Tag: The Stone Sky

My 2017 Reading Year in Review

meltotheanyAside29 Comments

Let’s be real, 2017 was kind of a garbage fire year for our world, but at least we had some good books! I had a pretty good reading year! I’m very happy with the 130 books that I read, and I feel like with each year I get better and better at picking out books, and requesting ARCs, that I am confident I will at least enjoy, therefore, my average rating tends to get higher and higher.

➽ And thanks to the amazing Brock at Let’s Read, here are some other statistics that I was able to gather from his amazing spreadsheet:

And if you’re interested, here is his spreadsheet for 2018! (File>make a copy for your use)

➽These are the five books that were published this year that were a tier above the rest. These five blew my mind, and expectations, out of the water. I truly believe these five are perfect books in every single way. And I personally recommend them with my entire heart, body, and soul.

#5.) The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy #1) by Katherine Arden

“Before the end, you will pluck snowdrops at midwinter, die by your own choosing, and weep for a nightingale.”

This book taught me that girls can be anything they wish to be, no matter the expectations society, family, and everything else in this world puts on them. And to always surround yourself with people that accept you and believe in you.

#4.) The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

“That’s the problem. We let people say stuff, and they say it so much that it becomes okay to them and normal for us. What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?”

This book taught the world that we want black stories, from black authors, with black casts, with black people on the covers… no matter how many old, racist, white dudes continue to get published. But this book taught me how much more work needs to be done, and how I need to do more to boost marginalized voices, and how the world needs to change and it can begin with me and our generation.

#3.) Tyrant’s Throne (Greatcoats #4) by Sebastien de Castell

“From nothing we become men and women who write poems and wage wars and conceive of futures both wondrous and terrifying.”

This book taught me that found families with unconditional love is the most powerful force in any world. And that friendship can heal wounds you never thought would stop bleeding. And that your past will never define you, or hinder you, from being good and kind and ultimately becoming the person you want to be.

#2.) The Stone Sky (The Broken Earth #3) by N.K. Jemisin

“But for a society built on exploitation, there is no greater threat than having no one left to oppress.”

This book taught me to never stop moving forward, to always speak up, and help marginalized voices that need to be heard. And that we don’t get to choose how people love us. And how one voice can change the world. And that blood is only blood, and that we should spend our days with people who love us! And that we are always deserving of love. Always. No matter what.

#1.) Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer #1) by Laini Taylor

“Sarai was seventeen years old, a goddess and a girl. Half her blood was human, but it counted for nothing. She was blue. She was godspawn. She was anathema. She was young. She was lovely. She was afraid.”

This book reminded me why I love reading, and that books are magical, healing vessels. This book taught me that everyone has the right to change their future, and that we will never be our parent’s mistakes. And that we can rise up, and become so much more, and that all of our stories deserve to be told. And ultimately, you get to choose who is in your story.

These books mean a lot to me, and I feel so very thankful, privileged, and blessed that I was able to read them all this year. These books have all changed who I am as a person, and I will carry, pass them down, and sing their praises for my entire life. Books like this render me speechless to be honest, but I hope I did a decent job letting you guys know how much they mean, and will continue to mean, to me.

➽ And the rest of my favorite books published in 2017:

✨The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic by Leigh Bardugo

✨Down Among the Sticks and Bones (Wayward Children, #2) by Seanan McGuire

✨Red Sister (Book of the Ancestor, #1) by Mark Lawrence

✨Kings of the Wyld (The Band, #1) by Nicholas Eames

✨Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore

✨Skullsworn (Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne 0.5) by Brian Staveley

✨Godsgrave (The Nevernight Chronicle, #2) by Jay Kristoff

✨Oathbringer (The Stormlight Archive, #3) by Brandon Sanderson

➽ But my favorite book that I read in 2017 happened to be a 2018 title:

⚔The Cruel Prince by Holly Black!

➽ My Top Five Least Favorite Books Published in 2017:

🙃 Into the Fire (Night Prince #4) by Jeaniene Frost

🙃 Raven’s Mark: (The Raven Queen’s Harem #1) by Angel Lawson

🙃 Blood Rose Rebellion (Blood Rose Rebellion #1) by Rosalyn Eves

🙃 The Ghostwriter by Alessandra Torre

🙃 Bad Habit (Bad Love #1) by Charleigh Rose

➽ My Top 18 Most Anticipated Releases of 2018:

🌟The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1) by Holly Black – January 2nd, 2018 ★★★★★

🌟Beneath the Sugar Sky (Wayward Children #3) by Seanan McGuire – January 9th, 2018 ★★★★★

🌟Iron Gold (Red Rising Saga #4) by Pierce Brown – January 16th, 2018

🌟The Armored Saint (The Sacred Throne #1) by Myke Cole – February 20th, 2018 ★★★★★

🌟Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston – February 27th, 2018 (I have an ARC!)

🌟Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orïsha #1) by Tomi Adeyemi – March 6th, 2018 (I have an ARC!)

