Books Via Ashley

And another month has come and gone! Sometimes I feel like I get the most reading done during my busiest months? I don't know how that works because it seems like a paradox, but maybe my mind just needs to chill more when I'm busier. Anyway! In August I read ELEVEN books! Your Soul is a River - Nikita Gill (5 stars) Red Sister - Mark Lawrence (4.5 stars) Meet Cute - Various Authors (4 stars) The Rogue Not Taken - Sarah McLean (4 stars) Spinning Silver - Naomi Novik (5 stars) Wicked and the Wallflower - Sarah McLean (3 stars) Because You Love To Hate Me - Various Authors (2 stars) Alanna: The First Adventure - Tamora Pierce (4.5 stars) [ reread ] In The Hands of the Goddess - Tamora Pierce (4.5 stars) [ reread ] The Woman Who Rides Like A Man - Tamora Pierce (4.5 stars) [ reread ] Lioness Rampant - Tamora Pierce (4.5 stars) [ reread ] So, first of all, I reread one of my FAVORITE series from when I was younger, The Song Of The Lioness quartet b

July has come and gone! It was a busy and slow month for me, reading-wise. I only read 5 books! Outrun the Wind - Elizabeth Tammi (3.5 stars) The Princess in Black - Shannon Hale and Dean Hale (3.5 stars) Lifelike  - Jay Kristoff (4.5 stars) Circe - Madeline Miller (4.5 stars) You Are A Badass - Jen Sincero (4 stars) The last three books of the month were really good. I buddy read Lifelike and Circe with a friend and they were great to read along with someone else! Badass  was a really good boost and motivator and just what I needed to read right now! I started a lot of books in July, but haven't finished them yet, or finished them in the last couple days (so they don't count for July). On my August TBR... So many books! Seriously! I've got some great ones on hold at the library, plus a few interesting ARCs to read. Looking forward most to Foundaryside by Robert Jackson Bennett. A seriously amazing author (Brandon Sanderson blurbed him sooooooo

The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater Books in the Series The Raven Boys The Dream Thieves Blue Lily, Lily Blue The Raven King First Book Synopsis (from Goodreads) Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her. His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who

June was a bit slow in terms of books. I feel like June went by SO FAST but I was so busy I didn't get that much reading done. I mean, I still read 5 books (though one is technically a novella that I read in a day), so that's not nothing, but I definitely felt like my momentum from the previous months waned. The Queens of Innis Lear - Tessa Gratton (5 stars) Beneath a Sugar Sky - Seanan McGuire (4 stars) The Dream Thieves - Maggie Stiefvater (4 stars) Blue Lily, Lily Blue - Maggie Stiefvater (4 stars) The Raven King - Maggie Stiefvater (3.5 stars) Geekerella - Ashley Poston (4 stars) So first off, the Queens of Innis Lear was stunning. I did a buddy read and it was perfect! It's definitely going on my top books of 2018. You can read more on my full review, linked in the title above. Sugar Sky was the third novella in a series, and again some beautiful writing. I finished the Raven Cycle series and it was so good and unique. Look for a review of the

Geekerella by Ashley Poston Synopsis (from Goodreads) Part romance, part love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom. Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic sci-fi series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball, and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck (and her dad’s old costume), Elle’s determined to win…unless her stepsisters get there first. Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons—before he was famous. Now they’re nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he’s ever wanted, but the Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Dari

The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton Synopsis (from Goodreads) The erratic decisions of a prophecy-obsessed king have drained Innis Lear of its wild magic, leaving behind a trail of barren crops and despondent subjects. Enemy nations circle the once-bountiful isle, sensing its growing vulnerability, hungry to control the ideal port for all trade routes. The king's three daughters—battle-hungry Gaela, master manipulator Regan, and restrained, starblessed Elia—know the realm's only chance of resurrection is to crown a new sovereign, proving a strong hand can resurrect magic and defend itself. But their father will not choose an heir until the longest night of the year, when prophecies align and a poison ritual can be enacted. Refusing to leave their future in the hands of blind faith, the daughters of Innis Lear prepare for war—but regardless of who wins the crown, the shores of Innis will weep the blood of a house divided. Review Holy. Freaking. Crap. THIS BOOK.  

