It’s Solar Eclipse Day!!!

Who else excited for this?!!  My friend and I are going to watch it outside my house.  I absolutely cannot wait!!  We are only getting 80%, but it’s better than nothing.

 

#ARCAugust Update

I feel like I fell a little behind, because I am only at 4 ARCs completed out of the 12 I originally had.  I just added one to my DNF pile because I just couldn’t get through it, but I am still counting it as “tried” for #ARCAugust.  And I am no longer planning on doing 2 of the original ones I had listed, but am leaving them there until or unless I make it to two others I still have to read for future dates.  Otherwise they are just going to be counted in the “did not read for ARCAugust even though I meant to” pile.  Updated #ARCAugust list here

Anticipated Reads | September 2017

We are halfway through August already, can you believe it?!!  I’m on vacation next week so I am currently counting down the days till then.  In the meantime, I wanted to share some books that I am most excited for which are coming out this September.  September through November tend to see a lot of new releases in anticipation of the holiday season, so of course, I have plenty on my list as well.

September 5th

The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding, by Alexandra Bracken – I’m not going to lie, the name “Alexandra Bracken” is kind of a key factor in why I am eagerly anticipating this book, but also the demon-possession aspect sounds pretty darn cool too.  

Discourse | Cover Changes Mid-Series

Today another series of books I read and own got a makeover.

Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes was one of the first physical ARCs I ever received and I fell in love with it.  I even got the hardcover when it came out, and the sequel when that came out as well.  I admit I haven’t read it yet because I need to reread Ember first because I’m that kind of person.   But today, they revealed the title and cover of the third one.  And the new covers of the first and second one to match.

Okay…but where is the third cover that will match the two I already own??

I mean, I’m not opposed to the new covers – they look cool and Laia looks amazing and all….But why does it have to happen now?  Why not after all of them are published?  I just wish that publishers, if they plan on doing something like this, could maybe consider offering the third one with a cover that reflects the style of the already published covers for those who have been with the series from the start, who love and adore the characters, who spend the money and want their sets to match.  Or wait and do it after the entire series is finished.  Or do only the paperbacks, since those are cheaper than hardcovers as it is.

I already have this problem with The Diviners series by Libba Bray.  Her books come out every two years, and while the writing it so totally worth it, there has been a series cover change for every new release since the start.  I could live with the first two not matching, because they were still in the same color spectrum and I felt both covers were interesting and reflective of the books.  I wasn’t completely happy, but I thought “whatever”.

But this third change?

Here, look at the progression.

Book Review | WICKED LIKE A WILDFIRE, by Lana Popovic

Wicked Like a Wildfire (Hibiscus Daughter #1), by Lana Popović

Publish Date: August 15, 2017 
Published by: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 416
Genre: YA Fantasy
My Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3 out of 5 stars)

**I received this as an egalley from the publisher through Edelweiss in return for an honest review.**

Synopsis:

All the women in Iris and Malina’s family have the unique magical ability or “gleam” to manipulate beauty. Iris sees flowers as fractals and turns her kaleidoscope visions into glasswork, while Malina interprets moods as music. But their mother has strict rules to keep their gifts a secret, even in their secluded sea-side town. Iris and Malina are not allowed to share their magic with anyone, and above all, they are forbidden from falling in love.

But when their mother is mysteriously attacked, the sisters will have to unearth the truth behind the quiet lives their mother has built for them. They will discover a wicked curse that haunts their family line—but will they find that the very magic that bonds them together is destined to tear them apart forever?

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My Review:

I was so excited to read this book, but I am not entirely sure it was what I was hoping for. I believe I came across it after reading The Secret of a Heart Note , which I absolutely loved, and thought it would be along similar lines, and while in some parts it was, for the most it was not. And what it was, was kind of disappointing.

TBR Bingo!

I just found this suggestion on how to push forward in your already-owned TBR over on twitter by @MissDahlELama and decided to try my hand at making one!  Now I’m probably not actually going to start until #ARCAugust is over, because that’s my current priority, but I’ve been falling behind on Beat the Backlist and need to get a move on with that.

The rules are simple: pick 25 books that you already own and haven’t read yet, and every time you see one mentioned on social media or on a shelf, pick it up and read it!  (I’m thinking by ‘shelf’ it means like in a bookstore or on someone’s shelfie or something because I see mine every day and that’s too easy).  Cross it off on your bingo card, and once you hit bingo, treat yourself to a new book or read an ARC!