Rapid Fire Book Tag Questions

I enjoy watching Booktube videos with interesting tags and since it has been a while since I did a tag post I decided to use this opportunity to go trough one of the introduction type of tags to answer some basic and important bookish questions!

E-Book or Physical Book?

Physical books, I like the tactile effect books have on me. Picking it up from the shelf and putting it on the shelf when I’m done reading!

Paperback or Hardback?

Hardback! I like how they look on my shelf and they often have more extra content than the paperback editions. Maps look bigger, there are illustrations more often and I like the jacket and exploring what is under it!

Online or In-Store Book Shopping?

My answer would be In-Store if there were any stores around me that keep books in English. Sadly I have to go to a smaller city an hour drive away to be able to browse for books in English.

Trilogies or Series?

Series. Trilogies are great for pacing but I prefer to have more than three books when I find a series I enjoy

Heroes or Villains?

Villains. They make a better impression on me and usually get the best one liners.

A book you want everyone to read?

Daniel Pennac: Comme un roman (The Rights of the Reader) This is a book by a French college professor about cultivating and nurturing the love of reading. Half of the book is a portrayal of his experiences with his young son and his students. The second half of the book is a very popular list of Readers rights which are used in many reading programs to inspire readers to read more.

Recommend an underrated book?

The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris

The last book you finished?

Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick ★★★

For some reason the plot and the characters were much weaker than I expected.
Most of my impression can be summarized with Mister Tagomi’s search for meaning in the last quarter of the book.

The Last Book You Bought?

Ordered Smolder book 29 in Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton trough Book Depository just the other day and now I’m waiting for it to arrive so I can finally read it. Usually I wait for the mass market paperback since all the other books I have are mass market paperback editions. But this time I decided not to wait a year before I get to read it. To make matters more interesting book 30. in the series is coming out later this year as well since it has been exactly thirty years since the first book Guilty Pleasures came out!

Weirdest Thing You’ve Used as a Bookmark?

Weird and actually unusable bookmark I got as a present from my boyfriend. It looks really nice and cute. In reality the leaf like part is made in the shape of the real leaf and you cant close the book on it without breaking it. Maybe I’m doing it wrong and if you have this thing tell me please how it is supposed to be used.

Used Books: Yes or No?

Not if I can help it. The thing is I like the smell of new books, ink and paper. I will get a used book only if I don’t have any other choice. Sometimes I buy a book from people selling their books online but I prefer to get a new book if I can.

Top Three Favorite Genres?

Urban fantasy. Romance, High fantasy

Borrow or Buy?

Buy if I can, borrow if I have to. I like owning books!

Characters or Plot?

Characters over plot.

Long or Short Books?

Short, and by short I think on books under 300 pages long.

Long or Short Chapters?

Short chapters are more motivating for me. Rick Riordan does it best with his chapters and chapter titles!

Name The First Three Books You Think Of…

Holly Black: The Cruel Prince,

Alexandre Dumas: The Count of Monte Christo,

Lisa Kleypas: Devil in Winter

Books That Makes You Laugh or Cry?

Devil in winter – therapy crying when I’m going trough hard times and it makes me laugh and makes me feel better as well!

Our World or Fictional Worlds?

Fictional world are full of possibility. What is impossible in our world can be possible in the fictional world and that gives me hope and helps me deal with real world problems in more creative ways as well.

Audiobooks: Yes or No?

No. Audio books are not that common where I am from. I gave it a try and it ruined the whole book for me. To make matters worse the book I was listening to was a part of a series and I took a very long break from it. I barely managed to get back to it but I am still apprehensive because the tone of the characters did not sit well with me.

Do You Ever Judge a Book by its Cover?

Always! Pretty covers are something I enjoy. In fact I love it when the publisher pays special attention to book cover, design and technical details. It is a good sign if the publisher makes the effort to make the cover of the book special this way.

Book to Movie or Book to TV Adaptations?

Yes! When I like the story and the characters I want more content with them. Understandably book and film are two different mediums and the adaptation will probably have a different focus than the original book. I don’t mid the difference as long as the point of the story and feel of the characters are transferred well across the medium.

A Movie or TV-Show You Preferred to its Book? 