Alright! We're almost halfway through 2018! In January I posted about which books I was looking forward to the first half of the year. I think for future posts like this I'm going to break it down into overlapping thirds because it's hard to know what books are coming out more than six months ahead. What books are you looking forward to? Tell me in the comments! June Sweet Black Waves  - Kristina Pérez June 5 A retelling of Tristan and Isolde! Rage  (Stormheart #2) - Cora Carmack June 11 The sequel to  Roar , second book in the trilogy! A Reaper At The Gates  (Ember #3) - Sabaa Tahir June 12 The third book in the  Ember in the Ashes  series July Calculating Stars  - Mary Robinette Rowal July 3 Elma York dreams of being the first Lady Astronaut. Spinning Silver  - Naomi Novak 10 July A unique retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. The Supervillain and Me  - Danielle Banas July 10 This seems like a fun twist on the superhero genre! Contagion  - Erin B

May was a CRAZY month. It was my birthday at the beginning of the month, and then we went on vacation at the end, with lots of work in between! I had so much going on, and yet I still read ten books! Sky in the Deep - Adrienne Young (5 stars) The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller (3 stars) A Court of Frost and Starlight - Sarah J. Maas (3 stars) Down Among the Sticks and Bones - Seanan McGuire (4.5 stars) The Raven Boys - Maggie Stiefvater (4 stars) Every Heart a Doorway - Seanan McGuire (4.5 stars) [ reread ] Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman (4 stars) The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid (4 stars) Nothing But Sky - Amy Trueblood (3 stars) Beyond a Darkened Shore - Jessica Leake (4 stars) I finally seem to be getting out of my book slump! I really enjoyed most the books I read this month. Most Anticipated was Sky in the Deep . What a beautiful story about love and redemption. The plot itself is simple, but the characte

This was a BUSY month, lots of work and other things going on! This month was quite varied with my reading. I read some AMAZING books, and some that were meh. Also read a few long books (600+ pages), but that was interspersed with some quick reads (~300 pages) A Court of Mist and Fury - Sarah J. Maas [reread] (4.5 stars) The Wicked Deep - Shea Ernshaw (4 stars) Isla and the Happily Ever After - Stephanie Perkins (3 stars) The Sun and Her Flowers - Rupi Kaur (4 stars) Daughter of the Siren Queen - Tricia Levenseller (3 stars) Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda  - Becky Albertalli (4.5 stars) A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness (2.5 stars) One Of Us Is Lying - Karen M. McManus (4.5 stars) Obsidio - Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (5 stars) Okay, first off, Obsidio was AMAZING. It's the third in the Illuminae trilogy and holy cow... So many feels. I was on the edge of my seat while reading. Up until 3 am. The whole she-bang. I would HIGHLY recommend this s

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness Synopsis (from Goodreads) A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together. Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell. Review First of all, this book would have benefited from being AT LEAST 200 pages shorter. There was just so much... stuff in the middle that really didn't contribute to anything. I felt like I

The Rogue Queen by Emily R. King *I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review* WARNING: Spoilers for The Hundredth Queen  and The Fire Queen ! Synopsis (from Goodreads) Despite the odds, Kalinda has survived it all: Marriage to a tyrant. Tournaments to the death. The forbidden power to rule fire. The icy touch of a demon. . . . Kalinda soon realizes that the demon has tainted her with a cold poison, rendering her fire uncontrollable. But the lack of control may be just what she needs to send the demon back to the darkest depths of the Void. To take back the empire, Kalinda will ally with those she distrusts—and risk losing those most loyal to her—to defeat the demon and bring peace to a divided nation. Review This book picks up right where the second book ends. For me, it was a little slow in the beginning and made it hard for me to get back into the world, but once that action got going I was drawn in. These books have romanc

The Queen's Rising by Rebecca Ross Synopsis (from Goodreads) When her seventeenth summer solstice arrives, Brienna desires only two things: to master her passion and to be chosen by a patron. . . . However, despite all her preparations, Brienna’s greatest fear comes true—the solstice does not go according to plan and she is left without a patron. Months later, her life takes an unexpected turn when a disgraced lord offers her patronage. Suspicious of his intent, and with no other choices, she accepts. But there is much more to his story, and Brienna soon discovers that he has sought her out for his own vengeful gain. For there is a dangerous plot being planned to overthrow the king of Maevana—the archrival kingdom of Valenia—and restore the rightful queen, and her magic, to the northern throne. And others are involved—some closer to Brienna than she realizes. Review Just a lovely, beautiful book. I really enjoyed reading it. It just kept growing and unfolding into a bi

Well my book slump certainly ended... I also read a lot of shorter books this month. This month felt like it went by so fast, but also looking back it seems like the beginning of the month was so long ago! What is this weird time warp?! Anyway, I read 11 books this month! Sourdough - Robin Sloan (4 stars) The Hazel Wood - Melissa Albert (4 stars) Robots vs Fairies - Dominik Parisien [editor] (4 stars) Percy Jackson's Greek Gods - Rick Riordan (3 stars) The Demigod Files - Rick Riordan (3 stars) The Demigod Diaries - Rick Riordan (3 stars) the princess saves herself in this one - Amanda Lovelace (4.5 stars) The Radical Element - Jessica Spotswood [editor] (4 stars) The Queen's Rising - Rebecca Ross (4.5 stars) Women & Power - Mary Beard (4.5 stars) A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J. Maas [reread] (4.5 stars) I was still on a slight Rick Riordan kick this month. There's just so much out there to read! And I liked reading some of the l

