aurora rising – The Bookish Mutant

The Cookie Book Tag 🍪

Posted on March 30, 2020March 30, 2020 by Madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

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Hello again, bibliophiles!

I was looking for tags to do the other day, and I came across this one, and immediately wanted to do it! I mean, who doesn’t love some form of cookie or another? Also, I figured it would be fitting for today, since my mom and I baked chocolate chip cookies in a skillet. (I don’t have any pictures, but they were delicious.) 🍪

Radiohead's The Bends album cover is hungry | AwesomeGIFs — leave it to me to slip in yet another Radiohead reference

I found this tag over at Misty’s Book Space. Let’s begin, shall we?

CHOCOLATE CHIP: A Classic Book That You Love or Really Enjoyed

Frankenstein is easily one of my favorite books, if not my favorite of all time.

THIN MINTS: A Fandom That You Really Want to ‘Join’ and/or a Hyped-Up Book You Want To Read

Incarnate (Newsoul, #1) by Jodi Meadows

I’m not sure if I’m necessarily plagued by the desire to join another fandom, but The Newsoul trilogy appears to be a classic YA dystopia, and one that actually looks decent, at that.

SHORTBREAD: An Author You Can’t Get Enough Of

Though I’ve only read two of her novels (at the moment, I hope to read the others very soon), I am such a sucker for Anna-Marie McLemore’s luscious writing. There’s no prose quite like hers.

SAMOAS: An Emotional Rollercoaster

Amazon.com: Thunderhead (2) (Arc of a Scythe) (9781442472457 ...

Even though I finally know the resolution, the entirety of Thunderhead, ESPECIALLY the ending, had my mind reeling in shock.

OREOS: A Book Whose Cover Was Better than Its Story

(Wait, what do you have against Oreos? Oreos are CLEARLY the superior cookie…)

(Okay, fine, I’ll answer the question…)

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing: A Novel: Green, Hank ...

Unpopular opinion time…

Though it had a few moments of being funny, I ultimately DNF’d An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. Between the weird pacing, the unrealistic dialogue (Does ANYBODY actually say “LOL” in real life? That’s right, NOPE), almost everything about April May’s character (at least she admits that she treats her girlfriend like an object), and the gross misrepresentation of bisexuality, this one was kind of a recipe for disaster for me. No pun intended.

[heavy sigh] Whew, had to get that out…

TAGALONGS/PEANUT BUTTER PATTIES: A Book That Wasn’t What You Expected

Amazon.com: Crown of Coral and Pearl eBook: Rutherford, Mara ...

In this case, not in a good way.

Putting aside the fact that I thought that Crown of Coral and Pearl would feature mermaids [repeatedly slaps self in the face], I also thought this would be a fantasy novel. In reality, the only thing that might get it labeled as fantasy would be the fact that there’s a magical creature or two hidden in there towards the end of the novel.

SNICKERDOODLES: A Book You May Never Stop Rereading / Loving

Amazon.com: Aurora Rising (The Aurora Cycle) (9781524720964 ...

Aurora Rising. ‘Nuff said. Just re-read it a few days ago, actually. I’ve been thinking about this one a lot, lately (partly because I preordered Aurora Burning…EEEEE)

If you want to listen to today’s song, just head over to today’s Goodreads Monday, as I already posted today. 😉

I tag anyone who wants to participate!

That’s it for this tag! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!

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Weekly Updates

Weekly Update: March 23-29, 2020

Posted on March 29, 2020 by Madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

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Happy Sunday, bibliophiles!

As always, I hope you are all safe, comfortable, and well during these crazy times. We had our “spring break” this week, which mostly consisted of me sprawled out on the couch reading, but it was quite relaxing, all things considered. Our state now has an official stay at home order, and I have online school almost through the end of April, so next month should be…interesting, to say the least.

