The Bookish Mutant

Goodreads Monday (10/28/19)-Forest of Souls

Posted on October 28, 2019 by Madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hey again, fellow bibliophiles!

Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme created by Lauren’s Page Turners. All you have to do to participate is pick a book from your Goodreads TBR, and explain why you want to read it.

I’d completely forgotten about this one (which goes for most of the books on my TBR at the moment, but hey), but…MAN, THAT COVER…and most everything else about it…

Alright, let’s begin, shall we?

GOODREADS MONDAY (10/28/19)–FOREST OF SOULS by Lori M. Lee

Blurb from Goodreads:

Danger lurks within the roots of Forest of Souls, an epic, unrelenting tale of destiny and sisterhood, perfect for fans of Naomi Novik and Susan Dennard.

Sirscha Ashwyn comes from nothing, but she’s intent on becoming something. After years of training to become the queen’s next royal spy, her plans are derailed when shamans attack and kill her best friend Saengo.

And then Sirscha, somehow, restores Saengo to life.

Unveiled as the first lightwender in living memory, Sirscha is summoned to the domain of the Spider King. For centuries, he has used his influence over the Dead Wood—an ancient forest possessed by souls—to enforce peace between the kingdoms. Now, with the trees growing wild and untamed, only a lightwender can restrain them. As war looms, Sirscha must master her newly awakened abilities before the trees shatter the brittle peace, or worse, claim Saengo, the friend she would die for.

So why do I want to read this?

Weeeeeell…I won’t be able to read it for a while, as it doesn’t come out until summer of 2020, but anyway.

Other than the absolutely stunning cover, I’m pretty interested to see how Forest of Souls handles the necromantic elements of the plot. If done well (as in Reign of the Fallen), I think it would be an absolutely enchanting read. Also, I’m really intrigued to see how this Spider King character is executed. I’m kind of hoping that he’s actually some sort of vaguely arachnid creature (as opposed to the “Spider” part just being a moniker); It always disappoints me when villains have ominous and promising names, but then just turn out to be…I dunno, skinny dudes in fur coats, or something. (coughcoughFOXHEARTcoughcoughcough)

Anyway, if all goes right, I’m really excited to see how this turns out!

Stay tuned for a fittingly spooky Book Review Tuesday tomorrow!

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Book Tags, Books

Halloween Creatures Book Tag

Posted on October 23, 2019 by Madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hi there, fellow bibliophiles!

First of all, sorry for forgoing this week’s Book Review Tuesday. I went to a concert last night (Chelsea Wolfe!), and I had very little time at home as a result. Hopefully this will make up for it. 😉

I saw that Rae @ waesmiles reads had done this tag, and I figured I’d have a go. It was originally created by Anthony @ Keep Reading Forward, and the rules are as follows:

Follow the Categories
You Must Be Honest
You Must Answer All Questions to the Best of Your Ability
You Must Tag At Least 3 People
Have Fun!
Credit Would be Greatly Appreciated! (Keep Reading Forward)

Alright…here we go!

WITCHES–A BOOK OR CHARACTER THAT IS MAGICAL

My obvious choice here would be the Grisha trilogy. Hands down, one of the most well-crafted, magical universes I’ve ever come across. (On an unrelated note, I’m simultaneously worried and excited to see how Netflix pulls it off…)

MUMMIES–A BOOK OR CHARACTER THAT YOU CAN’T WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND

Wrap…I see what you did there…[ba-dum tsssss]

For this, I’d have to say Miryem from Spinning Silver. Without spoiling anything major, I’ll just say that it absolutely baffled me that her relationship with a certain character turned from forced (and borderline abusive) to perfectly happy.

VAMPIRES–A BOOK, SERIES, OR AUTHOR YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

Hmm…lots to pick from here, but the first one that comes to mind is the Heart of Iron duology. There’s so many aspects of that series that have earned it an especially soft spot with me. I really need to re-read Soul of Stars soon…

WEREWOLVES–A BOOK THAT IS BEST READ IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

I…well…

I can’t quite think of any. I can only read more intense books during the daytime, and I don’t read around midnight much anyway…

Guess I’ll have to skip this one ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

ZOMBIES–A BOOK YOU PICKED UP FOR THE 2ND TIME OR CONTINUED AFTER DNFING IT

Oof, I might have to skip this one, too…

Usually, when I DNF a book, it’s because of a deep-seated loathing; this usually prevents me from ever picking up the book again, so…

GHOSTS–A CHARACTER YOU SAW RIGHT THROUGH OR A BOOK THAT YOU EASILY PREDICTED THE TWIST/ENDING

I read this one a while back, but the one thing I remember with clarity about Earth Force Rising was that I could see all of the major plot points coming from a mile away. Dear Lord, that was such a cringey book…

FRANKENSTEIN–A BOOK THAT TRULY SHOCKED YOU

Hands down, Other Words for Smoke. I had pretty average expectations, but once I got into it, I could NOT put it down. The writing was beautiful, and there were out-of-this-world twists around every corner…

SKELETONS–A BOOK OR CHARACTER THAT CHILLED YOU TO THE BONE OR TICKLED YOUR FUNNY BONE

If we’re going for the funny bone route here, then I have the perfect example: Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch. I haven’t laughed that much in a very, very long time.