February was kind of a crazy month. We traveled for a friend's wedding (which was so fun and lovely), and then upon our return home I was sick, got slightly better, then my husband got the flu and I also got sick again (though I had never really gotten better). So my energy level has just been really low. I also had a lot of books to read from NetGalley which I had procrastinated and then was trying to frantically read, but I was also kind of in a book funk this month. Nothing really satisfied what I was craving (not even sure what it is!), so I started a LOT of books, only to move on to something else. I'll go back to those books eventually, but I didn't finish them last month. However, in February I read 7 books! So that's something for being in a reading slump. The Blood of Olympus  - Rick Riordan (4 stars) The Sword of Summer  - Rick Riordan (3.5 stars) The Hidden Oracle  - Rick Riordan (3.5 stars) The Cruel Prince  - Holly Black (2.5 stars) Percy Jackson

Map of Shadows by J. F. Penn *I received free copy to review from the publisher in exchange for an honest review* Synopsis (from Goodreads) When her Grandfather is murdered under mysterious circumstances, Sienna Farren inherits his map shop in the ancient city of Bath, England. Once there, she discovers that her family is bound up with the Ministry of Maps, a mysterious agency who maintain the borders between this world and the Uncharted. With the help of Mila Wendell, a traveller on the canals, Sienna discovers her own magical ability and a terrifying place of blood that awaits in the world beyond. But when she discovers a truth about her past and the Borderlands begin to push through the defenses, Sienna must join the team of Mapwalkers on their mission to find the Map of Shadows – whatever the cost. In a place written out of history, a world off the edge of the map, Sienna must risk everything to find her father … and her true path as a Mapwalker. Review This book had

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black Synopsis (from Goodreads) Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences. In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself. Review This book was really hyped. And I've read a couple of Black's other books and really enjoyed them. But this book... wasn't my favorite. First, the a couple things I did like. The setting was really interest

The Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase Book #1) by Rick Riordan Synopsis (from Goodreads) Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother's mysterious death, he's lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers. One day, he's tracked down by an uncle he's never met—a man his mother claimed was dangerous. His uncle tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god. The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years. When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision. Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die . . . Review This is the first book is a semi "spin off"

Series Saturday: Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan Books in Series The Lightning Thief The Sea of Monsters The Titan's Curse The Battle of the Labyrinth The Last Olympian Synopsis When Percy Jackson finds out he in the son of Poseidon, the Greek sea god, he is sent off to Camp Half-Blood, a place where demigods like himself can train for be battle and be safe from the monsters in the world. But the Titan Kronos is rising, and Percy and his other demigod friends must complete a series of quests if they want to save the world! Review So I've heard of this series for years and years and yet I just never picked it up. I got the first book in a Kindle deal, but then it sat there on my Kindle for two years until I finally decided, okay, let's do this. I read The Lightning Thief  and I was HOOKED. I devoured the rest of the series as quickly as I could get my hands on them. This was SUCH a great series! I've always loved Greek mythology, and Ri

Well, I certainly started off the year with a bang! Even though I got home from our holiday and went straight back into working and life, I still had enough time to read quite a bit! It was great having my library card reactivated. SO MANY BOOKS! And for FREE! I check out ebooks through Overdrive and they just arrive on my Kindle. Technology is truly amazing. I read a total of 12 books this month! If I keep up that pace I'll definitely overshoot my goal of 100 books this year. The Red Pyramid - Rick Riordan (3 stars) Lola and the Boy Next Door - Stephanie Perkins (3.5 stars) Retribution Rails - Erin Bowman (4.5 stars) Mother's Milk - Rachel Hunt Steenblik (4 stars) The Macedonian - Nicholas Guild (3.5 stars) The Battle of the Labyrinth - Rick Riordan (4 stars) Warcross - Marie Liu (4 stars) The Last Olympian - Rick Riordan (4 stars) The Lost Hero - Rick Riordan (4 stars) The Son of Neptune - Rick Riordan (4 stars) The Mark of Athena - Rick Riordan (

As many avid book readers know, there are more books than hours to read them. Thus, I have a HUGE pile of books from last year and the years before that that I've been meaning to read... And just never got around to! Then I ran across this challenge to Beat The Backlist . It's pretty easy; you're assigned to a team and the more books you read from your backlist (i.e., anything published before this year), the more points your team gets. Plus there's random prizes each month if your team wins, along with some challenges! Anyway, it's pretty relaxed, but just kind of a fun way to keep myself on track and accountable for clearing off that TBR a little bit! I challenged myself to read 100 books this year, and I want half of those to be books on my backlist! I've been doing pretty good in January so far! Oh, and my team is the Book Bards! Such a fun name!