I read a LOT this week, and I’m happy to say that I loved most of what I read! Libby (online library) has now become my savior, and I’m now stocked up on library books that I can check out on my kindle. I re-read one of my favorite books, watched The Grand Budapest Hotel and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (LOVED both of those), started learning “No Surprises” (Radiohead) on guitar, and I created an original book tag! Online school starts back up next week, so we’ll see how that works out…but overall, I’ve actually had a weirdly good week!

Rosencrantz and guildenstern are dead GIFs - Get the best GIF on GIPHY — all of us cooped up at home trying to amuse ourselves

WHAT I READ THIS WEEK:

The Survivor (The Pioneer, #2)–Bridget Tyler (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

Amazon.com: The Survivor: A Pioneer Novel (9780062658098): Tyler ...

The Scorpion Rules (Prisoners of Peace, #1)–Erin Bow (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

Amazon.com: The Scorpion Rules (Prisoners of Peace) (9781481442725 ...

Even the Darkest Stars–Heather Fawcett (⭐️⭐️⭐️.75, rounded up to 4)

Even the Darkest Stars : Heather Fawcett : 9780062463395

One–Sarah Crossan (⭐️⭐️⭐️.5)

Amazon.com: One (9780062118752): Crossan, Sarah: Books

Aurora Rising (The Aurora Cycle, #1)–Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (re-read, yet again)

(⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

Amazon.com: Aurora Rising (The Aurora Cycle) (9781524720964 ...

When the Moon Was Ours–Anna-Marie McLemore (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5)

Amazon.com: When the Moon Was Ours: A Novel (9781250058669 ...

POSTS AND SUCH:

SONGS:

CURRENTLY READING/TO READ NEXT WEEK:

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing–Hank Green

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing: A Novel: Green, Hank ...

Today’s song:

(This one’s been stuck in my head for a good…two or three days now? Classic)

That’s it for this week in blogging! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and PLEASE take care of yourselves!

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Book Tags, Books

The Lunar Chronicles Book Tag

Posted on March 17, 2020 by Madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Happy Tuesday, bibliophiles!

I found this tag over at Brianna’s Books and Randomness, who is also the creator of the tag. Though I haven’t re-read the series in ages, The Lunar Chronicles was, from what I can remember, my gateway into YA books, so it will always hold a special place in my heart for that reason. It sounded like a super fun tag to do, so here I go!

The rules are simple: Answer each question, tag or pingback to the creator, and who you found the post from, and tag as many or as few people as you’d like.

CINDER: A SARCASTIC CHARACTER WITH ALL THE SASS

I’ll say it once, and I’ll say it again: Finian from Aurora Rising is the YA king of sass. I’m in stitches from his one-liners every time I go back and re-read this.

PRINCE KAI: AN AUTHOR THAT DESERVES A CROWN

Though there’s a plethora of authors out there that deserve this title, today, I’ll dedicate the crown to Sarah Maria Griffin. Nowhere else have I seen such a deft portrayal of emotion and human nature–and not to mention, easily the only author that I’ve ever seen write the 2nd person and make it believable and readable.

QUEEN LEVANA: A COVER WITH STYLE

Ah, Crier’s War…so iridescent…so intricate…so wonderfully sapphic…[wipes single tear from cheek]

CRESS: A FICTIONAL PLACE YOU WOULDN’T MIND BEING STUCK IN

I would have absolutely no qualms about staying anywhere in Leigh Bardugo’s richly imagined Grishaverse. Except for the Unsea, maybe…

CAPTAIN THORNE: THE LAST FUNNY BOOK YOU READ

By no stretch of the imagination is Rogue One a comedy, but there’s something to be said for K2-SO’s one-liners.

SCARLET: A BOOK WITH A RED SPINE

[internally catalogues all of the library holds I’ve read in the past few months to search for a red spine]

I’ve had this one for quite a while, and since I’ve already given lots of love to The Demon World, I’ll shine the light on Inkmistress this time.

WOLF: A WHOLESOME CHARACTER THAT COULD KILL YOU

I mean…what gets more “wholesome-but-could-kill-you” than a massive tardigrade that acts like a puppy? All my love to Otto the giant water bear…💗

WINTER: A BOOK THAT PORTRAYS MENTAL ILLNESS

How it Feels to Float is a beautiful and deeply moving portrayal of depression and anxiety, and an incredibly underrated one, at that. I highly recommend this one!