🌟High Voltage (Fever #10) by Karen Marie Moning – March 6th, 2018

🌟The Heart Forger (The Bone Witch #2) by Rin Chupeco – March 20th, 2018 (I have an ARC!)

🌟Dread Nation by Justina Ireland – April 3rd, 2018 ★★★★★

🌟Circe by Madeline Miller – April 10th, 2018

🌟The Thief (Black Dagger Brotherhood #16) by J.R. Ward – April 10th, 2017

🌟Grey Sister (Book of the Ancestor #2) by Mark Lawrence April 19th, 2018 (I have an ARC!)

🌟Bloody Rose (The Band #2) by Nicholas Eames – April 26th, 2018

🌟Magic Triumphs (Kate Daniels #10) by Ilona Andrews – May 8th, 2018

🌟The Winter of the Witch (Winternight Trilogy #3) by Katherine Arden – August 14th, 2018

🌟Toil & Trouble: 16 Tales of Women & Witchcraft edit by Tess Sharpe – August 28th, 2018

🌟Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore – October 9th, 2018

🌟The Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer #2) by Laini Taylor – No Date (If this gets pushed back until 2019 I’m actually going to be WEEPING for the rest of the new year!)

➽ And the highlight of my year on Goodreads and my blog was just connecting with so many amazing people who love to celebrate their love for reading. I love you all, but these people truly changed my life this year, and I just wanted to give them a special shout out and you should all follow them (if you’re not) to start your 2018 off right!

💗 Paloma became like my best friend this year, and our Snapchat streak is getting pretty intense. She’s beautiful, funny, my book twin, and gives me the best romance recommendations in the world.

💗 Destiny became not only a huge part of my reading life, because we buddy read like 50 ARCs together, but she became a staple in my real life, too, and I love her more than words. She’s also brought me into her bookish community on FB and helped introduce me to so many wonderful people. I have no words to describe how much she has changed my life, but I truly think we will be friends for life.

💗 Elise was totally along for the ride with me and Destiny’s buddy reads, too! She’s my spider queen, my sapphic book recommender, my theater star, and I love her so much!

💗 Em is like becoming the biggest reviewer on Goodreads, so I hope she remembers me and my love for her when she’s famous. Also, she’s the number one person I go to when I gush over any book and we leave each other 100 messages back to back when we love a book, and she makes every book I read that she has already read 100 times better.

💗 Petrik completely buried himself inside my heart and my only wish is for him to move to the US immediately. Not only does he write the best reviews, read the best books, and shows me so much kindness, he also is one of the most talented people I’ve ever met.

💗 Mary completely just blatantly stole my heart and I hope she relocates to Vegas soon so we can be wed. Mary has helped me with so many reviews this year, while also doing some amazing buddy reads with me. She’s also the most beautiful person on Goodreads, but she’s also passionate, and intelligent, and honestly goals in every single way.

💗 Jules was honestly my buddy reading queen in 2017. I read so many books with her, and she made each and every one so much better. Also, we bonded over Nevernight and Godsgrave and now she can never leave me and she must read just as much with me in 2018! I don’t make the rules.

💗 Alexis is my newest book friend of 2017, but I’m completely obsessed with her opinions and content and her BookTube channel. I feel like I’ve known her way longer than I have, but I can’t wait to get to know her even more in 2018. Also, she’s adorable, funny, has amazing taste in everything, and is such a good kitty mom.

💗 Lilly is also a newer friend of mine this year, but I honestly can’t picture blogging without her now. Also, me and her have like every book in common and if my 2018 isn’t filled with buddy reads with her I’m just going to cry the entire year away.

💗 Chelsea is a confirmed angel that I was able to meet this year in person and it was honestly one if the highlights of 2017 for me. Not only is she gorgeous; she’s smart, funny, so kind, and is 100% my go-to for anything and everything Thriller!

💗 Sue completely makes Goodreads for me. She puts in more work than anyone else I know on this site, and is always so kind and giving. I couldn’t possibly make a list without giving her a shout out, because she does so much, and I can’t picture Goodreads without her.

And thank you all for making my 2017 so great! I hope 2018 is filled with unconditional love and good health and happiness for you all! Oh, and a good book always! I’m so very grateful for each and every one of you who gush over books with me and show me so much kindness and friendship. From every molecule of my body, thank you. 💖

➽ My 2016 Reading Challenge
➽ My 2015 Reading Challenge

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My Top Five Favorite Books Published in 2017

meltotheanyAside26 Comments

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! 🎁🎄💛 I hope you all are having such a wonderful holiday season! This past week on Instagram, I’ve been counting down my favorite published books of 2017! And today is the very last day where I announced my favorite book (which will be no surprise to any of you), but I figured I’d do a quick wrap up for you all to see my five favorites of 2017!

These are the five books that were published this year that were a tier above the rest. These five blew my mind, and expectations, out of the water. I truly believe these five are perfect books in every single way. And I personally recommend them with my entire heart, body, and soul.

