Last Week I Read:
Foxglove by Adalyn Grace (4 stars)
Currently Reading:
Wisteria by Adalyn Grace
What I Plan to Read Next:
Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray
Other Posts of Interest:
Teaser & Top Ten Tuesdays
Firsts of 2024 Book Tag
Can't Wait Wednesday
Books from the Backlog #114
Book Blogger Hop #337
Stacking the Shelves--The Birthday Edition
Well it was another week. It was my birthday Monday, so I took that day off to just chill. My aunt was in town so it was fun to hang out with her and my mom. We did some shopping and then went out to dinner. Overall it was really great day! Then the rest of the week was just meh. I am once again dealing with horrendous shipping woes. This time it's with Home Depot, of all the companies! That this isn't book related is shocking! I ordered my stepdad's Christmas present on the 14th and usually when my stepdad orders stuff from here, it's here within 3 days or so. Less than 5 for sure! Well, my package was received at the first UPS location in GA on the 17th and there's it has sat. For days!!! It has not moved once. They have sent "updates" saying delivery date of such and such and naturally it has not come because it has not left the state of GA which was the FIRST leg of its journey and I am like WTH?! This is a Christmas gift!! I ordered it wayyy over the limit of "order by this date and get it by Christmas eve" and it hasn't even shipped!! Seriously, what the heck is going on with the delivery systems this year?! And if that wasn't enough, my B&N preorder has once again been delayed!! And yup, it's at the SAME distribution center my copy of Spectacular is still sitting in! And they have had this book since the 18th. So it sat there the 19th, the 20th, and now the 21st. Tracking says I'll get it yesterday, but I didn't. So yeah, I think all the mail delivering companies hate me. I keep them in business with my purchases but they must hate me because they keep doing this crud to me and I am just fed up. So I had to print out a picture of my stepdad's Christmas present and I have that ready to be wrapped should his gift not arrive Monday or Tuesday...it likely won't. I don't see how it will be possible at all when it's still as far south as it possibly can be. My mom who helped me place the order in her name/account called someone and she said they will likely call me, as I put my number on the order to give me updates...which I did not get. So I'm hoping they call either today (unlikely) or Monday (also unlikely at this point). I am just so freaking angry that these stores dare to give you the BS of "order by this date to arrive for Christmas" when they literally prove that they cannot in fact do this when you order before said date.
Next year, I am demanding lists by October 1st so I can order before the end of October...that way I can account for companies' and the mail delivery companies' unaccountability.
Onto what I did get this week. First up was my Pendragon's Shop preorder of the Caraval books! No I can't read Italian, but I loved the OUABH covers they did, so I splurged and bought myself this! It even came in an advent calendar style. Sadly, I was missing gift number 11 but since it comes from Italy, I don't think it's worth the hassle of getting a replacement when it could possibly cost me too. My Instagram account has been doing a poor job of translating foreign languages lately and basically leaves them in their original format, which makes me wonder what's the point of having a "translate" button? But whatever! The books are gorgeous and the other items I did get were pretty cool!
So when I got it on the 17th, I opened up the advent gifts in that order so here's where I stopped on the reveals.
Then I started being good the next day, but then mail stress had me opening the rest anyway! Lol.
I got: I Am The Dark That Answers When You Call by Jamison Shea
Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca
a stuffed polar bear
a Squishmallows hedgehog ornament
a Thomas Kincade Tangled puzzle
mini notebooks for my review notes
Reese's Peanut Butter Trees
Twizzlers
THANK YOU SOOO MUCH (again!) Chelsea!
Then I spontaneously decided to drive to the only Books a Million near me (which is like 30 minutes away) and I spent a good chunk of time browsing! I was surprised that they kept so many older titles on their shelves. B&N only ever has the most newest books out, like if you want a title from 4 months ago from an author who didn't hit the NYT Bestsellers List, you better go online! I was seeing books that were years older and it was just so nice!