Starship Troopers, loved the trashy 90-ies flick and got really disappointed by the book. Wrong expectations since I watched the movie before reading the book.

Series or Standalone’s?

Series, because I want more of a good thing! I like series that have the same main characters thought and those that have a different main character with each new book in the series. Fantastic new worlds can be a home away from home and when you find a good one you want to have plenty of opportunities to explore.

Medieval-A-Thon Reading Challenge – Experience and thoughts

In the month of May I originally wanted to relax a little after the O.W.L.s Magical Readathon in April. That all changed when I spotted this challenge. You can see my first post where I choose the books and decided to participate a whole week later – HERE.

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My goal for this challenge was to become an Empress and in order to do that I had to read at least seven books in May. The story of a a great Empress started with an awesome outfit to fight dragons with so I can impress the people before I cant truly become their leader!

First book I’ve read for this challenge answered to the prompt –

Dragon on the cover!

The Dark Prophecy (The Trials of Apollo, #2) by Rick Riordan ★★★★

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This was a friendly dragon and while its role in this book was not so big I truly enjoyed reading about it! Festus, whose name translates to “Happy” is an automaton bronze dragon originally created by the children of Hephastus. I will not make spoilers about what happens to Festus in this book but I will just say that my journey to become an Empress has been more amazing since I read about him! I had some trouble in starting to read this book and this reading challenge helped me with it! With this positive energy my quest to become an Empress began!

Second book I’ve read for this challenge helped me not to act like a snob and be more humble – the prompt for this book was

to read a book under 300 pages!

Incubus Dreaming (The Incubus, #2) by A. H. Lee ★★★★★

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This was the best book I’ve read in May! It is the third book in a trilogy and the fact that I finished the book series was an added bonus of positive energy as well. While somebody else would probably use this prompt to take it easy I choose a book that just barely fits the requirement as it has 299 pages total by Kindle account! My goal in sight and my standards still set high I moved on to the next book.

The third book I read for this challenge allowed me to grab some weapon training

start or finish a duology

The Fates Divide (Carve the Mark, #2) by Veronica Roth ★★★

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The first time I saw this challenge I knew I wanted these weapons! Training to fight with two weapons at once is as hard as reading a book that is part some of your not favorite genre. This book has been on my TBR plan for a very long time and the first book I read years ago. Sci Fi nature of this book as well as some rich cultural and original details made it harder to read but the reward of finishing another book series I was logging around for a long time was as rewarding as getting those two daggers and learning how to use them properly!

Next book brought me some companionship in the form of my favorite animal and by the prompt

A book that begins with a “C”

Carry On (Simon Snow, #1) by Rainbow Rowell ★★★★

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I knew I was going to like this book and I wanted to like it! I was looking for an excuse to add this book to my reading and had several choices for it. Pairing it with a cat companion fit nicely. Cats are perfect companions for an Empress – they hint at luxury but are very resourceful and independent as well. Every household can find cat useful and these animals are fiercely loyal and territorial which are the atributes I hold very important.

Book I decided to read next added some royal wardrobe I could really shine in and the prompt was

A shiny book

The Testament of Loki (Loki #2) by Joanne M. Harris ★★

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This shiny book was another one from my bookshelf that was weighing on me to finish a book series. As it turned out I was more of a fighter than a parading ruler or a dancer at a ball. The book did not blew me away – it was just OK. A shiny book and a shiny outfit were just OK but did not speak to me the way some other books or outfits did.

An Empress in the making that did not enjoy her shiny dresses has turned again to more unladylike ventures by acquiring her own horse to travel her kingdom and the reading prompt for this one was

A tall hardcover

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes by Rick Riordan, John Rocco ★★★★

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I was a bit miffed by the prompt so I decided to get the biggest hardcover book I had on my bookshelves other than an encyclopedia. At first I was very happy with my choice. But as it turns out with serious rulers and kingdoms some things are not as easy as they look! This book proved very hard to read since it was too heavy to hold for longer periods of time and its bulkiness proved a problem. Traveling a kingdom did not prove to be an easy picnic either.

