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.
This book has been on my TBR for AGES (since early 2017, to be exact), and I figured that I’d take an older addition to my list for this week’s Goodreads Monday. I’m definitely a fan of Derek Landy after reading Skulduggery Pleasant(though I never got around to finishing the series…*sigh*), so I’m excited to see what else he has in store!
Let’s begin, shall we?
GOODREADS MONDAY (7/13/20)–DEMON ROAD by Derek Landy
Killer cars, vampires, undead serial killers: they’re all here. And the demons? Well, that’s where Amber comes in…
Sixteen years old, smart and spirited, she’s just a normal American teenager until the lies are torn away and the demons reveal themselves.
Forced to go on the run, she hurtles from one threat to another, revealing a tapestry of terror woven into the very fabric of her life. Her only chance rests with her fellow travellers, who are not at all what they appear to be…
So why do I want to read this?
Looking back, the synopsis is…rather sparse, not gonna lie there. But hey, it’s Derek Landy, I’ll take the bait. Even though I only got around to reading up to The Faceless Onesin the Skulduggery Pleasant series (I couldn’t find any of them after book 3 for some reason…), I have clear and very fond memories of how much I enjoyed those books. Well-written, witty, and pure supernatural fun.
So maybe I have my expectations high, but that’s what I want to get out of Demon Road as well. Nothing like a crazy, paranormal road trip to lift your spirits. And since Skulduggery Pleasant was a *tiny bit* more on the MG side (though it’s probably in that sweet spot between MG and YA, truth be told), I’m interested to see how Landy’s style translates to a full-on YA novel. Fingers tightly crossed that this will be just as good!
Today’s song:
This just…popped into my head for no reason this morning? I haven’t heard it in so long…
That’s it for this week’s Goodreads Monday! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!
I’m finally out of school for the year! Officially halfway through high school…whew…
But anyway, the AP exam and finals weren’t all that bad. For a few classes, they canceled finals altogether, and others just had a paper or a lab report in place of a written test (REJOICE!). I did pretty well on almost all of them, but we’ll see about AP…
Other than that, I’ve had a good week and a half since I’ve taken a break. I got into an unfortunate loop of finding one good book to read, then having a slump of three- or two-star books in between. Luckily, I did get a fair amount of good books in. I also listened to a lot of Spiritualized, thanks to my dad (and by a lot, I mean a LOT), got to a scene that I’ve been picturing in my head for YEARS on my WIP, and the weather’s starting to warm up, which is both a blessing and a curse.
Now, back to our scheduled program.
I found this tag over at SMELLFOY CAN READ?, and the tag was created by Elisabeth Paige and Joana Sousa. As a (pretty much) lifelong fan of all things Star Wars, I was absolutely ELATED to find this tag.
My first thought was Alosa from Daughter of the Pirate King. It takes a certain kind of person to be able to be a captain of a formidable pirate ship at the ripe old age of 17.
LEIA ORGANA: Best or worst love triangle
On another note, this is my favorite movie line of all time. Hands down.
Leia does not deserve the subject matter of this part of the tag…
I…hate love triangles in general, but for now, I’d just say the love triangle in the Hunger Gamestrilogy. 50% because Gale is repulsive, and 50% because that’s sadly what a lot of people tend to remember/take away from the series, as opposed to…y’know, the dystopian commentary and whatnot…
LUKE SKYWALKER: A rising star author, or a new author you’ve discovered and absolutely love
I’ve just started to discover Sy Montgomery’s nonfiction novels, and even though I’ve only read The Soul of an Octopus, I absolutely ADORED it. I have How to Be a Good Creatureon my list as well.
ANAKIN SKYWALKER: A book or series that started out well and then became bad
Without a doubt, the Shatter Meseries. I was already salty about how the trilogy ended (Warner is awful, change my mind), but then after book 4, it just took a sharp left turn into the flat-out ridiculous. Such a shame.