I browsed in the bargain section the longest because holy cow there were a lot of titles there! Sadly, I couldn't find a OUABH hardcover that I need for an alternate cover. Surprisingly I do not have an extra floating around--shocking I know! I'm just waiting to find a decent used one, when I look online I basically get up to the cost of a new hardcover when you throw in shipping, so it doesn't seem worth it to buy used in that sense.
Then a few of my bookish birthday gifts that I received:
And then finally, yes, there's an end to this even though I didn't get the one book I preordered that released this week, I got my preorder gift for The Whispering Night!
THANK YOU Tor Teen!!
And that was it for me this week! Stay tuned for next week's shipping woes update and my Christmas haul! Lol. What did you get this week?
This week's question is: In December, many people like snuggling up with a nice book and a warm beverage. What kind of reading environment do you prefer during the winter? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)
MY ANSWER: I'm always comfiest if I can be snuggled under a blanket kicked back in a comfy chair or propped up on pillows on my bed. I don't really need a beverage unless it's frigid cold outside. If anything it would be hot chocolate! But it's rare that I drink it as I don't like to be overly warm.
She is the most powerful Jinni of all. He is a boy from the streets. Their love will shake the world...
When Aladdin discovers Zahra's jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn't seen in hundreds of years—a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra's very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes.
But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra a chance to be free of her lamp forever, she seizes the opportunity—only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin. When saving herself means betraying him, Zahra must decide once and for all: is winning her freedom worth losing her heart?
As time unravels and her enemies close in, Zahra finds herself suspended between danger and desire in this dazzling retelling of Aladdin from acclaimed author Jessica Khoury.
I added The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury to my TBR in February of 2016! It came off as a sort of Aladdin tale but with a girl genie. Basically girl genie vibes! Sadly it looks like it was meant to be a series but didn't take off. Hopefully the first book will stand well alone as I do still want to read it!
This Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition features an alternate jacket and a unique hardcover case and endpaper design, and includes a deleted chapter from Death's point-of-view.
The captivating sequel to the Gothic-infused Belladonna, in which Signa and Death face a supernatural foe determined to tear them apart.
A duke has been murdered. The lord of Thorn Grove has been framed. And Fate, the elusive brother of Death, has taken up residence in a sumptuous estate nearby. He's hellbent on revenge after Death took the life of the woman he loved many years ago...and now he's determined to have Signa for himself, no matter the cost.
Signa and her cousin Blythe are certain that Fate can save Elijah Hawthorne from prison if they will entertain his presence. But the more time the girls spend with Fate, the more frightening their reality becomes as Signa exhibits dramatic new powers that link her to Fate's past. With mysteries and danger around every corner, the cousins must decide if they can trust one another as they navigate their futures in high society, unravel the murders that haunt their family, and play Fate's unexpected games—all with their destinies hanging in the balance.
Dangerous, suspenseful, and seductive, this sequel to Signa and Death's story is as utterly romantic as it is perfectly deadly.
I finally decided to finish up Adalyn Grace's Belladonna trilogy (though I hear there might be a bonus novella in the works!) with Foxglove! I want to say I read an early copy of Belladonna, so my memory was unbelievably fuzzy! Luckily, I had some notes and I felt like I was able to dive back into the story with only a few stumbles! The book starts with a bang and ends with one too! This book had me on the edge of my seat and if I hadn't had a busy weekend, I so would've finished this earlier!
We start the story with finding Lord Wakefield dead, murdered and Signa's uncle Elijah is the main suspect and taken into custody right away. Signa knows he couldn't have possibly done it and she and her cousin, Blythe, are determined to figure out who the real culprit is. But there's another problem, because of course there is! And that is Death's brother, Fate, is here and he is determined to stir up a bit of chaos.
Fate finds himself enchanted with Signa and is determined to make her his. He seems to care little that Signa is in a relationship with Death, in fact, him stealing her from Death is the added bonus he was looking for. He wants Signa to give him a chance. He even offers to help free her uncle from prison, and possible death, if she truly gives him the chance to woo her. That Signa agrees is an attestment to her character.