➽The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy #1) by Katherine Arden

“Before the end, you will pluck snowdrops at midwinter, die by your own choosing, and weep for a nightingale.”

This book taught me that girls can be anything they wish to be, no matter the expectations society, family, and everything else in this world puts on them. And to always surround yourself with people that accept you and believe in you.

➽The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

“That’s the problem. We let people say stuff, and they say it so much that it becomes okay to them and normal for us. What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?”

This book taught the world that we want black stories, from black authors, with black casts, with black people on the covers… no matter how many old, racist, white dudes continue to get published. But this book taught me how much more work needs to be done, and how I need to do more to boost marginalized voices, and how the world needs to change and it can begin with me and our generation.

➽Tyrant’s Throne (Greatcoats #4) by Sebastien de Castell

“From nothing we become men and women who write poems and wage wars and conceive of futures both wondrous and terrifying.”

This book taught me that found families with unconditional love is the most powerful force in any world. And that friendship can heal wounds you never thought would stop bleeding. And that your past will never define you, or hinder you, from being good and kind and ultimately becoming the person you want to be.

➽The Stone Sky (The Broken Earth #3) by N.K. Jemisin

“But for a society built on exploitation, there is no greater threat than having no one left to oppress.”

This book taught me to never stop moving forward, to always speak up, and help marginalized voices that need to be heard. And that we don’t get to choose how people love us. And how one voice can change the world. And that blood is only blood, and that we should spend our days with people who love us! And that we are always deserving of love. Always. No matter what.

➽Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer #1) by Laini Taylor

“Sarai was seventeen years old, a goddess and a girl. Half her blood was human, but it counted for nothing. She was blue. She was godspawn. She was anathema. She was young. She was lovely. She was afraid.”

This book reminded me why I love reading, and that books are magical, healing vessels. This book taught me that everyone has the right to change their future, and that we will never be our parent’s mistakes. And that we can rise up, and become so much more, and that all of our stories deserve to be told. And ultimately, you get to choose who is in your story.

These books mean a lot to me, and I feel so very thankful, privileged, and blessed that I was able to read them all this year. These books have all changed who I am as a person, and I will carry, pass them down, and sing their praises for my entire life. Books like this make render me speechless to be honest, but I hope I did a decent job letting you guys know how much they mean, and will continue to mean, to me. And again, I hope you’re all having a wonderful holiday season. Happy reading, lovelies! ❄☃💙

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My Votes for the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards

meltotheanyAside32 Comments

The title says it all; these are my personal choices for the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards. You can vote until November 27th! So, make sure your voice gets heard, even if your voice is different than mine. And the winners will be announced on December 5th! I’m only going to be talking about the five categories that I feel strongly and passionately about. And let’s be real *looks the Romance category* some of the categories are just plain bad and not worth my time or words. Okay, onto the books and my choices:

➽ BEST FANTASY:
The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin is so important to me, and is probably the best book I’ve read in the entirety of 2017. This category means the most to me, personally, because I read mostly adult fantasy, and there is nothing that will probably ever beat The Broken Earth trilogy. It’s perfect, it’s moving, and it’s so damn powerful. This fantasy trilogy has the power to change the world, and I hope it wins and more people pick it up. But let’s be real, a freakin’ screen play that isn’t nearly as good is going to beat this and break my heart in the process.

➽ BEST YOUNG ADULT FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION:
My vote is for Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor! This book is still haunting me to this day. I read this immediately after release, and it is easily one of the best thing I’ve read all year. The prose, the characters, the messages, this book has everything. I love this book with my entire soul, and even though it has some super stiff competition, I hope it wins. This book is nothing short of magic.

➽ BEST YOUNG ADULT FICTION:
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is a modern-day masterpiece and we are so blessed to have this work of art available in bookstores. And the queen, Angie Thomas, deserves every single award this book has netted, and she deserves this one as well.

➽ BEST DEBUT GOODREADS AUTHOR:
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas deserves this award, too. This book is powerful, emotional, and life changing. This book is going to make people uncomfortable, but they need that uncomfortability, and they need to open their eyes and change. This book is everything, and I not only expect it to sweep both of these categories, I expect it on almost everyone’s best of 2017 lists.

➽ BEST GRAPHIC NOVELS & COMICS:
Monstress, Vol. 2: The Blood by Marjorie M. Liu & Sana Takeda is my favorite graphic novel series of all time. This story is brilliant and impactful and features such a strong female main character, who also showcases some great physical disability representation. The art is beyond words magnificent. The story is something I will never forget. I love this with my whole heart, and I hope this nomination at least makes more people pick this series up.

Okay! That’s everything that I feel passionate about! I hope you guys liked this, and are enjoying the short list! And this isn’t me telling you what to vote for. Whatever you vote for is completely valid! I’m just personally letting you guys know my picks. I also feel like 2018 will have a much more inclusionary list, but I do think 2017 is a step in the right direction. Happy voting and happy reading, lovelies!

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