GHOULS–A BOOK THAT LEFT YOU HUNGRY, OR A RECIPE YOU WANT TO TRY FROM A BOOK

This one seems like a cliche answer, but my immediate choice is With the Fire on High. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to try some of Emoni’s cooking.

Okay, maybe not nothing, but you know what I’m saying. It all sounded delicious…

GOBLINS–A GREEDY CHARACTER OR A CHARACTER THAT LOVES GOLD OR JEWELRY

Though she certainly isn’t greedy, per se, Genya from the Grisha trilogy was my first thought; there’s no way that she didn’t put some bling on her eyepatch. (And every other article of clothing.)

DEVIL–A DARK, EVIL CHARACTER

This isn’t the most classic of examples, but my first thought was The Mage from Carry On. Deceitful, manipulative, and…well, y’know, the general evil that comes along with being the equivalent of a black hole for magic.

GRIM REAPER–A CHARACTER YOU LOVED OR HATED THAT DIED

Essentially, everyone who got killed off in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I don’t think I’ve completely gotten over any of them, even though I haven’t read it in years.

Especially Dobby.

DOBBYYYYYY

SCARECROWS–A BOOK OR CHARACTER THAT SCARES YOU

I can’t think of any character or book that really scared scared me, but for this, I’ll go with Xifeng from Forest of a Thousand Lanterns. I mean, you’ve got the classic, tragic hero descending into madness storyline, sprinkled in with some tyranny and eating human hearts. Y’know, just another day at the office.

MONSTER MASH–TAG YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN!

I tag:

Thank you so much for reading! Have a wonderful rest of your day! 🙂

Books, Goodreads Monday

Goodreads Monday (10/21/19)–The Devil’s Revolver

Posted on October 21, 2019November 8, 2019 by Madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hi again, fellow bibliophiles! 😀

Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme created by Lauren’s Page Turners. All you have to do to participate is pick a book from your Goodreads TBR, and explain why you want to read it.

Without further ado, let’s begin?

GOODREADS MONDAY (10/21/19)–THE DEVIL’S REVOLVER by V.S. Grath

Blurb from Goodreads:

She is Hettie Alabama — unlikely, scarred, single-minded, and blood bound to a revolver forged by a demon.

The first book in an epic, magic-clad series featuring the Wild West reimagined as a crosscultural stereoscope of interdimensional magic and hardship, The Devil’s Revolver opens with a shooting competition and takes off across the landscape after a brutal double murder and kidnapping — to which revenge is the only answer. Hettie Alabama, only seventeen years old, leads her crew of underdogs with her father’s cursed revolver, magicked to take a year off her life each time she fires it. It’s no way for a ranch girl to grow up, but grow up she does, her scars and determination to rescue her vulnerable younger sister deepening with every year of life she loses.

A sweeping and high-stakes saga that gilds familiar Western adventure with powerful magic and panoramic fantasy, The Devil’s Revolver is the last word and the blackest hat in the Weird West.

So why do I want to read this?

I forget exactly what book it was that I read that made Goodreads recommend this one. I’m usually not one for historical fiction (I Capture the Castle and Like a Love Story are some of the rare exceptions), but the twist of magic hooked me in. I’m really interested to see how McGrath executes the concept of this cursed revolver; if done right, I’ll be head-over-heels in love with this concept. And if you’ve gotten to know my taste in books, you know I’m all for a scrappy crew of misfits and underdogs.

It looks like The Devil’s Revolver is only available on Kindle and in paperback (more of an indie publisher, I think), so hopefully I can get it on my Kindle one of these days. If all goes as planned, this one looks like it’ll be a wild ride.

Thank you so much for reading this post! Have a great rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!

Art, Book Tags, Books, Geeky Stuff, Music

Anything But Books Tag

Posted on October 17, 2019October 17, 2019 by Madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Happy Thursday, fellow bibliophiles!

I was tagged by A Little Haze Book Blog to take part in the Anything But Books Tag, and I’m so excited to participate!

Alright, let’s get started…

Name a cartoon character that you love.

Okay, technically, he was a comic character first, but Forager from Young Justice: Outsiders is absolutely precious.

What is your favorite song right now?

Ooh…hard to pick, but at the moment, I’d probably have to go with “Fake Plastic Trees” by Radiohead. Never fails to fill every fiber of my being with emotion…

What could you do for hours that isn’t reading?