Meanwhile, we get to follow Blythe every few chapters who is doing everything she possibly can to free her father from prison. Along the way, she is uncovering some startling truths about Signa that could ultimately change their relationship forever.
While posing as a fake prince, Fate begins his "wooing" of Signa, but Blythe is there too as these two can't seem to stay away from one another. Having known what the third book will vaguely entail, this did not surprise me. Blythe and Fate constantly butt heads and it can be quite comical at times, because I feel like Fate was underestimating Blythe for she is just a human. But I will admit, Blythe did take a few turns that upset me and I was on the verge of really hating her, but knew something had to change eventually, because again, the third book was very telling about who the main characters would be! So yes, in that respect I told myself to just keep going!
As far as pacing goes, I say this one did pretty well. At times I felt like there were a few lags. I mean I felt like there was almost a little too much focusing on trying to get Blythe's father out of prison instead of trying to figure out who the real murderer was. Eventually, we correct course and get back to that line of thinking, but I felt like it could've happened sooner, but then I guess things would've been resolved more quickly than intended. I don't know really. The other part of the story, obviously focused on Signa's dilemma, which was trying to break the hold Fate was trying to get on her and be with her true lover, Death.
I did appreciate that she and Death got a little more page time together, but again, at the same time, it didn't feel like enough since Fate had to constantly interrupt! It was aggravating to say the least and yet, I still found myself reading to see what would happen next!
Side comment on the bonus material in the B&N edition! In this edition, we had a deleted chapter that was from Death's point of view. I would've loved to have more from his perspective, but can see Adalyn's reasoning that this became Signa and Blythe's book, so giving him a chapter wouldn't have flowed so seamlessly. But still, as bonus material goes, it was fun!
Overall I did truly enjoy Foxglove! Yes, it had its ups and downs, but overall I felt like it was a very enjoyable read and doesn't really filter into the middle book category. While it seems Signa and Death's chapter closes here, I suspect they might be around in the background for Blythe's book, much like she was there for their story. Time will tell as I pick that one up next! If you're looking for an engaging love story with a young woman and Death himself, then I highly recommend this one! I always find love stories involving Death or a reaper to be highly intriguing as I am dying to see (no pun intended) how the star-crossed lovers will get their happy ending! And in this story, I finally get that answer!
Overall Rating 4/5 stars
It was said that if you write to the Bridegroom’s Oak, the love of your life will answer back. Now, the tree is giving up its secrets at last.
In 1940s Germany, Sophie is excited to discover a message waiting for her in the Bridegroom's Oak from a mysterious suitor. Meanwhile, her best friend, Hanna, is sending messages too—but not to find love. As World War II unfolds in their small town of Kleinwald, the oak may hold the key to resistance against the Nazis.
In 1980s West Germany, American teen transplant Jenny feels suffocated by her strict parents and is struggling to fit in. Until she finds herself falling for Lena, a punk-rock girl hell-bent on tearing down the wall separating West Germany from East Germany, and meeting Frau Hermann, a kind old lady with secrets of her own.
In Spring 2020, New York City, best friends Miles and Chloe are in the first weeks of COVID lockdown and hating Zoom school, when an unexpected package from Chloe’s grandmother leads them to investigate a cold case about two unidentified teenagers who went missing under the Bridegroom’s Oak eighty years ago.
I still need to finish Bray's The Diviners series, I know I suck. Lol. The books were always so long and intimidating and then events and other things came up...you know how it goes! But after reading just a taste of her books I can tell this will be one I'd enjoy as well! So onto the TBR it goes!
TITLE: Under the Same Stars
AUTHOR: Libba Bray
PUBLISHER: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
GENRE: YA Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: February 4, 2025
First Book Read This Year:
I read an ARC of Ali Hazelwood's Bride as my first book of 2024. I can recall liking it, but I don't know. I felt like it needed a little something more. Still a fun read though!
