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ABC BOOK CHALLENGE – E
This seems like a fun challenge to participate it. Let’s see how many letters I can get.
E is eldritch creatures, enchantments and exquisite tastes.
MOST MEMORABLE READS WITH THE LETTER E:
review here One of the best written book in the series. That cliffhanger!
review here Exquisite Corpse was my introduction to gay serial killers. That it was also an intense love story between the two killers made it an all-time favorite book.
review here One of Aleksandr Voinov’s best work. Witches of London – Eagle’s Shadow was also among the earliest MM books I read that completely blew me away.
review here A cover like this will always make me remember this book. It also deserves a good story. While not perfect, An Enchantment of Ravens still delivered a captivating fae-human story.
I tried. Twice. I still couldn’t past how dreary it is. I’m sorry Jane Austen, I don’t get you yet.
BOOKS ON MY TBR
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ABC BOOK CHALLENGE – D
This seems like a fun challenge to participate it. Let’s see how many letters I can get.
D is devils, dream thieves and dark ones.
MOST MEMORABLE READS WITH THE LETTER D:
review here I like how those Desert Eagles look like they’re cuddling. We get Ethan’s POV here! I nearly died.
review here I am so tired of metaphorical uses of devil on book titles, I gave a big hurrah when Devil Take Me was released. With stories ranging from rom-com to full on gore, this anthology puts the Devil on the spotlight. It was a blast!
Sebastian St. Vincent. The quintessential rake with whom all historical romance male love interests pale in comparison.
review here Grey finally comes out to play.
review here Ronan. Love him.
One of my Japanese acquaintance recommended this book because the detective was a physics major and the suspect was a math professor, both of which were related to my undergraduate degree. The twists were very interesting. One of the most enjoyable mysteries I have read.
If someone went around interviewing people what they think about me, my neighbors will say I am an ill-mannered weirdo who throw horrendous tantrums. Partly true especially when I wasn’t yet on meds but I don’t feel the need to explain that to them. The Daughter of Time was memorable because Jennifer Tey took one notorious villain and peeled off layers exposing the misunderstood human beneath.
Watch series is an all-time favorite of mine. Daywatch is the second book and sheds some light on the dark ones which of course totally drew me to their side.
BOOKS ON MY TBR
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ABC BOOK CHALLENGE – C
This seems like a fun challenge to participate it. Let’s see how many letters I can get.
C is cruel, captivating creatures.
MOST MEMORABLE READS WITH THE LETTER C:
review here Of course.
They’re not the most high brow of the genre but I collect this cozy little Cat Who books because CATS+MYSTERY = ADDICTION.
review here. This is a precious, precious little snippet because it gave us a glimpse inside David Cyprian’s closely guarded heart. Also, his friendship with Silas is one of the best things about A Society of Gentlemen.
review here An all-time favorite. I don’t like the zombie genre but Creature has a special place in my heart for being one of the most emotionally satisfying book I’ve read.
review here Cronin’s Key is memorable not only because it is a well-written story about fated ones, vampires, alt-history and Egyptology but also because it’s sequel was such a huge disappointment
review here Jude and Cardan’s hate-sex vibes are so strong they should combust any minute now. The best fae book I’ve read for a long time.
review here Memorable for the fact that everybody loved this but it significantly failed to impress me.
BOOKS ON MY TBR
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ABC BOOK CHALLENGE – B
This seems like a fun challenge to participate it. Let’s see how many letters I can get.
B is boys, beauty, brothers, blood.
MOST MEMORABLE READS WITH THE LETTER B:
review here Still my top fave all these years.
Boy Meets Boy is memorable as the first western book I read about gay school boys that was happy and fluffy. Happy and gay is the way to go, my dear authors.
review here I came for the squees and stayed for the lush beauty of it all.
Harper Fox’s poetic prose should win awards, IMO, and not just in the MM romance category. I think her writing is better than than most overblown books tagged as ‘literature’. Brothers of the Wild North Sea is a sweeping epic love story of a Viking and a monk, a search for hidden treasure and a spiritual journey rolled into one.
In the Hills, the Cities, is still one of the most original horror stories I have come across with. Clive was at the top of his game at that time.
review here Bloodline was MAJOR. It’s where Whyborne showed how truly bad-ass he can be and he and Griffin took a big step forward in their relationship. One of the best books in the W&G series.