This next book proves that friends can be found in the unlikliest of places as I befriended a goat! The prompt for this one was

A book high on my bookshelf

Death of a Darklord (Ravenloft #13) by Laurell K. Hamilton ★★★

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This prompt was a bit confusing for me at first. I reached out to the top of my bookshelf and found one book on it that I did not read while all the rest I have at least partially read! The prompt was perfect and I was actually wondering if this could be maybe a scary book prompt as well. Befriending a goat was as interesting experience as reading this book – not exactly good or bad, just a little different!

With all my seven books read I have reached a status of an Empress with three different outfits: one a plate of armor for battle, one casual suit for adventuring and mingling with normal people and one shiny severe dress for formal functions! I got a perfect cat companion that compliments my personality and learned to ride a horse while trained to fight with two weapons to a satisfactory degree. And last but not least I have befriended a goat on my travels through the kingdom. With the bonus of three more books I have read in May I managed to befriend a Knight to accompany me on my journey of being a good Empress! In the last five days of the challenge I read more than 700 pages which was enough to repel any outside forces that wanted to mess with my empire!

May your own stories be as interesting as was mine and I hope to participate in this challenge next year as well!

May Book Wrap Up 2020

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Monthly reading review – May 2020

This May I have read:

The Dark Prophecy (The Trials of Apollo #2) by Rick Riordan ★★★★

Incubus Dreaming (The Incubus, #2) by A. H. Lee ★★★★★

Indiscretions (Scandalous Seductions #2) by Madelynne Ellis ★★★★

The Testament of Loki (Loki #2) by Joanne M. Harris ★★

The Fates Divide (Carve the Mark, #2) by Veronica Roth ★★★

Death of a Darklord (Ravenloft #13) by Laurell K. Hamilton ★★★

A Most Unsuitable Earl (Marriage By Scandal #2) by Ruth Ann Nordin ★★★★

Carry On (Simon Snow, #1) by Rainbow Rowell ★★★★

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes by Rick Riordan, John Rocco ★★★★

Cable Volume 1: Shining Path by David Tischman, Igor Kordej ★★

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1. How many books have you read last month? Are you happy with the amount you read? 

This month I have read ten books altogether. Three were in digital form and the other seven can be seen on the picture above. I am happy to keep my reading in double digits!

2. What was the best of all the books you’ve read in May? Any scenes or characters that made a lasting impression?

There were a lot of good books I read in May but the best for me was Incubus Dreaming (The Incubus, #2) by A. H. Lee. This kind of blend of traditional fantasy setting and some urban elements matched very well with erotica. I wish I could find more books like this one. Anything that is mainstream fantasy is mostly PG13 and most of all who have erotic elements turn out to be nothing but smut written by fanfiction type writers who are annoyed by the lack of sex in the fantasy books in general. This book has it all I and I loved that!

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3. Were there any not so good books for you last month? What made it hard or not enjoyable to read?

There were two books this May that kinda fell flat for me: The Testament of Loki (Loki #2) by Joanne M. Harris and Cable Volume 1: Shining Path by David Tischman, Igor Kordej. For The Testament of Loki I just could not seem to find a character that I could connect with. Loki seemed a bit watered down to me and the rest of the characters could have used a bit more backstory and depth for me to start caring and get myself more immersed into the story. The ending of the book seemed a bit psychedelic and kinda bland at the same time. The whole book in general seemed like an interlude to something else and not very good on it’s own. And in case of Cable Volume 1: Shining Path the story was good. I had some problems with following all the action. I kept feeling like I was missing something and had to catch up. I have some issues the artwork. Kordej’s works are very recognizable with chunky characters and muscles. What bugged me the most was actually the coloring and I really did not like how it looked with illustrators firm and dark lines.

4. How did the books you were reading last month fit in your reading plans if you had any?

For the month of May I decided to try out the Medieval-A-Thon reading challenge for the first time – you can check out my original post for it HERE. I will write a more detailed post about my experience with it soon but it is safe to say I am happy with how it all went.

5. Any updates on the series you are reading or are you starting any new series?

I am actually very pleased with the reading I have done in finishing and continuing some book series in May! I finished two book series and one of those was a long time coming. I finally made some progress with The Trials of Apollo book series and I can hope to get to the next book soonish as well. I started out one new book series I plan to continue and that would be Simon Snow by Rainbow Rowell.

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6. Would you like to recommend any books or authors you’ve been reading this last month?