Drawing and writing, most likely. I’d add playing guitar as well, but…yeah, my fingers could not withstand playing guitar for hours. They’d never forgive me.

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What is something that you love to do that your followers would be surprised by?

I love to go ALL OUT for Halloween. Whether or not I end up trick-or-treating, I try to at least wear my costume to school. I was Liz Sherman from Hellboy last year, which was super fun 🙂 I dyed my hair red and everything!

What is your favorite unneccessarily specific thing to learn about?

Cephalopod biology, hands down. They’re such a fascinating group of creatures; I have fond memories of spending an entire period in 6th grade watching a documentary on cuttlefish 🙂

What is something unusual that you know how to do?

Um…

I don’t think I have any *unusual* talents, per se, but I can kind of make a kazoo noise with my mouth…

Name something you’ve made in the last year, and show us if you can.

I just finished this up a few weeks ago! It was a 22 x 30 drawing in Prismacolor colored pencils, for my advanced art class. Recognize her? 😉

What is your most recent personal project?

I don’t have anything *super* personal, but I did pick up some watercolors after several years of not touching a paintbrush. This was the end result:

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Dark Phoenix!

Tell us something that you think about often (especially when looking out windows).

It’s inevitable that every time I stare out a window, I drift into the recesses of my mind, where my story ideas start playing like movies.

Give us something that is your favorite, but make it oddly specific.

I love watching X-Men movies (no, duh, Sherlock), but at night, curled up in a blanket downstairs, and preferably with some snacks and in the company of my cats.

Say the first thing that pops into your head.

They did surgery on a grape.

I’m so incredibly sorry to bring that back.

I’ve created a monster

I tag:

Thank you so much for reading this post! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!

Book Review Tuesday, Books

Book Review Tuesday (10/15/19)-Like a Love Story

Posted on October 15, 2019 by Madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hey there, fellow bibliophiles, and welcome to this week’s Book Review Tuesday!

I am BEYOND excited to review this week’s book. And, of course, I got it at the library.

[fast forward to this Friday]

[abrupt cut to yours truly, with tears streaming down my face, returning this book to the library]

What I’m trying to say is that…well, to put it simply, this is one of the best books to come out of 2019. And the year isn’t even over. Simultaneously heartrending and beautiful prose, and a story that made me feel every feel on the spectrum while deftly explaining a real-life tragedy: the AIDS crisis.

Enjoy this week’s review!

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Like a Love Story

In 1989, at the midst of the AIDS crisis, three teens struggle to figure out where they fit into the grand scheme of things.

Reza, originally from Iran, has just moved to New York City. As he gets to know his peers at school, he grapples with the realization that he is gay. Art, the only openly gay boy at his school, tries to fight back–not only against his homophobic classmates and parents–but against the government that turns a blind eye to a raging epidemic. Judy, longtime best friend of Art, does her part to advocate for the LGBT community, while caring for her beloved uncle, who is dying of AIDS. These three teens meet in a whirlwind of happenstance, and their lives will be forever entangled, in the midst of a worldwide crisis.

Like a Love Story was simply unforgettable.

Nazemian paints a vivid picture, not only of every facet of the AIDS crisis at the time, but also what it was like to be a teenager in the center of it all, particularly one who is a gay immigrant. The characters were beautifully realistic, and despite their flaws, I found myself rooting for them from page one, and even resonating with them, on some levels. And…come on, there’s Madonna references EVERYWHERE. I mean, what’s not to love? A veritable gem of a novel, one that certainly stands out among the works of this year. Maybe even this decade. I don’t know, I guess I’m not quite old enough to compare it on that scope. Okay, at least the past five years or so.

What I’m trying to say is that Like a Love Story is a stellar novel, in practically every way, shape, and form. Five stars isn’t enough; let’s give this one all the stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. Yeah, that’s what it deserves, methinks. 🙂

Thank you so much for reading this review! Have a wonderful day, and stay tuned for more content (hopefully?) this week!

Books, Goodreads Monday

Goodreads Monday (10/14/19)–The Cerulean

Posted on October 14, 2019 by Madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hi again, fellow bibliophiles!

Goodreads Monday is a weekly meme created by Lauren’s Page Turners. It’s simple: all you have to do is pick a book off of your Goodreads TBR list, and explain why you want to read it.

This one seems to have been getting a lot of hype, and the premise seems pretty interesting. I’m hoping it doesn’t disappoint, but only time will tell…

Without further ado, let’s begin this week with Goodreads Monday!

GOODREADS MONDAY (10/14/19)-THE CERULEAN by Amy Ewing

Blurb from Goodreads:

Sera has always felt as if she didn’t belong among her people, the Cerulean. She is curious about everything and can’t stop questioning her three mothers, her best friend, Leela, and even the High Priestess. Sera has longed for the day when the tether that connects her City Above the Sky to the earthly world below finally severs and sends the Cerulean to a new planet.

