, and Blue is still independent. Maura is missing, the Grey Man is back and his boss, Greenmantle, is on the hunt for the Greywarren (now aware that it is a who and not a what).

At the end of The Dream Thieves, Maura left a note for Blue to say she was going looking for Artemus – Blue’s father, who disappeared while Maura was pregnant and hasn’t been seen since. Now Maura is missing too, underground in the caves beneath Cabeswater.

Persephone is still helping Adam to master his powers and strengthen the ley line. His bargain with Cabeswater is effecting him more and more, making him darker and moodier, although he has learnt how to interpret its attempts at communication, which are often terrifying manifestations and visions.

“For so long, he’d wanted Gansey to see him as an equal, but it was possible that all this time, the only person who needed to see that was Adam.”

Ronan is still trying to figure out a way to save his mother, and all the other dream things that fell to sleep when his father died. He’s getting closer, his mother is now living in Cabeswater, where she seems to function again. Unfortunately, his dreams are encroaching more and more on his daily life, forcing him to sleep in his car rather than endanger Gansey by dreaming up a hornets’ nest inside Monmouth.

“Ronan was angry-every one of his emotions that wasn’t happiness was anger.”

Ronan and Adam spend a lot more time together in this book, working together on secret plans and using their connections to Cabeswater to try and fix the problems that the gang are battling – namely Greenmantle and his obsession with the Greywarren.

“They regarded each other. Adam fair and cautious, Ronan dark and incendiary. This was Ronan at his most truthful.”

Blue and Gansey’s relationship develops really nicely in this book, they continue to grow closer despite the obvious barriers – the fact that Gansey will die within twelve months and Blue will kill her true love if she kisses him. So, small, surmountable obstacles then.

“Blue was perfectly aware that it was possible to have a friendship that wasn’t all-encompassing, that wasn’t blinding, deafening, maddening, quickening. It was just that now that she’d had this kind, she didn’t want the other.”

Colin Greenmantle and his wife, Piper, are absolutely brilliant villains – funny, snarky and completely immoral. Colin replaces the baddie from book one, Barrington Whelk, as the boys’ Latin teacher at Aglionby, which leads to some hilarious exchanges between Colin and Ronan in Latin. Piper is a fabulously self-serving, sharp-tongued, blonde bombshell with a seriously dysfunctional moral compass. Their relationship is just fascinating, I don’t think I’ve ever loved a couple of villains as much as the Greenmantles.

“She drifted towards the bedroom, on her way to have a bath or take a nap or start a war.”

The other star of this book is Jesse Dittley, a man who’s family farmhouse sits on top of a cave they suspect Glendower might be buried in. As it turns out, the caves are cursed and eventually kill every member of Dittley’s family, including his father and grandfather. He finds Blue’s short stature fascinating and seems to be permanently shouting.

“I AM JESSE DITTLEY. DID YOU NEVER EAT YOUR GREENS?”

We also get to know Malory, Gansey’s British friend, much more in this book. He travels over to Henrietta, accompanied by his emotional support dog, and helps the gang find the caves where the believe Glendower to be hidden.

“Malory, unhopeful: “I don’t suppose you have any tea?”

Jesse: “DO YOU WANT EARL GREY OR DARJEELING?”

Malory: “Oh, sweet heavens!””

I listened to Blue Lily, Lily Blue in two days (I was doing a lot of decorating and gardening due to us moving house next month) and I enjoyed it slightly more than The Dream Thieves. There are a couple of songs in this book, one being the moody and traditional Blue Lily, Lily Blue, the other being the catchy and annoying Murder Squash. I love the layers of art in these books, Maggie Stiefvater is a musician as well as a writer and always creates music for her books – one of the treats of listening to the audio books is not only hearing these songs aloud, but hearing Maggie playing her own music at the beginning and end of each book.

One of my favourite things about The Raven Cycle is the slow development of romantic relationships. The obvious one is Blue and Gansey, who aren’t able to be together because of the aforementioned curses, but also because they don’t want to hurt Adam, who liked Blue first. In this book we finally start to see some hint of romance between Ronan and Adam (that might be a spoiler if you know literally nothing about The Raven Cycle, but if you spend any time at all online – especially Tumblr – then you’ll already know, as I did, that they get together).

It’s been hinted at very subtly throughout the series that Ronan is gay – by subtly, I mean it’s not openly stated and he isn’t constantly eyeing up guys, it is suggested that he feels something stronger than friendship for Gansey in the beginning, but that feeling is obviously not reciprocated. It isn’t at any point (that I noticed) suggested that Adam is gay, or bisexual, until this book, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how their relationship develops in The Raven King.

I gave Blue Lily, Lily Blue 4.5 stars, because it was a more gripping read than The Dream Thieves and had less elements I wasn’t a fan of – if anything, the only thing I didn’t love was Malory, I’m not sure his presence really added anything to the story. The tension and suspense is still present in this book, and I am dying to seeing how it all pans out in the final book.

Have you read The Raven Cycle? Which of the four books was your favourite? I’ve seen online that a lot of readers weren’t happy with the finale so I’m slightly apprehensive, but I really need to see what happens to these characters now, I’m so invested!

Lyndsey

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