Recently in Reading | September 2016

"Recently in Reading" is a new feature on my blog that I created myself, although I did adapt it from the Goodreads Tag and made it into a feature that I could do semi-regularly on my blog!

This was the last book that I read, and oh heavens, it was fantastic. I absolutely adore Nina and Matthias with all my heart. Definitely two of my most beloved characters that I've read this year. Also, this is home to two of the best and most well-developed characters that I read this year: Kaz and Inej. I haven't picked up Crooked Kingdom yet, but FRIDAY.

I picked up Jay's newest release a couple of weeks ago, and I really love it. I'm only a few chapters in, but I love the writing. If you're not a fan of overly descriptive and almost flowery writing, this might not be for you. However, I am a really huge fan of beautiful writing, so I am enjoying this so far.

I have always been really interested in Norse Mythology, and I have a book of the main mythology around it somewhere in the depths of my bookshelf. So, when I saw this pop up on Goodreads when a friend of mine shelved it, I immediately went to add it to my TBR because if Gaiman can't kick me to learn about Norse Mythology, then nothing can.

This book is set to be released in February 2017.

Like I said earlier, I am picking up my copy of this beautiful book on Friday when Leigh Bardugo comes to my local(ish) indie bookstore. I'm really excited to meet her, and I am even more excited to pick this book up and flail while I read it. Or cry. Don't tell me what to expect. I don't want to know!

I won a Twitter giveaway for an ARC of Iron Cast from the author (which means I also got some pretty cool swag and she signed my book) and I'm super stoked for it. Hopefully, after I devour CK, I won't be in too bad of a mourning period and can read and review this by the time it's released.

I'm not quite sure what I will want to buy next. I am really trying to stick to my book buying ban, so since I technically pre-ordered Crooked Kingdom and have already paid for it, I don't want to put that here. Instead, right now I am thinking I might buy The Devil in the White City or On the Other Side. However, that's a while off, so let's not think about it right now!

Now, I would put Six of Crows here again just because it was that fantastic. However, I want this portion to be able to include new favorite books, fandoms, authors, quotes, series, etc. This time around it's a new favorite quote, conveniently from Six of Crows:

"Many boys will bring you flowers. But someday you'll meet a boy who will learn your favorite flower, your favorite song, your favorite sweet. And even if he is too poor to give you any of them, it won't matter because he will have taken the time to know you as no one else does. Only that boy earns your heart."

Aww. This book is just too perfect, too wonderful for this world.

What did you think of this feature? I'm thinking of doing it every few months or just whenever I feel the urge to do it. I really like it, so tell me what you think of it down in the comments!

Also, let me know what has been your most recent bookish favorite, whether it be a subscription box, a fandom candle, jewelry, a quote, or an event that you went to!

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What Happens When You Give a Booknerd a Barnes & Noble Giftcard

Stacking the shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and it's all about sharing the books that have come into your possession throughout the week, whether it books added to your collection, ebooks, library books, etc. Sunday post is a weekly meme  hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer where bloggers can recap their week, showcase books, and share news.

Yes, I know that it is Tuesday. I was supposed to put up a T10 post up today, and I literally had four posts to put up last week that just didn't happen because midterms are currently kicking my ass.

So, today, I am going to post a book haul because I want to. 

The Demon King (Seven Realms #1) | Romeo and/or Juliet | We Should All Be Feminists | Men Explain Things to Me

So, if you follow Lauren DeStefano on twitter, then you know that she does a lot of B&N gift card giveaways because she's fucking amazing. AND I WON ONE. (I've been winning quite a few giveaways recently *knocks on wood* and it's been great for my book buying ban.)

These weren't all the books that I bought. I placed three separate orders on B&N to maximize pre-orders and free shipping, so they will be in my fall book haul!