Instead of the books I would recommend the author Rainbow Rowell for her quirky yet relatable writing style and a reading challenge as creative as Medieval-A-Thon. I loved little updates on Instagram and opportunities for some extra rewards and story plots to further my reading!

Final thoughts on May 2020 reading

At first I thought May was going to be a slow reading month after doing the O.W.L.s Magical Readathon in April but after finding Medieval-A-Thon reading challenge I was hooked and a bit scared how will I manage it since I started a week later. I managed to exceed all my expectation and have fun reading some books that were on my TBR for a very long time. I’m glad for challenging myself this way. Only thing that is curbing my enthusiasm right now is that I made zero progress with my book club assignment which is due next week.

Looking forward to a fun a and more relaxed reading in June 🙂

Medieval-A-Thon Reading Challenge in May

After I finished O.W.L.s Magical Readathon in April I thought I could use a break and some slower book reading time.

Aaaaand then I found THIS video!

The video was a nice surprise and it gave me a big shot of reading energy for May. I actually jumped about glancing at my bookshelves looking for books that fit this challenge. I love the visual format of the prompts! Here they are:

This first picture shows the amount of books you need to read to get the status you want. The highest number of seven books is motivating and doable for me.

Just like you would customize your character in a game you get to pick out your wardrobe by using the prompts for the books. The wardrobe choices are simple and fit the medieval theme nicely.  Seeing a prompt “A pristine book” made me intrigued. The approval of getting freaky when choosing the best looking copy of the book in a bookstore made me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside.

To keep with the times there is a selection of prompts that provide you with weapons. As soon as I saw them I knew which ones I wanted even though the completionist in me wanted them all! Again the prompts are motivating and interesting. I wanted some more clarification on the “A heavy book” prompt though and decided to settle on 500+ pages book for that one.

The part of choosing one’s companions was very interesting to me and the most problematic. I am glad I’m not a dog person since I don’t really have a buddy to read books with anyway. Some of the prompts I needed clarification for. “A book high on my bookshelf” refers to a book that is on top of the TBR list or is stored on the highest shelf you have at home or in the library. “A tall hardcover” is simply a big format book in hardcover binding.

At first glance these are the books and prompts I picked out right away. First three books are wardrobe related prompts. The fourth book is weapon related prompt. And last three books are companion related!

Dragon on the cover 

The Dark Prophecy (The Trials of Apollo, #2) by Rick Riordan

This book I just missed out on the April challenge and it is a great opportunity to get myself to read it! The dragon on the cover is mechanical but it is still a dragon! The outfit this prompt comes with is cool looking and I like it.

 

A book under 300 pages

Incubus Dreaming (The Incubus, #2) by A. H. Lee

This is the third and final book in the series and I was meaning to finish it soon anyway. I was looking for a prompt to pair it with and finding out it has 299 pages made it perfect for this prompt. The outfit for this prompt are okay for a working clothes when going undercover or something.

 

A shiny book

The Testament of Loki (Loki #2) by Joanne M. Harris

For this prompt I had a few options and then I decided to go with this one. The cover has some nice shiny decorations and I really like the design. I read the first book not that long ago and I liked it enough to push this book higher on my TBR list. I really love the outfit for this prompt it looks severe and cool and I kinda like that right now.

 

Start or finish a duology

The Fates Divide (Carve the Mark, #2) by Veronica Roth

It has been a really long time since I’ve read the first book of this duology! When I got the perfect prompt to include this book I could not stop grinning! I was apprehensive about reading this book because I feel unsure if I will be able to get into it since too much time has passed between now and the first book. This is my only weapon prompt and it is for the dual wielding swords! I knew I wanted them right away.

 

A book high on my bookshelf

Death of a Darklord (Ravenloft #13) by Laurell K. Hamilton

This book sits atop of my bookshelf and it is one of the rare unread books there. I am fascinated by Ravenloft setting and I love other book series by this author. I’m kinda scared what this book will be like. As a prompt for the companion a goat was not my first choice but I know how fierce those animals are!

 

A book that begins with a “C”

Carry On (Simon Snow, #1) by Rainbow Rowell

I had few options for this prompt and was pleasantly surprised when I realized just how many options I did have. I could use this book for other prompts as well – I have kinda high expectations from this book and there is a dragon on the cover, also the color on the cover is one of my favorites. I am a cat person so a cat companion prompt was a must!

