Monthly Roundup: May 2018

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 character arc was emotional and poignant and the writing was evocative and lush. Another Viking inspired book was Beyond a Darkened Shore, which I had received in my April FairyLoot box. It was a wonderful fantasy adventure, blending historical events with Celtic and Norse mythology.

I also read The Raven Boys, the first in a series that I've heard about for years and am finally getting around to! I also read a couple contemporaries that I've heard a lot about, Elinor Oliphant and Seven Husbands. Both were beautiful and gripping.

I'm currently reading The Queens of Innis Lear, and I have a huge TBR going into June!

What did you read in May? What is on your list for June?

Comments

Thursday Themes: Five Books to Escape to a New World

Hello everyone! *waves* Remember how I said I was "back" and then didn't post anything for tover a year? Well now with this global pandemic I finally am returning to this blog. Lots of people are reading more than ever now, and I've had many people ask me to recommend various books. So I thought I'd do some posts more along those themes, and perhaps the occasional book review sprinkled in between. Today, the theme is inspired by traveling and exploring. I, like many of you, am tired of being stuck inside and unable to travel. One of the thing I love most about books is it's a way to escape and go on a new adventure. And I especially love books about finding a new world, ones that capture that awe and fascination and magical sense of a new place. It calls to that part deep within me that longs to see stunning vistas and meet new people and get to know a culture different from my own. Here are five books that capture that feeling, and will leave you aching t...

Arcanum Unbounded

Arcanum Unbounded - Brandon Sanderson Synopsis A collection of Sanderson's "short" stories and novellas set in his Cosmere universe. Review It's no secret that Brandon Sanderson is one of my favorite authors. His writing is stupendous, his stories are incredible and his plot twists are mind-blowing. Rarely can I figure out exactly where the story is headed, but I am always exceptionally pleased when I get there! Sanderson isn't as known for his "short" stories. Probably because they aren't short. Two of them in this collection clock in around 40k words, which is approaching the line between a novella and a novel. A few of the stories ( The Emperor's Soul, Sixth of the Dusk, Shadows for Silence ) can be read with no knowledge of his other books, and would perhaps be a good introduction to his writing. Those ones you can get individually or are published in other anthologies. I myself had already read a few of the stories, but withi...

Thursday Themes: Books From My Childhood With Strong Female Protagonists

Looking over some of my favorite books that I read over and over from when I was growing up, I realized they all had one thing in common: Strong, independent, kick-ass female protagonists. I know reading these books helped shaped me into who I am today, as I wanted to emulate the characteristics found in these girls. I highly recommend all of these books to everyone, but especially if you have any young girls that you know. 1) Catherine, Called Birdy - Karen Cushman If I ever HAD to pick a favorite book (which, let's be real, is really impossible), then I just might say it's this one. I read this book so much that I had to go buy another copy because the first fell apart. The story is about Catherine, nickname Birdy, who is 14 years old, living in England in 1290 AD. Her father is determined to marry her off, but through hilarious shennanigens, she sends each would-be suitor packing. But then the nastiest--and richest--suitor comes along, and it will take everythi...

Books Via Ashley

Search This Blog