IKO: A BOOK WITH ANDROIDS OR ROBOTS

LIFEL1K3. So many robots. SO MANY!

I tag anyone who’d like to participate! Give Brianna some love, everybody!

Since I’ve already posted today, just head over to this week’s Book Review Tuesday if you’d like to see today’s song.

That just about wraps up this tag! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!

Book Tags, Books

20 Questions Book Tag

Posted on January 11, 2020January 11, 2020 by Madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

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Happy Saturday, bibliophiles!

I came across this tag on the wonderful Megabunny Reads, and I thought it would be fun to participate. Here goes nothin’…

HOW MANY BOOKS IS TOO MANY IN A SERIES?

I’m notorious for starting series and never finishing them, but I feel like the limit for me would be once it passes the double-digit mark. Unless they’re spin-offs, I’m not sure how any series could possible perpetuate a story for so long without making it needless.

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HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT CLIFFHANGERS?

If done well, they’re an excellent way to keep the reader hooked. If poorly executed, I sometimes find that they can be a pathetic excuse for a rushed ending. But most of the time, I find them good, but painfully so.

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HARDBACK OR PAPERBACK?

Eh…I don’t really discriminate. Hardback is more expensive, but I feel like there’s an equally likely chance for them to get damaged, so either one works for me.

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FAVORITE BOOK?

Hands down, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

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LEAST FAVORITE BOOK?

Probably The Witch of Blackbird Pond. We had to read in in 6th grade, and I despised it with every cell of my being. So dry and boring.

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LOVE TRIANGLE…YES OR NO?

I mean…no. I can recall many times where they’ve worked out, but most of the time, they definitely bug me.

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THE MOST RECENT BOOK THAT YOU COULDN’T FINISH?

I hate to say it, but Half Bad by Sally Green. After adoring her Smoke Thieves series, I was so disappointed at how little plot there was. But hey, debut novel. Everybody makes mistakes.

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A BOOK YOU’RE CURRENTLY READING?

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. I haven’t even hit the 100-page mark, but I already love it.

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THE LAST BOOK YOU RECOMMENDED TO SOMEONE?

My school’s book club meeting for this month was yesterday, so I certainly threw out a boatload of recommendations. I think the most prominent one that hadn’t previously surfaced was Alexander Freed’s novelization of Rogue One.

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OLDEST BOOK THAT YOU’VE READ?

I think that Frankenstein would take that title as well.

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NEWEST BOOK THAT YOU’VE READ?

Hmm…I think it might be Marissa Meyer’s Supernova. That one was just published last November.

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FAVORITE AUTHOR?

I don’t think I can pick just one, but Mary Shelley, Jay Kristoff, Amie Kaufman, Tony DiTerlizzi, Neal Shusterman, Ray Bradbury, Sarah Maria Griffin…the list goes on.

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BUYING BOOKS OR BORROWING THEM?

I practically live at my local library, and I borrow books nearly every week; that being said, I don’t prefer it to buying. So, again, I’m indecisive.

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A BOOK YOU DISLIKE BUT EVERYONE ELSE LIKES?

Red Queen. I’m still so baffled as to why it’s got such a huge fandom. It’s pretty much just ripping off every YA trope and rolling them into a sloppy, disgusting ball…

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BOOKMARKS OR DOG-EARS?

Bookmarks, no question. Dog-earing is blasphemy, and you cannot change my mind.

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A BOOK YOU CAN RE-READ OVER AND OVER?

Heart of Iron, Aurora Rising, and B.P.R.D., Vol. 2: The Soul of Venice and Other Stories, to name a few.

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CAN YOU READ WHILE LISTENING TO MUSIC?

I almost always read while listening to music! I sometimes change the song if it doesn’t fit the mood of the book, but you can almost always see me with my headphones on while I’m reading.