But when Sera is chosen as the sacrifice to break the tether, she doesn’t know what to feel. To save her City, Sera must throw herself from its edge and end her own life. But something goes wrong and she survives the fall, landing in a place called Kaolin. She has heard tales about the humans there, and soon learns that the dangers her mothers warned her of are real. If Sera has any hope to return to her City, she’ll have to find the magic within herself to survive.

So why do I want to read this?

If anything, I’m hoping that The Cerulean will be an interesting blend of sci-f9fantasy, at best. It seems like it could easily swerve into tropey, chosen-one territory, but I have faith that, at least, this will be a story of a young woman’s perserverance. The cover looks…okay, not going to lie here, it’s gorgeous. And Goodreads has it shelved as LGBT, soooo…🤞

To be honest, I’d forgotten that I’d shelved The Cerulean on my TBR, so I’ll have to see if it’s available at the library. Again…🤞

Thank you so much for reading! Have a wonderful day, and stay tuned for Book Review Tuesday tomorrow, and some book tags later in the week!

Book Tags, Books

Autumn Book Tag–Are You Ready for Sweater Weather?

Posted on October 13, 2019 by Madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

That’s right! A perfect tag for SPOOKY SEASON!

This tag was created by Jenn @ Jenniely, and all of the tag headers in this post are from her original post. I was tagged by A Little Haze Book Blog (THANK YOU!), and I’m so excited to do this tag! 🙂

Hot Chocolate: What is your comfort book?

Sci-fi books are usually my comfort book; more specifically, those who have an extra-special place in my heart, such as The Search for WondLa trilogy, the Heart of Iron duology, and Aurora Rising.

Pumpkin Carving: What is your favorite creative outlet?

Ooh…probably a toss-up between drawing and writing. I’ve loved to draw since I was little, and I usually like to experiment with pencils, ink pens, markers, and, as of now, a bit of watercolor.

As far as writing goes, I’d like to be an author someday. I try to write every night, and my mind is absolutely filled to the brim with all manner of story ideas. I mean, I’ve gotta let ‘em out somehow, right?

Falling Leaves: Changes that appear bad that you secretly love

In a weird way, the first week of school always makes me a little nostalgic. I know, I know…school…but hey, there’s very little homework, and often times, it’s the first time you get to see all of your friends again after three months apart. It was better in preschool, but the first week is still oddly nice.

Pumpkin Spice Latte: Something you love that others tend to judge

I mean, I know I’m not exactly a minority here, but I LOVE cats. It’s so strange that cats and dogs are such a polarizing subject: people either seem to adore them, or think that they’re heartless goblins bent on destruction. I’ve been around cats for as long as I can remember, and they’ve been my constant companions through thick and thin, always there to be adorable or snuggle with while I watch movies.

Bonfire Night: What makes you explode with joy?

Going to see a movie or picking up a new book that you’ve been waiting for anxiously, and realizing that it was even better than you expected it to be. It’s the little things.

Fright Night: Favorite Scary Book or Film

I’ve never been one for horror–movies or books. I mean, I totally chickened out on Aliens (1986), if that’s any indication.

However, I’m all for something spooky–just don’t give me much suspense, and I’ll be just fine.

In that creepy-but-not-nightmare-inducing vein, I’d have to say the Hellboy comics, and the Guillermo del Toro adaptations. NOT the 2019 reboot, mind you. Hellboy and that related universe will eternally have a special place in my heart.

Halloween Candy: Favorite sweets to eat

Candy corns, York peppermint patties, and anything with Oreos/oreo chunks in it.

Scarves: Your must-have autumn accessory

October’s the perfect jacket season. I always like wearing my denim or leather jacket in Autumn, but I’ve got a soft spot for one jacket in particular; it’s black, with David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane lightning bolt on the back, and my collection of enamel pins and buttons on the front.

Fire: A book or film that burns your soul

As far as books go, I’d definitely have to say Frankenstein. I haven’t gotten around to re-reading since I first bought it, but it’s left a permanent mark on my soul, to be sure.

For movies, hands-down, it’s The Shape of Water. Such a beautifully thought-out and moving film…I really don’t think I’ve been the same since the first time I watched it.

Toffee Apples: A book or film that seems one thing but has a different inside

For this one, I’d have to say…Rainbow Rowell’s and Faith Erin Hicks’ Pumpkinheads. From the premise (and the pretense of Rowell’s previous works), you’d think that it would have some family drama or frustrating conflict. But, no, this one was so sweet and fluffy! Highly recommend it 🙂

Well, that just about wraps it up!

I tag:

Thank you so much for reading this! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and be sure to stay tuned for more content next week! 😉