 

A tall hardcover

Percy Jackson’s Greek Heroes by Rick Riordan, John Rocco

“A tall hardcover” got me a bit confused. I had to look it up just to be sure but right away I choose one of the biggest hardcover books I had that were not encyclopedia type of a book. My boyfriend got this book for me on one of hist travels and I was super happy about it. The horse companion was a must so I was glad I could cover this one!

I loved the prompts and how easy it is to pick a doable number of books and prompts to achieve a result. After the books I read in April this challenge looks like a great way to keep my reading numbers up. I had to stop myself at picking only seven books for the title of Empress even though I wanted to add some more books that I could connect to the prompts. This speaks just how delighted with this reading challenge I really am! I am so thankful and happy to the Medieval-A-Thon creator Holly Hearts Books for making such a wonderful reading challenge! Give her YouTube channel some love HERE.

I’m going into this challenge almost a whole week late so wish me luck!

 

March Book Wrap Up 2020

Monthly reading review – March 2020

This March I have read:

The Gospel of Loki (Loki #1) by Joanne M. Harris  ★★★★

The Darkness: Darkness/ Batman & Darkness/ Superman 20th Anniversary Collection by Garth Ennis, Jeph Loeb, Ron Marz, Scott Lobdell, Marc Silvestri  ★★★★★

Book of Wayward Girls and Wicked Women edited by Angela Carter  ★★★★

Seize The Night (Moonlight Bay, #2) by Dean Koontz  ★★★

Incubus Caged (The Incubus, #1) by A. H. Lee  ★★★★★

Incubus Bonded (The Incubus, #2) by A. H. Lee  ★★★★

Shutdown (Anita Blake Vampire Hunter, #22.75) by Laurell K. Hamilton  ★★★★★

Ice (Dragon Clan #1) by Skye Jones  ★★★★

Chasing Cassandra (The Ravenels, #6) by  Lisa Kleypas  ★★★★★

1. How many books have you read last month? Are you happy with the amount you read? 

This March I’ve read 9 books. I only stated reading more actively in the second part of March and even posting about it so I’m happy at how my reading month turned out.

2. What was the best of all the books you’ve read in March? Any scenes or characters that made a lasting impression?

I have read a fair amount of Kindle freebies this month and even bought some Kindle books. From all of them I enjoyed The Incubus book series by A. H. Lee the most. I bought first two books from the series and loved them. I loved reading Shutdown from Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton and I was inspired to go trough some Anita Blake books and might even prepare myself to reread some. Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas arrived and it was so good I devoured it in a few days of reading.

3. Were there any not so good books for you last month? What made it hard or not enjoyable to read?

Seize The Night by Dean Koontz was a book club assignment reading that was a bit hard to read. I started on the Croatian translation which had so many issues with the actual translation and the very small font. I ended finishing the book in English on my tablet reader. It was supposed to be a thriller horror but I feel a sleep quite a few times trying to read it…

4. How did the books you were reading last month fit in your reading plans if you had any?

Lately I’m doing good on all my reading challenges and I slowed down on some of my planned reading in March.  Five of the nine books I’ve read were not planned. Still I managed to read enough to keep up with my reading challenges and I feel good about that.

5. Any updates on the series you are reading or are you starting any new series?

The Incubus book series by A. H. Lee is definitely a series I would like to continue. Also Loki series by Joanne M. Harris is something I would like to finish.  This March I have found a new interest in rereading Anita Blake book series and I will see how that idea pans out.

6. Would you like to recommend any books or authors you’ve been reading this last month?

In this time of the world wide epidemic many more books are becoming available to readers everywhere online. I recommend you check out what is available and find some new author to try out!

Final thoughts on March 2020 reading

My reading count is slowly picking up and I did a bit more reviews in the second part of March. I hope I can continue with the posting and reading in an interesting and enjoying way for myself and the occasional readers of my posts.

I did three book reviews in March and you can check them out:

The Gospel of Loki (Loki #1) by Joanne M. Harris  ★★★★

The Darkness: Darkness/ Batman & Darkness/ Superman 20th Anniversary Collection by Garth Ennis, Jeph Loeb, Ron Marz, Scott Lobdell, Marc Silvestri  ★★★★★

Book of Wayward Girls and Wicked Women edited by Angela Carter  ★★★★

Happy reading everyone!