• WE SHOULD ALL BE FEMINISTS: 5 STARS. This is the amazing speech that Adichie gave at a TED convention a few years ago. You need to read this and/or listen to the speech. Preferably both. Now.
• ROMEO AND/OR JULIET: This is a choose your own adventure novel with Romeo and Juliet. It's hilarious, and I love it so so much. If you've read any comics from Ryan North and love the humor, pick this up.
• THE DEMON KING: I have heard 65829358750265819 good things about this book. I needed to pick it up.
• MEN EXPLAIN THINGS TO ME: FEMINISM!

Have you read any of these books? What books have you gotten recently? Tell me down in the comments!

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Back to School Library Book Haul! | STS

Stacking the shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, and it's all about sharing the books that have come into your possession throughout the week, whether it books added to your collection, ebooks, library books, etc. Sunday post is a weekly meme  hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer where bloggers can recap their week, showcase books, and share news.

So, the public library just a couple streets away from my university is absolutely amazing. It's four floors of amazing, and there are new corners and nooks that I discover every time that I walk in. Unlike my library back home, they have a whole section just for YA and MG books instead of mixing them in with the adult books. This makes it so much easier to browse for books that I want to read (and end up walking out with 12 books tucked underneath my arms and in my tote bag).

• SIX OF CROWS: I've come to accept the fact that I won't finish Siege and Storm, Ruin and Rising, and Six of Crows before the release of Crooked Kingdom. So, I've decided to just aim to read SoC before the sequel's release. However, neither my hometown library nor the library in my college town has the e-Audio of this. Now I need to figure out how to speed up an iTunes audio . . . or suffer through 16 very slow hours.
• EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE: I haven't seen this movie, but one of my challenges for the year is to read a book to movie adaptation. The movie stars Tom Hanks (so I'm sure it'll be fantastic), and I have it back at home. Also, I have heard positively wonderful things about this book and would love to read it. 
• CARRY ON: I read this last year when it came out; however, I did not bring it with me to school, and I've been feeling the urge to reread it (especially after the disaster of Cursed Child). The link will lead you to my review if you want to know all of my fangirling thoughts. 
• THE KISS OF DECEPTION, THE HEART OF BETRAYAL: Even though I doubt that I'll get to both of these, I went ahead and picked the pair up. With the recent release of the third book, my intrigue for this series has once again peaked.

• ERAGON: I am reading this right now, and frankly I am shocked that I haven't read it earlier. I vaguely remember my sister reading it in high school. (They read it for a class and got extra credit for seeing the movie in theaters . . . yes, she's old.) And I've always kind of been interested in it because dragons and not just dragons sentient dragons. My favorite kind of dragons. Jean and Trina have both recently recommended this series, so when I saw it on the shelves, I immediately grabbed it.
• AND I DARKEN: TBH I probably won't read this before returning it. I just saw it and was like "I'll totally be in the mood to finish this!" . . . This was before I saw the entire Inheritance Cycle in the library.
• THE SIGN OF FOUR (GRAPHIC NOVEL): I was so happy to see this there! I really enjoyed the first two in this graphic novel series (The Hound of the Baskervilles, A Study in Scarlet) of Doyle's work
• SPIDER-GWEN, VOL. 1: GREATER POWER: 4 stars! I have already read this and really enjoyed it! This is the first official volume in the Spider-Gwen series, although reading volume 0 is a must! If you've ever watched any of the Spiderman movies and laughed at Peter Parker's sense of humor, pick this up. If you're new to Marvel, this takes place in an alternate universe, so you don't really need to know any Marvel background . . . and you should pick this up. Everyone should read this series.
• CIVIL WAR: I saw the movie. Now that the hype has died down and the trade was available for checkout, I grabbed it quick as I could because this story fascinates me. I know a bit of comic story and what was changed for the movie, so I am excited to read it for myself.
• DOCTOR STRANGE, VOL. 1: THE WAY OF THE WEIRD: The movie is coming out, and I literally know nothing about Doctor Strange. I want to know at least a little going into the movie.

What books have you picked up recently? Tell me down in the comments!