I read Beauty Pop at the time when I was studying how to cut hair. I was going through a phase where I wanted to be a hairstylist. Like most of my endeavors, it didn’t pan out unfortunately but at least I know precisely what to tell my hairstylist when he cuts my hair. Never complained about a haircut ever since.
review here I adore Theo Wishart. So much so that whenever I meet a character named Theo, I always remember him. Also, Luca still owes him that dream wedding.
review here Because Jack and Ethan.
review here Blood and gore, no holds barred violence, deadly child assassin. FUN.
BOOKS ON MY TBR
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ABC BOOK CHALLENGE – A
This seems like a fun challenge to participate it. Let’s see how many letters I can get.
A is A.I., aliens and adventures.
MOST MEMORABLE READS WITH THE LETTER A:
review here Murderbot is one of the most relatable characters I have come across with. Anyone who would just rather Netflix and chill than mingle with the hoi poloi will see themselves nodding at Murderbot’s life-choices.
This is best experienced as an audiobook since it’s narrated by Kevin R. Free who always does a spot on job at bringing introverted curmudgeons and misanthropes to life. He is also the voice of Christopher ‘Kit’ Holmes, the over-thinking and self-absorbed amateur sleuth of the Holmes & Moriarity series by Josh Lanyon.This H.P. Lovecraft creation stood out not because I liked it but because it was such a mind-numbing litany of architectural details, I actually felt my brain going dry.
For a much more entertaining and readable version, I recommend Hoarfrost, Whyborne and Griffin‘s adventure in Alaska.review here Who could forget Charl, the pure and kind-hearted merchant who helped Damen and Laurent out of an awkward and very dangerous situation?
This has some of the funniest and fluffiest Captive Prince moments.
When horror master Clive Barker creates a children’s book, it comes out magical and extraordinary. I have always loved how over the top his imagination is and Abarat is a classic example of this.
Also I was shipping Candy and Christopher Carrion. Yeah, creepy. I know.
Always a favorite. I love how you can mine the Wonderland world with a lot of story ideas.
For the gay version, witness the Hatter fall in love in Mad About The Hatter by Dakota Chase.
BOOKS ON MY TBR
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Book Addiction Tag
Found this tag here.
1) What is the longest amount of time you can comfortably go without picking up a book?
A couple of days to a week when I am on a slump. The worst one was a 3 year-book slump in the early 2010s when every YA book seemed to feature special snowflake white girls, broody asshole love interests and the dreaded love triangles. Hooray for diversity!
2) How many books do you carry on your person (or kindle) at any one time?
I used to carry at least one small paperback but now I have my tablet so it packs A LOT. Funnily enough, I hardly read when I am out. Just the thought of all those books with me is a comfort though.
3) Do you keep every book you buy/receive or are you happy to pass them on to make space for more?
I hoard so no matter how bad the book is, it still has a place on my shelf. I even used to keep termite eaten books because I was so attached. I have reformed, somewhat.
4) How long would you spend in a bookshop on a standard visit?
We have only two sources of books in my town both of which are located inside major malls. One is a used book chain where I could browse as long as I want which can take 30 mins to a couple of hours. The other is a giant book store chain where the security guards seem to think I am a weirdo they need to constantly monitor which is not really conducive to leisurely browsing.
5) How much time per day do you actually spend reading?
An hour or two now that I have been warned by doctors after having dry eyes. Who knew dry eyes could cause serious migraines, vomiting and a stay in the hospital.
6) Where does the task ‘picking up a book’ appear on your daily to-do list?
Every time I step inside a mall, I have the urge to drop by the aforementioned bookstores so I really make a conscious effort to avoid them or else my budget is whacked!
7) How many books do you reckon you own in total (including e-books)?
More than a thousand is my guesstimate
8) Approximately how often do you bring up books in conversation?
I almost never do. Because hardly anybody reads around here. Also, I tend to keep my hobbies and interests to myself mostly because I know people are not interested in them.
9) What is the biggest book (page count) you have finished reading?
1110 pages of Caesar and Cleopatra by Colleen McCullugh. Gone were the days when I consider this light reading. Now, I’m all give me something short and gay
10) Is there a book you had to get your hands on against all odds (i.e searching bookshops, online digging, etc.)?
Still pining for that out of print edition of Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko. Also, I’m dying to get my hands on the Abarat books by Clive Barker and first editions of the Sandman comics by Neil Gaiman
11) A book you struggled to finish but refused to DNF?