First 5 Star Rating:
First 5 star read wasn't until my 5th book of the year and that was Defend the Dawn by Brigid Kemmerer! It wasn't a bad start to the year either, we're talking 4-4.5 stars prior to this one! And honestly, I can't quite remember much about this one since I binged the trilogy at the beginning of the year too!
First Book Reviewed:
Since my personal rule is that I cannot start my next read until the previous read has its review written, my first read of the year was also my first review of the year, which was Bride by Ali Hazelwood!
First 2024 Release:
I decided not to count the 2024 ARC I was reading at the first of the year and went with my "currently new" 2024 read and that was Brigid Kemmerer's Destroy the Day! Again, I binged the trilogy at the start of the year and loved it!
First Book That Slayed Me Dead:
Spotty memory effecting things, lol. Looking at my books to date, I would say it was Against the Darkness by Kendare Blake as I loved returning to the Buffiverse one more time and Kendare "slayed" this series! Lol.
First Book Hangover:
I guess I would say that was Tracy Wolff's Sweet Nightmare! I loooved venturing back to the Crave universe but at another school with some familiar faces at least! It was freaking awesome!
First Reading Slump and Book That Pulled Me Out:
I wouldn't say I was in a reading slump but I had a few reads prior to this that were maybe just too much of one thing or another. But Dawn Kurtagich's The Madness was a sort of feminist take on Dracula and it was just a breath of fresh air that was enjoyable!
First DNF:
N/A. I didn't DNF any books this year. I don't even recall picking one up, reading a chapter or two and then changing my mind. I was a on roll this year apparently!
First Book By An Author I Read Before:
That would be my second book of the year when I returned to Veronica Rossi's Under the Never Sky series with Roar of the Tides! Sadly I didn't have time for a series re-read, but I think I read some recaps and such that I got an inkling of what happened previously!
First Book by a Debut Author:
That took awhile too! I read a few 2023 debut authors in 2024, but my first 2024 debut author was Tigest Girma and Immortal Dark! It was an intriguing read for sure, very heavy, but I might be giving the second book a try!
First Book By a New to Me Author:
Well, I've said it a few times, I read Ali Hazelwood's paranormal debut, Bride, so it was my first time reading her. I might be willing to try her again if she writes another paranormal.
First Book That I Wish I Could Get Back the Time I Spent Reading It:
I'm going to say N/A again! There weren't any books I really disliked this year. Were they all perfect? Of course not. Some were hard to read at times, or were just heavy with info, or were just super long and sometimes draining. But I don't regret reading any of them!
First Novella:
I almost forgot about Wicked Ever After by Delilah S. Dawson! I guess I thought it was a novel the first scroll through this year's reads! Lol. Then I remembered it was a novella! This was just one last visit in the Blud World novels to see our favorite vampire! It was a fun read for sure!
First Graphic Novel, Comic, or Manga:
I almost thought I was going to have another N/A but then I saw that I finally read Sabaa Tahir's A Spark in the Forge! This was the last look at the prequel story of our favorite Ember characters. I was sad that a third book never happened. I was going to ask about it at the signing this year, but Sabaa ended up answering it in her own discussion!
First Re-Read:
I believe I started my Caraval re-read in late September of this year as I wanted to re-read the whole trilogy to be fresh for the holiday novella, Spectacular! So yes, Caraval was my first re-read of the year and I normally don't re-read books as I have too many new ones to read. But then I went and broke my rule again when I re-read Stephanie Garber's Spectacular just a week or two ago! I thought why not be festive again in December? Lol.
Teaser Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Purple Princess of The Purple Booker.
Here are the rules:
1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a page
3. Pick out 2 lines that are SPOILER FREE
4. Name the title, author, etc.
"She fell to her knees as her lungs collapsed, head swimming as her body fought for breaths that refused to come. She gripped her throat, clawing at it until all she saw was white. There was no saying how long she was like that before irate shadows slipped into her vision, seizing hold of her." p 183-184
TITLE: Foxglove
AUTHOR: Adalyn Grace
PUBLISHER: Little, Brown and Company
GENRE: YA Fantasy
RELEASE DATE: August 22, 2023