Retribution Rails by Erin Bowman Synopsis (from Goodreads) When Reece Murphy is forcibly dragged into the Rose Riders gang because of a mysterious gold coin in his possession, he vows to find the man who gave him the piece and turn him over to the gang in exchange for freedom. Never does he expect a lead to come from an aspiring female journalist. But when Reece's path crosses with Charlotte Vaughn after a botched train robbery and she mentions a promising rumor about a gunslinger from Prescott, it becomes apparent that she will be his ticket to freedom—or a noose. As the two manipulate each other for their own ends, past secrets are unearthed, reviving a decade-old quest for revenge that may be impossible to settle. Review I LOVED this book. I got a paperback ARC from a friend (even though it came out in November) and so I quickly checked out Vengeance Road from the library (which I loved). Then I still wanted some good ole Wild West fun, so I dove right into this book.

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman Synopsis  (from Goodreads) When her father is murdered for a journal revealing the location of a hidden gold mine, eighteen-year-old Kate Thompson disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers—and justice. What she finds are untrustworthy strangers, endless dust and heat, and a surprising band of allies, among them a young Apache girl and a pair of stubborn brothers who refuse to quit riding in her shadow. But as Kate gets closer to the secrets about her family, a startling truth becomes clear: some men will stop at nothing to get their hands on gold, and Kate’s quest for revenge may prove fatal. Review This was my last book of 2017, and it was good enough to make it to my top books list for the year! A friend gave me a copy of the companion novel, Retribution Rails , so naturally I had to read Vengeance Road first! Luckily it was available at the library and I devoured it in only a couple days. Vengeance Roa

The Macedonian  by Nicholas Guild * I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review * Synopsis (from Goodreads) On a cold, snow-swept night in the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon, a son is born to the king’s principal wife. His mother hates him for being his father’s child. His father hardly notices him. With two elder brothers, obscurity seems his destiny. The boy is sent off to be nursed by the chief steward’s wife. Yet, in a moment of national crisis, when Macedon is on the verge of being torn apart, the prince raised by a servant finds himself proclaimed the king. This is the story of Philip, prince and king, the forgotten boy who rose to save his country and became a legend in his own lifetime. His extensive military conquests across the Greek peninsula would pave the way for expansion under his son, Alexander the Great. Review I was initially drawn this book because I'm a lover of ancient history, and I wanted to know

Another great year of books has come and gone, and this year is looking to be just as amazing! Here are some of the books I'm looking forward to for the first few months of 2018! January The Cruel Prince - Holly Black Jan 2 Jude fights within the Faerie Court to win a place for herself and to save her sisters. Reign the Earth - A. C. Gaughen Jan 30 After a political marriage to save her people, Shalia discovers she has the magical powers her new husband wants to eliminate. February The Belles - Dhonielle Clayton Feb 6 Camellia joins the royal court in order to be the best of the Belles, but discovers that dark secrets lurk behind the beauty and that she is far more powerful than she ever imagined. The Queen's Rising - Rebecca Ross Feb 6 Brienna is caught up in a plot to overthrow the King and bring back the rightful Queen, and her magic. But who will be that Queen? The Rogue Queen   (Queen #3)  - Emily R. King Feb 13 The third book in the Hundredth

Wow, 2017 was a GREAT year for books! I read a total of 104 out of my goal of 100 for the year. The Reader - Traci Chee Wayfarer - Alexandra Bracken Windwitch - Susan Dennard The Underground Railroad - Colson Whitehead Behind the Throne - K. B. Wagers Queen of Shadows - Sarah J. Maas Empire of Storms - Sarah J. Maas The Assassin's Blade - Sarah J. Maas Everything, Everything - Nicola Yoon Carve The Mark - Veronica Roth Caraval - Stephanie Garber When Breath Becomes Air - Paul Kalanithi After the Crown - K. B. Wagers A Gathering of Shadows - V. E. Schwab [reread] A Conjuring of Light - V. E. Schwab Daring Greatly - Brené Brown Beyond the Savanna - Maryann Martinsen Empress of a Thousand Skies - Rhoda Belleza Norse Gods - Neil Gaiman Traitor to the Throne - Alwyn Hamilton Starflight - Melissa Landers The Magicians - Levi Grossman Snapshot - Brandon Sanderson Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver Crocodile on the Sandbank - Elizabeth Peters [