There’s a bookmark stuck in the middle of The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch. It has been there for more than a year. I refuse to give up on Locke and Jean.
12) What are 3 of your main book goals for 2019?
- Take better care of my eyes so I can still read books when I’m old.
- Finish ARCs on time.
- Read more books from my TBR list rather than always starting randomly on any shiny new tome that catches my fancy. This is probably the most difficult goal of the three.
13) Have you ever had the privilege of converting someone into a reader (maybe via inspiration or incessant nagging)?
I am happy that my father and sister read some of my collection but like I said, hardly anybody around here is interested in reading. I have even offered to lend my Harry Potter books to younger relatives (something I never do under normal circumstances) but nobody budged.
14) Describe what books mean to you in five words.
It’s my cup of tea.
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FREEBIES: Josie Jaffrey Giveaways
1. Living Underground, a very short standalone vampire romance, is currently FREE to download (until 17th Feb). Download here.
2. The Gilded King, the first book in the Sovereign series, is FREE to download. Links here.
My review of The Gilded King here
3. Join Josie’s Readers’ Club and get a FREE short story (a prequel to the Solis Invicti series). Join here.
4. Enter Josie’s giveaway for a chance to win a signed paperback copy of one of her books (winner’s choice). Enter here.
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FREEBIES: Thad Saves The Galaxy by C.T. Fleck
An Epic Space Adventure is waiting for you.
Get a FREE COPY of THAD SAVES THE GALAXY starting today through midnight February 15, 2019 on Chandra Press (here) and Amazon (here).
When adventure calls, sometimes it’s best to send it to voicemail
If you likeHitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy meets Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure with a bit of Dude, Where’s My Car? sprinkled in, you’ll love Thad Saves the Galaxy!
When an alien named Zinka drops into Thaddeus Kinglsey’s life, he finally gets the adventure he’s been waiting for. Zinka is an exiled Aldinian who is being pursued across the galaxy by the evil tyrant Derask. She crashed on Earth and needs help repairing her ship. Thad jumps at the chance to do something extraordinary and begins an adventure he will never forget. Unfortunately, Derask learns of Thad’s involvement and destroys the Earth to punish him.
With the Earth a smoldering cloud of dust, Thad and Zinka begin a quest across the galaxy to put an end to Derask’s tyranny. This dynamic twosome recruits a colorful cast of characters to their cause: Tik, a mighty Tauran with a penchant for mind altering substances, Pangaea, a sarcastic humanoid who is more then she seems, Danny, the only other Earthling left who happens to be a dreadlocked pot dealer, Leonidas, a lovesick Voltan hero, and Preet, the shapeshifting Queen of the Mercenaries. But they need more than a gang of friends to defeat Derask. They need ships, and lots of them.
Can this oddball team find a way to take down the galaxy’s most powerful dictator? Does ‘winging it’ ever really work? Can you find love on a planet full of mercenaries? These questions and more are answered in this whimsical romp across the Milky Way.
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A to Z Book Survey
I thought it would be fun to do this survey. I found it on Howling Libraries and it was originally created by Perpetual Page Turner
Author you’ve read the most books from:
Definitely my favorite, K.J. Charles. The plan is to read all of her books. The ones I had finished so far:
- A Charm of Magpies series
- A Society of Gentlemen series
- Remnant
- Sins of the Cities series
- Spectred Isle
- The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal
- Think of England
- Unfit to Print
- Wanted, An Author
- Wanted, A Gentleman
For the longest time, there weren’t any clear pictures of KJC on the interwebs. Found the pic above from her interview with a German website.
Best Sequel Ever:
I have yet to read the best sequel ever. Though I really liked The Dream Thieves more than The Raven Boys.
The Raven Cycle review here
Currently Reading:
Typically, I have several books going for when the mood strikes
Drink of Choice While Reading:
I don’t drink while reading. I chug down a huge mug of room temperature coffee like people chug beer then read.
E-reader or Physical Book?
Physical books but I also have an e-reader for when I go out.
Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:
Hah! I have a hard time answering this as I rarely consider dating a fictional character because I am too busy shipping them with another character.
Ok…lemme think…
Shit! I really don’t know.
Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:
Never Understand by Bbong
I didn’t like the art at first. And I thought there were too many chapters since I rarely read anything with more than 10 chapters. I gave it a try because the premise was kind of interesting then it proceeded to blew me away.