The Gospel of Loki – Book Review

The Gospel of Loki

(Loki #1)

by Joanne M. Harris

★★★★

Expectation

The Gospel of Loki was a book that caught my attention when it first came out now six years ago. I loved the theme and was intrigued by the main character Loki. Also I should mention that in the see of British editions of books this one was had of the most gorgeous covers I’ve seen. The more I looked at it the more I liked it! I got it right away but have not picked it up for reading until now. And the only reason it finally got to the top of my TBR was because I pulled it out for my TBR Jar Draw challenge – you can read more about that HERE.

Summary

By the time this book finally got my reading attention I already read Neil Gaiman’s Nordic Mythology and the whole Magnus Chase trilogy. Why is this important? Well most of the plot is quite the same as Nordic Mythology and the same plot twists are mentioned in Magnus Chase trilogy as well. It as a bit like reading something I already read in a way.

The narrator Loki and his perspective gave the book a new life though. Anyone who likes Tom Hiddlestone’s portrayal of Loki will like this book as well. The stories from the Norse mythology are told trough Loki’s perspective and he is an excellent commentator for fabulous and surreal nature of these stories. He starts off as humble and attention seeking creature and rolls off to bitter highs and entertaining lows.

Conclusion

As much as the stories in this book were mostly already known to me I liked that this book has a different approach to Ragnarok. I liked the witty and sarcastic wording and the dry humor. I truly believe that the author has captured the spirit of Loki in this book and has managed to make it more endearing to the readers despite some obvious character flaws that are morally wrong or at least questionable. My favorite thing about it that it has a sequel and that I already have ti on my shelf! The are both very beautiful books I love having on my shelf!

I can honestly recommend this book to all those who like to read more from Norse mythologies and like the character of Loki.

TBR Jar Draw March 2020 Update

For my first TBR Jar Draw in 2020 I decided to make some changes. I am already working on more than one reading challenge that tasks me with reading more of the books I already own. This makes me be a little more relaxed with the TBR Jar Draw and it also gives me more insight into my owned books collection.

Last three titles from the jar were:

The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood

Railsea by China Miéville

The Gospel of Loki (Loki #1) by Joanne M. Harris

THIS was the original post on these books from October last year and you can see my thoughts on the books I drew from the jar.

I might have mentioned in some of the previous posts that my TBR Jar Draw is a challenge made for myself three years ago this March. You can read how it all started HERE. In the challenge I included books that are on my bookshelves – both virtual and real. In short I included all the books that were available to me and owned by me. Some of the books that ended in the TBR Jar Draw were actually owned by my boyfriend and some were gifted to me. Needless to say that in the years that have passed I decided that I want to read and own the books I love and authors I choose for myself more. My tastes have changed a bit. I think a lot more about my time management and have become more picky with the books I choose to read. Some of the books that are in my TBR Jar Draw need to go. I will still draw three books from the jar and choose one to read but I will be more honest with why myself and decide if the two I did not choose to read go back in the jar or not.

From the three I have chosen and read The Gospel of Loki (Loki #1) by Joanne M. Harris. It was the only book of the three that I actually picked up for myself. I’m hoping I can write the review for it soon.

The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood is going out of my collection and out of the TBR Jar Draw. From what I read about it I don’t think it is something I would enjoy and it is not something that fits in my book collection anyway. I will be either selling it or giving it away.

Railsea by China Miéville is going back into the TBR jar Draw because I think I would like it and because I would like to read a book by author my boyfriend enjoys reading as a part of my own reading challenge sometime in the future.

My three new TBR Jar draws are as follows:

1 # A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1) by George R.R. Martin

This is the second time I got this book out of the jar. I still think I am not ready to start reading it since the impressions from the TV show are still in my mind when I think about it. The fact that the book series remains unfinished for years now to the general displeasure of all of its readers is also a reason not to start it since I do not want to join the hordes of readers who are angry at the author for not finishing the books.