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MULTIPLE POVs OR ONE POV?

I can go either way. One POV eliminates confusion, and with multiple, you can get several perspectives, as well as the possibility of dramatic irony. Either works for me.

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DO YOU READ A BOOK IN ONE SITTING OR OVER MULTIPLE DAYS ON AVERAGE?

Multiple days, depending on how long the book is. It’s rare that I finish a book in one sitting.

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I tag anyone who’d like to join in!

Today’s song:

(I’ve been on a big Phoebe Bridgers kick lately…)

That just about wraps up this post! Have a great rest of your day, and keep on reading!

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Random

2019

Posted on December 31, 2019 by Madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

December 31, 2019. The end of the year, the end of a decade. I normally do end-of-the-year recaps on this blog, but this is the first of this scope, really.

And looking back, I’m honestly baffled about how far I’ve come–not in the span of a year, no, but in the span of 10. I mean, I was toddling into elementary school for the first time when the decade began. Now I’m about halfway through high school, hopefully a bit wiser and more mature. But this decade has been one of many transitions, realizations, and so much growth. [pats self on the back] you did it, kiddo!

Now, let’s zoom in on 2019. Last year was a year of growing into a new skin, of realizing who I was and what I might want to do. This year, for me, was about becoming confident in said skin, and for the most part? I think it was a success. 2019 certainly had its ups and downs, but I’d say it’s a step up from the last…oh, three years or so. Not quite so awful as 2016, and not perfect, but certainly better.

It’s been an amazing year for books, in my opinion. I honestly don’t remember another time when I’ve stacked so many books on my Top 10 list, or given so many books of one year 5 stars (Aurora Rising, The Pioneer, King of Scars, Like a Love Story, etc.) . Of course, this was also a year of new series, so…fingers crossed that Aurora Burning and The Survivor (among others) won’t disappoint. We had a load of amazing movies, and lots of franchises coming to an end along with the decade. (Avengers: Endgame, Dark Phoenix, The Rise of Skywalker), and several other movies that certainly need mentioning (Captain Marvel, Jojo Rabbit, Spiderman: Far From Home, Joker, Knives Out, etc.) I’ve discovered an onslaught of great artists, thanks to Apple Music, and I went to Canada for the first time. I started a WIP that I’ve been neglecting to write for a good three years, and I completed another year of NaNoWriMo. Oh, and Trump got impeached. THANK. GOD. I mean, there’s no way he’s getting removed from office [ahem], but hey, it’s a start. Blegh. Again, 2016. What a dumpster fire.

But one thing that I find fairly notable is that I’ve starting to take this book blogging thing semi-seriously. I’ve started participating in tags, I’ve found a bunch more lovely blogs, and gotten so much insight into this cozy little world. So I’d like to thank all of you reading this, for liking and commenting on my posts, tagging me/following along with tags, and for just sticking around.

With that said, there’s a few improvements that I think I’ll start making to this blog next year:

For my Book Review Tuesdays, I’m going to try and start going through books that aren’t in the 3-5 star range; it’s good to review stuff that’s not the best, after all. I’ll start putting my actual star ratings on there, along with some other info.
I’ll try and do weekly updates. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to keep up with monthly, but we’ll see how that goes.
At the end of every post, I’ll try and post a link to a song that I listened to/liked as I was writing it. I’m a very music-oriented person, and I thought it would just be a fun little addition. (Currently listening to Wilco’s “Red-Eyed and Blue”)
When NaNoWriMo/Camp NaNoWriMo season comes back around, I’ll try and put some updates on that as well.

So let’s make this next decade–and year–one of rising beyond, one of growth, improvement, and joy. [holds out lightsaber] Let’s do this.

And while I’m at it, I’ll start on one of the things I said I’d improve on. Let’s end this post with a song.

I got into girpool in August, and though this isn’t my favorite of their songs, I think it perfectly captures the New Year’s Eve state of mind, and reflecting on how things used to be.