Review here
Hidden Gem Book:
Futari Hyakkei: Kaze no Owari Haru no Hajimari by Mita Ori
My number 1 manga for 2018. I wish people would notice this more because this has some of the sweetest, most fluff-tastic manga moments. Like I said, relationship goals.
Review here
Important Moment in your Reading Life:
Way back in elementary, a classmate introduced me to Nancy Drew books which turned me into a bookworm. Also seeing the cover of the Japanese edition of Captive Prince which very effectively put my 3-year book slump to death and put me on the road to becoming a book blogger.
Just look at them!
Review here
Just Finished:
Leo Loves Aries (review to come)
Haphaven review here
Star Collector (review to come)Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:
I don’t read any religious, erotica, or sports-centric books. Also, I don’t go for hardcore yaoi stuff. Books with love triangles are big turn offs and cheating is a deal-breaker.
Longest Book You’ve Read:
For now, The October Horse: A Novel of Caesar and Cleopatra by Colleen McCullough at 1110 pages.
But it will be Special Forces by Alexander Voinov once I find the courage to embark on a 3000-page saga.
Review of Colleen McCullough’s Masters of Rome series here
Major book hangover because of:
Where Death Meets the Devil by L.J. Hayward
because Jack and Ethan is OMG!!!
Death and The Devil review here
Number of Bookcases You Own:
One big bookcase that doubles as a TV stand and two small bookshelves on a wall.
One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:
Spectred Isle by K.J. Charles
Read the book twice then the audiobook because I loved Ruairi Carter’s narration
Captive Prince trilogy
Read the ebook, then the physical books and audiobook because I wasn’t too obsessed, no.
Preferred Place To Read:
Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:
I’m thinking I should memorize this so I could use it when the opportunity comes. This was one of my favorite book moments.
I could go on and on about His Quiet Agent by Ada Maria Soto but really, just read it and be charmed by Arthur and Martin’s sweet, soft romance.
Review here
Reading Regret:
Throwing away an out of print edition of Night Watch by Sergey Lukyanenko because it got wet and heavily damaged. For purely sentimental reasons, I should have kept it. Now there’s a gaping hole in my collection and it is forever haunting me.
Series You Started And Need To Finish(all books are out in series):
Specter (the first series) by Jordan L. Hawk
I’ve read the first 5 books of series 1 and I have Summoner of Storms on standby. I’m just prolonging the agony because I need to be in the right mood for that big finale.
Review here
The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
Also holding out on the last book The Raven King because I don’t want the adventure to end
Shades of Magic by Victoria Schwab
I hesitate to read the second book because I like to imagine Kell and Rhy end up together and Lila as an aro ace and/or the whole series as entirely romance free.
Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:
Spectred Isle review here
Exquisite Corpse review here
His Quiet Agent review hereUnapologetic Fangirl/Fanboy For:
Yes, these dorks. Review here
Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:
I was giddy with excitement last December waiting for Why The Devil Stalks Death by L.J. Hayward. This could very well be the best sequel ever but as of now I am afraid to touch it because my expectations are so high.
Worst Bookish Habit:
I am a mood reader. I start on something, then quickly lose interest and not pick up the book again for a very long time. I also need to take better care of my eyes. I use the laptop for hours on end then even when my eyes are too tired I still try to read. So my vision keeps getting worse.
X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th bookJ
On my physical shelf: Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch
I love the Gentleman Bastards! What is Locke’s real name? Willing to wait till I’m a dried up skeleton for The Thief of Emberlain. Just make it good, Scott. No pressure.
On my e-reader: A Scanner Darkly by Phillip K. Dick
This I haven’t read yet. The 2006 animated movie looks interesting tho. There’s RDJ having a Kafka moment.
Your latest book purchase:
Rich People’s Problems by Kevin Kwan
Love this trilogy! I read the ebooks and my father liked Crazy Rich Asians so I bought the physical books to make it easier for him to read. I haven’t watched the movie. I probably will when they show it on HBO. I still haven’t gotten the hang of the Netflix and chill thing because slow ass internet is anything but chill.
Review here
ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):
Leo Loves Aries by Anyta Sunday
This kept me up until 6 AM, good thing it was a Saturday. This is also another book I was glad I gave a chance. I thought it would a boring relationship-centric contemporary but holy heck, what a delicious memorable slow burn dance it was!
RTC