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Required Nerdy Shows: 10 Favorites That Make Me Geek-Out (And You Need to Watch ASAP)

"Top Ten Tuesday" is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish to share lists (because we love them) about books and bookish things.

There was no possible way for me to put these in any kind of order. None. (Although, there are some honorable mentions at the end because I couldn't just pick 10 TV shows.)

How I found this show: On tumblr, the fancast for Rowena Ravenclaw is Katie McGraith (Morgana), so one day--out of curiosity--I went down an internet hole and figured out that she was in this show. Months later, I had just finished Parks & Rec and was scrolling through Hulu (procrastinating, as usual) and found this gem. I watched the first three seasons in a couple of weeks, and then took a break and watched the last two seasons this summer.

I could go on for years talking about this show. It's not perfect, and it has that "recurring bad character" trope that the protagonist refuses to kill in the last few season and that does get a bit old; however, I absolutely love shows and books and movies that are set in this time period. Give me a bunch of dudes riding around on horses in chainmail and armor, kings with crowns and capes, and women in beautiful dresses over the average plebeians any day.

(Although, I will be the first to admit that I still haven't watched the final two episode because I don't want it to be over.)

Anything that plays with Arthurian legends, has magic, and dragons (!!!) is 100% for me.

FAVORITE CHARACTERS: Guinevere, Gaius, The Great Dragon, Gwaine, Lancelot
LEAST FAVORITE CHARACTERS: Uther Pendragon, Morgause

In an attempt to hide from my scrooge-like family on Christmas Eve a few years ago, I hid away in the sunroom and turned on the TV, flipped through until I found BBCA and stopped because "Let's Kill Hitler" is an eye-catching episode title. I was immediately entranced (albeit incredibly confused) and watched the next episode that they aired, which was one of the specials with James Corden. I didn't really know who James Corden was, but I loved him. I was still very confused.

That evening, with a newly acquired VISA gift card, I bought my very first Netflix subscription and proceeded to watch and rewatch this show for the next few months. I became obsessed. I genuinely remember my mom walking in on me watching this show and saying "Really? Since when did you like this show?" She knew that there was no going back and that I was lost.

At least I wasn't doing drugs, mom.

FAVORITE DOCTOR: Ten
FAVORITE COMPANIONS: Donna, Amy and Rory (I love their storyline), River, Jack Harkness

Basically everything on this list is a show where you have to watch from beginning to end without skipping or you miss things. However, everyone needs that one show that you can just pick up whenever you're feeling tired of extended character arcs. While I definitely don't keep up with this show now (because Derek is gone *cry face emoji*), I will watch reruns of this show until I die because I love Spencer Reid and I find serial killers extremely fascinating. (I feel like this says bad things about me.)

This show has been my newest obsession. I watched the first three seasons in four days over the summer because each season only has 10 episodes, so it's completely doable.

Long story short: Tatiana Masley is a goddess of acting. She plays all of her clones, who are all very different, and I want to be as skilled as her at any skill. Anything. She's fantastic. Please go binge it.

I've been obsessed with this show since it premiered when I was in high school. I went through a phase when I didn't watch it for about a year after the mid-season finale for season 2 or 3, but then I came back full force and haven't let go.

This was a mini-series on Hulu that aired this past spring, and despite the fact that James Franco is the lead, it's actually amazing. It's a show based on a Stephen King novel about a man who goes back in time in order to prevent the assassination of JFK (hence the title, 11.22.63). The element of time travel is done extremely well, and I think that it also digs deep into these characters and their relationships with each other, despite the short amount of time with them.

This is a wonderful show, and you should definitely use that free trial to watch this.

I don't know what more I need to say about this show other than the fact that Dame Maggie Smith stars in it. Naturally, she's amazing, and if you think a show about a rich, snobby family in the 1920s wouldn't be interesting, you are very wrong.