So thank you for spending this year with me. Have a great rest of your day…SEE YOU IN 2020

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Books

My 5-Star Reads of 2019

Posted on December 28, 2019January 2, 2020 by Madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hi there, everyone!

As 2019 (and this decade) draws to a close, I’ve decided to make a comprehensive lists of all of my 5-star reads for this year, and, by proxy, my favorite books that I’ve read this year. Most of these are what’d you’d expect, if you’ve scoured my book tags and reviews, but I know there’s a few that I haven’t talked much about. These are in chronological order of when I read them, though their actual rankings vary a fair bit.

Now, without further ado…this year’s 5-star lineup!

KING OF SCARS–LEIGH BARDUGO

Bardugo’s veritable masterpiece, all at once a rollicking adventure and an exploration of internal conflict, was my first 5-star rating of this year. And…Nikolai. ‘Nuff said.

Read my review here!

THE ILLUMINAE FILES TRILOGY–AMIE KAUFMAN and JAY KRISTOFF

I mean, I read all of these in the span of a few months, and I gave all three books five stars…

For good reason, I think. I doubt that we’ll ever come across a trilogy quite like this in a very long time.

Read my review (Illuminae) here!

NEVERWHERE–NEIL GAIMAN

I’ve been a fan of Gaiman’s work for some time, but I chose this one for an English project, and I fell so in love with the fantastic world-building, as well as each and every character.

Find it on Goodreads here!

ONCE & FUTURE–AMY ROSE CAPETTA and CORI MCCARTHY

A feminist, LGBTQ+ retelling of the legends of King Arthur…need we say more? A wonderfully fast-paced space adventure, reminiscent of Captain Marvel.

Find it on Goodreads here!

HONOR BOUND–ANN AGUIRRE and RACHEL CAINE

Even more daring than its predecessor, Honor Bound is a complex space opera to die for.

Find it on Goodreads here!

TENNYSON: POEMS–ALFRED TENNYSON

Yes, I was/still am that kid who sits in the corner reading depressing, 19th century poetry. Do I regret it? Absolutely not.

Find it on Goodreads here!

AURORA RISING–AMIE KAUFMAN and JAY KRISTOFF

You’ve already sing praise of this one innumerable times, so I’ll just leave it at this: I FOUND MY DREAM BOOK, PEOPLE. THIS IS EVERYTHING.

Read my review here!

THE PIONEER--BRIDGET TYLER

An inventive, heart-pounding sci-fi adventure, The Pioneer was very nearly flawless, and I’m itching to get my hands on the sequel next spring! 😀

Read my review here!

AN ANATOMY OF BEASTS–OLIVIA A. COLE

Delving deeper and growing even twistier than its predecessor, A Conspiracy of Stars, this novel is dazzlingly well-thought out, the prime example of what speculative sci-fi should be.

Find it on Goodreads here!

THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES–RAY BRADBURY

Did I mention how much I love sci-fi? No?

Ray Bradbury is a talent to be reckoned with, able to deftly weave together a thought-provoking story in the span of under 100 pages with ease.

Also, I was today years old when I realized that the hand on the cover has six fingers.

Find it on Goodreads here!

SOUL OF STARS–ASHLEY POSTON

The epic conclusion to the Heart of Iron duology, Poston deftly wraps together a complicated universe of familial bonds and political intrigue. Love, love, love, LOVE…

Read my review here!

FAHRENHEIT 451–RAY BRADBURY

Again, Ray Bradbury. I rest my case.

Find it on Goodreads here!

SPARE AND FOUND PARTS–SARAH MARIA GRIFFIN

A futuristic Frankenstein for the modern age, this is a grossly underrated writing, atmospheric and poetic.

Read my review here!

THE DEMON WORLD–SALLY GREEN

The pulse-pounding sequel to The Smoke Thieves, Green delivers an even more potent punch of her signature world-building and fantasy action.

Read my review here!

HOUSE OF X/POWERS OF X–JONATHAN HICKMAN

The newest installment in the legendary X-Men mythology, Hickman weaves a mythical and symbolic world, with a hopeful conclusion and the potential of many mutant tales to come.