2 # The Age of Odin (Pantheon #3) by James Lovegrove

Another book that I pulled out of the jar once before. I am a bit apprehensive for it being the part of a book series my boyfriend loves. In fact this is his favorite of the series. Aside the fantastical theme I don’t see this book as something I would enjoy much. My only motivation is due to my boyfriends preference.

3 # Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Harry Potter #1) by  J. K. Rowling

I have never read the first three books. I jumped straight into the fourth one when the first movies came out and read all others as they were published. Recently I started collecting the book series in Hufflepuff house editions that came out as 20 year anniversary editions. So far I’ve gotten the first three and I think it might be time to get started on them!

I like the idea of finally starting on Harry Potter series from the beginning.

What do you think?

Reading Challenges update February

In the summer last year I started making lists of the books I own and wanted to read. I like making lists and checking off stuff on a list gives me a positive boost I need. I decided to make smaller lists and prioritize books I want to read in a few months intervals. That worked nicely and gave me an approximation of my reading habits and appetites. Reading more of the books I already own and want to read anyway; made me focus better and read more in general. I have a few books left over from the last list I made in 2019. and I’m happy to report I’ve made progress on those as well.

1. ✔  Rogue (Shifters #2) by Rachel Vincent
2. ✔ The Witch With No Name (The Hollows #13) by Kim Harrison
3. ✔  Shadow and Bone (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy #1) by Leigh Bardugo
4. ✔  Siege and Storm (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy #2) by Leigh Bardugo
5. ✔  Ruin and Rising (The Shadow and Bone Trilogy #3) by Leigh Bardugo
6. ✔  The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Graphic Novels #1)
   by Rick Riordan, Robert Venditti,
7. ✔  The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Graphic Novels #2)
   by Robert Venditti, Rick Riordan
8. ✔  The Titan’s Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Graphic Novels #3) by Robert Venditti, Rick Riordan
9. ✔  Black Butler, Vol. 2 by Yana Toboso
10. ✔ Black Butler, Vol. 3 by Yana Toboso
11. Ender’s Game (Ender’s Saga #1) by Orson Scott Card
12. Kitchen Princess Omnibus, Vol. 3 (Kitchen Princess #5-7) by Natsumi Andō
13. ✔  Shifting Shadows (Mercy Thompson Shorts) by Patricia Briggs
14. Serpent’s Kiss (Elder Races #3) by Thea Harrison
15. ✔ Girl of Nightmares (Anna #2) by Kendare Blake

Last three books I’m behind on!

For 2020. I compiled I list of 30 books I want to read that I already own and those are actually coming along nicely as well! The first three books I’ve read are on both of the lists and I’m making those a priority. It is satisfying to check off books from both lists at once.  The books I’ve read from last update are:

The Witch With No Name (The Hollows #13) by Kim Harrison ★★★

Black Butler, Vol. 3 by Yana Toboso ★★★★

Girl of Nightmares (Anna #2) by Kendare Blake ★★★

I did a book review on The Witch With No Name and you can check it out HERE.

Here is the list of the books I own and want to read in 2020:

1. ✔  Six of Crows (Six of Crows, #1) by Leigh Bardugo
2. ✔  Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows, #2) by Leigh Bardugo
3. The Fates Divide (Carve the Mark, #2) by Veronica Roth
4. Prey (Shifters, #4) by Rachel Vincent
5. Carniepunk by Rachel Caine (editor)
6. ✔  The Witch With No Name (The Hollows, #13) by Kim Harrison
7. Naked City: Tales of Urban Fantasy by Ellen Datlow (editor)
8. ✔  The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1) by Holly Black
9. ✔  The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air, #2) by Holly Black
10. Death of a Darklord (Ravenloft #13) by Laurell K. Hamilton
11. Carry On (Simon Snow, #1) by Rainbow Rowell
12. Wayward Son (Simon Snow, #2) by Rainbow Rowell
13. The Battle of the Labyrinth: The Graphic Novel (Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Graphic Novels, #4) by by Robert Venditti, Rick Riordan
14. ✔  Black Butler, Vol. 3 by Yana Toboso
15. Kitchen Princess Omnibus, Vol. 3 (Kitchen Princess, #5-7) by Natsumi Ando
16. Saga: Book Three by Brian K. Vaughan
17. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (The Wicked Years #1) by Gregory Maguire
18. Serpent’s Kiss (Elder Races, #3) by Thea Harrison
19. ✔  Djevojka iz noćnih mora (Anna #2) by Kendare Blake ( Girl of Nightmares )
20. MOR – Plodovi osvete by Josip Kralik
21. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
22. Balzac i kineska mala krojačica by Dai Sijie ( Balzac et la Petite Tailleuse chinoise)
23. Neobičan događaj sa psom u noći by Mark Haddon ( The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time)
24. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
25. The Borders of Infinity (Vorkosigan Saga #5.3) by Lois McMaster Bujold
26. The Dark Prophecy (The Trials of Apollo, #2) by Rick Riordan
27. The Burning Maze (The Trials of Apollo #3) by Rick Riordan
28. The Tyrant’s Tomb (The Trials of Apollo #4) by Rick Riordan
29. Hellboy, Volume 1: Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil by Mike Mignola
30. The Darkness: Darkness/ Batman & Darkness/ Superman 20th Anniversary Collection by Garth Ennis, Jeph Loeb, Ron Marz, Scott Lobdell, Marc Silvestri