There are only two seasons of this show because ABC decided to cancel it. However, the two seasons that we do get are fantastic. Hayley Atwell is a fantastic actress, and the humor that Dominic Cooper (Howard Stark) brings to this show is absolutely beautiful. We also get to see Jarvis as a real human and not a red, flying one with a built-in cape. Clearly, this is set in the 1950's after the end of Captain America: The First Avenger.

I love Peggy. I miss Peggy. Give me more Peggy.

This show is absoulte trash. Believe me, I know.

This show has gone 4 seasons past it's prime, but do I still religiously watch this show and cry during every episode. Yes, I do.

If you haven't heard of this show by now, I don't know what bunker you've been living in for 12 years, but this is a very unrealistic show about surgeons in an imaginary hospital in Seattle, WA.

Again, if you have somehow not heard of this show, I would be baffled. Even before I binged this show this past spring, I'd been aware of it's existence for at least 3 or 4 years (or more, who knows?) because my sister really liked this show when it was on air.

Also, I am super hype for the revival. (I haven't watched S7; however, I have looked up episode summaries and know everything that happens.) If she doesn't end up with Jess, I'm going to riot.

Honorable Mentions

Because I love TV way too much to just pick 10 favorites.

What's your favorite of these? What's one that I need to watch ASAP or I might die?

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August Wrap-Up & September TBR

*all links lead to full reviews on either goodreads or my blog!*

• GIANT DAYS, VOL. 2: Best group of friends! - 5 stars! I think this is my favorite comic series ever? I don't like saying that, but I'm pretty confident in the fact that this series is absolutely amazing. It's a contemporary graphic novel series about a group of college roommates and all of their college adventures. Read it. Now.
• HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD: Biggest disappointment. - 1 star. I'm going to defer to the link on this one. Basically, this was the biggest mess of a play that I've ever read.
• THE BANE CHRONICLES: Best mix of characters! - 4.5 stars! This was so refreshing after I didn't really enjoy Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare. I really enjoyed all of the stories in this, and it was brilliant to revisit my favorite character in this universe. I'm sure at this point, everyone's heard of it.
• MS. MARVEL, VOL. 4: LAST DAYS: Best superhero cameo! - 4 stars! I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE END OF THE SERIES, BUT THERE'S ANOTHER VOLUME. *grabby hands*
• HAMILTON: THE REVOLUTION: Brought me the most joy! - 12 billion stars . . . okay, 5 stars! Do I really need to explain? This contains all the lyrics to Hamilton with footnotes from Lin and essays on the actors and the making of the musical. It's pretty dope. Listen to Hamilton if you haven't. Invest of this piece of actual art if you haven't yet.
• CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET: Most *eyerolls* in a book. - 2.5-3 stars. Again, I defer to the link on this one. I had quite a few problems with this book, most of which revolve around the romance (AKA: the main point of this book) and I'm honestly considering lowering this rating to 2 stars because I constantly think about how many issues I had with it.

POSTS I REALLY ENJOYED WRITING THIS MONTH

• CAN WE CRITIQUE OUR FAVES?: A half response post to a video, a half call to arms. Give it a read, I'm really proud of it.
• 12 MONTHS OF RECOMMENDATIONS: Part of the goodreads group from Trina and Kayla. I've never felt confident in any of the topics, but this is almost like a tag where I recommend you a book from each of the previous month's topics. 
• BOOKS I BROUGHT TO COLLEGE: HOW THE HECK AM I A SOPHOMORE? *has an identity crisis*

TBR:

Siege & Storm | Ruin & Rising | Six of Crows | This Savage Song

As I've endlessly shouted into the aether of the internet for the past two months, I am meeting Leigh Bardugo in September for the CK release. I can't be like "I mildly enjoyed Shadow and Bone, but I own all of your books. Also, you have a fantastic personality, and your Instagram stories give me life."

That would just be embarrassing. Therefore, I must at least finish the Grisha trilogy this month. AT LEAST.

Was was the best book you read last month? What book are you excited to read this month? Tell me down in the comments!

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