Find it on Goodreads here!

LIKE A LOVE STORY–ABDI NAZEMIAN

Would you look at that…I think this is the only historical fiction in this post…

A hearstring-tearing and poignant coming-of-age LGBTQ+ novel. So many feels. INFINITE feels.

Read my review here!

THE TOLL–NEAL SHUSTERMAN

The conclusion to the unforgettable Arc of a Scythe trilogy, this novel is solid proof that Shusterman is a sci-fi author to be reckoned with.

Read my review here!

Man. What a year this has been…

Have you read any of these novels, and what did you think of them? Let me know what you thought in the comments below!

Have a lovely rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!

Book Tags, Books

The Book Cake Tag

Posted on December 26, 2019 by Madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Hey everyone! I hope that you had a lovely Christmas, if you celebrate, and some very happy holidays!

I found this tag on Megabunny Reads, and it sounded super fun, so I figured that I’d give it a go! The tag was originally created by A Little But A Lot.

Here goes nothing…

FLOUR: A BOOK THAT WAS SLOW TO START OFF BUT PICKED UP AS IT WENT ALONG

Shirley Jackson is the master of the slow-burn story, and The Haunting of Hill House is no exception. The slow building of this creepy, atmospheric masterpiece will stay with me for a long time after I’ve read it.

BUTTER: A BOOK THAT HAS A REALLY “RICH” AND GREAT PLOT

The plot of Sally Green’s The Smoke Thieves was incredibly intricate in every sense of the word–in the beginning, it was so complex that I found myself wondering how Green would manage to tie everything together in a way that made sense, but surprise, surprise, everything came back together towards the end. What a gem of a series.

EGGS: A BOOK THAT YOU THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE BAD, BUT TURNED OUT QUITE ENJOYABLE

My expectations of Crier’s War were that it was going to be a steaming pile of cliches, but I was pleasantly surprised by the multi-layered world building, culture, and poetic writing…and not to mention, the swoon-worthy, enemies-to-lovers sapphic romance.

SUGAR: A SUGARY/SWEET BOOK

Oh, Rainbow Rowell, master of the heart-meltingly adorable romance…

Most of Rowell’s novels have this level of romance, on some level, but the sweetness of Fangirl stood out most to me for the purposes of this tag, from bonding over books and music to specialty lattes.

ICING: A BOOK THAT COVERED EVERY SINGLE ELEMENT THAT YOU ENJOY OF A BOOK

You guessed it…

I’ll say it once, and I’ll say it again…

Aurora Rising is, for all intents and purposes, everything that I’ve ever wanted in a book–daring adventures in space, with a ragtag cast of unique characters.

SPRINKLES: A BOOK SERIES THAT YOU TURN TO WHEN YOU’RE FEELING DOWN

aaAAAaAAAaaaAAAAaAa chILDHOOD–

The Search for WondLa trilogy was definitely a major part of what not only got me through middle school, but what inspired me to be a writer, and my gateway to the genre of science fiction. I haven’t re-read it in a year or so, but I always love flipping back through the gorgeous illustrations: at this point, each one’s a different way to get to Memory Lane.

CHERRY ON TOP: YOUR FAVORITE BOOK THIS YEAR SO FAR

…First of all, as Megabunny Reads said in their post…what? Aren’t cherries on top reserved for sundaes? I’ve only seen…maybe two pictures of cakes with a cherry on top, and it doesn’t sound all that appealing…

[ahem] Anyway, now that I’ve already mentioned Aurora Rising, I think there’s only one other choice for the top spot this year…

The heart-pounding conclusion to the Arc of a Scythe trilogy, Shusterman truly pulled out all the stops and then some in The Toll. This is Shusterman’s storytelling at its very best, and an exemplary trilogy in the vast fount of literature that defines today’s sci-fi/dystopian novels.

And, that just about wraps it up! I tag:

And if you’ve stumbled across this post and want to participate, feel free!

Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves! It’s almost 2020, you can make it…