I’m already facing challenges because some of the new books from this year’s first book haul that are not on either of these lists look really tempting. I already read some of the newest books I got this year and you can check out my first Book Haul of 2020 HERE

So far my reading pace has been a little ahead of my reading goals and I will probably go easy on myself and continue reading the books that draw me in. Last month I enjoyed all of the books I’ve read a lot and I want to keep reading the books that make me happy and interested.

One of the reading challenges I’ve kinda neglected since last year is my TBR Jar Draw Challenge. Last update and reading I did was back in October 2019. I’ve read two books for it in less than one month and then felt I got some levy and held it back a bit. Now it’s time to get back on track for that as well!

My three TBR Jar draws are as follows:

The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood

Railsea by China Miéville

The Gospel of Loki (Loki #1) by Joanne M. Harris

I will probably have to take time to make some revisions for this challenge after I read one of the three books from this Jar Draw. My main concern is that some of the books I put in the TBR Jar Draw were just random books from the shelves that hold both my books and those of my boyfriend. We have different reading tastes and some of the books he reads would be a slow torture for me…

You can read more about how my TBR Jar Draw all started HERE 

TBR Jar Draw October update 2

After finishing off last TBR Jar Draw pretty quick I decided to make another update this month. Sometimes more than one month passes between two books I read for TBR Jar Draw and it is also OK when I manage to read trough more than one book in a single month!

Last three titles from the jar were:

1 # A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1) by George R.R. Martin

2 # Suddenly by Candace Camp

3 # Bloodsuckers: The Vampire Archives (Vampire Archives #1)  by Otto Penzler

I chose to read Suddenly by Candace Camp. You can check my review HERE.

My three new TBR Jar draws are as follows:

The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood

I got this book as a gift from a friend. I think was a review copy for someone. From what I gather it is a contemporary melancholy book. Right now my main motivation to read it would be to get it off my shelf. It is not something I would buy for myself to read.

Railsea by China Miéville

China Miéville is one of the authors my boyfriend reads. The only reason I put it in my TBR Jar was curiosity. It is technically a book that stands with my other books on my shelves so it fits the reading challenge. I never read this author and I like exploring something new.

The Gospel of Loki (Loki #1) by Joanne M. Harris

I got this book when it first came out years ago. I was intrigued by the author and the main character. Latter I read one of the books by Joanne Harris and my enthusiasm dropped down a bit. I even got the second book without ever reading the first one! I’m wondering should I get down to reading it and stop buying books in the series I haven’t even started reading.

I’m seriously thinking about making a culling and a giveaway of the books I have finished reading and will never consider reading them again. It might be a good project for next year as a direct result of my TBR Jar Draw reading challenge!

Bookshelf Scavenger Hunt – Part Twelve

Find a book with gold lettering – The Gospel of Loki by – Joanne M. Harris

 This is one of last years acquisitions. When I heard about it I was very interested in reading it. But when I saw it I wanted to own it.

I think the cover is pretty and I’m glad I managed to capture the gold lettering on the picture in such a good way (great success for my little tablet!)

This is one of few exemptions where I actually approve of British edition design.

I can’t wait to read this book!