QUI-GONN JINN: Worst character death (SPOILERS)
Hmm…lots to choose from…
My first thought was Zin’s death in The Battle for WondLa. (Yes, we’re going back to that…) He was one of my favorite characters, but he did NOT have to go out in such a completely twisted way…I won’t go into the gory details, but it’s rough to read.
HAN SOLO: A book with a lot of sass
Aurora Risinghas no short supply at sassy, sarcastic writing, and the same can be said for the characters. (*coughcough FINIAN coughcough*)
EMPEROR PALPATINE: Best world-building
I think The Black Witchtakes the cake for this one. There was clearly so much care put into everything from the history to the magical races, and everything in between.
BEN/OBI-WAN KENOBI: A book you went in with low expectations and that blew you away
“General Kenobi…”
I didn’t have high expectations for The Looking Glass, but I was pleasantly surprised by the lush writing–not to mention, the great music references.
YODA: A book that taught you something or that made you grow
On Writing: A Memoir of the Crafttaught me volumes about the essentials of writing. I still try to take Stephen King’s advice to heart.
DARTH VADER: Favorite Villain
Hmmm…it’s a hard decision, but I’ve have to go with Magneto.
All hail Sir Ian McKellen
I TAG ANY FELLOW STAR WARS FANS WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE!
Today’s song:
Soccer Mommy + Jay Som =
That’s it for this book tag! Have a wonderful rest of your day, take care of yourselves, and may the Force be with you!
Sorry about this week’s general sluggishness; I’ve gotten over the hump of this week’s back-to-back quizzes and tests, so I’ll attempt to make up for it a bit this weekend. Behold Exhibit A.
I found this lovely tag over at Brianna’s Books and Randomness. (If you don’t follow her already, I highly recommend that you do!) Though I’m more of an X-Men fan myself, I still adore the Avengers and most of the MCU, so I thought this would be a fun tag to do!
Here we go…
IRON MAN: A BOOK THAT MADE YOU LAUGH OUT LOUD
You all know exactly what the answer is for this one…but I swear that Good Omens made me laugh like no other book ever has.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: A BOOK THAT SENDS A POSITIVE MESSAGE
(Unpopular opinion: Cap. Is. Overrated. Except for in Endgame. My mind will not be changed.)
Despite the historical circumstances (and how the story ultimately ends), White Roseportrays a beautiful message that no matter what, hope will always prevail in the end, even in the darkest of times.
THOR: A BOOK WITH A CHARACTER’S STRENGTH YOU ADMIRE
Arsinoe from Three Dark Crownshas always been my favorite of the triplets, personally; it takes a special kind of strength not only to battle for control of a kingdom, but to go against your own blood, to boot.
BLACK WIDOW: A BOOK WITH A BUTT-KICKING FEMALE PROTAGONIST
I’ll say it once, and I’ll say it again…two words. Smoke Thieves. Both Catherine and Tash are true forces to be reckoned with.
HULK: A BOOK THAT MADE YOU ANGRY
(I quote this line more than I’d like to admit…)
Ooh…there’s a long list, where to begin?
How about Lifestyles of Gods and Monsters?The premise seemed so inventive (and the cover was stunning…), but the dialogue just killed me…so stilted…
HAWKEYE: AN UNDERRATED BOOK THAT YOU THINK MORE PEOPLE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO
Anything by Sarah Maria Griffin, really. Both Spare and Found Partsand Other Words for Smokeare such inventive and unique novels; it’s such a shame how little attention they get.
*BONUS* LOKI: A BOOK WITH A TWIST OR A SURPRISE THAT YOU DIDN’T SEE COMING
Without question, Thunderhead. The worst part about it was that I had to wait almost two years before I found out how that whole situation ended. Yeesh.
If any of you would like to participate, go ahead! Have at it! 🙂
Today’s song:
EEEEEEEEEE NEW MUSIC FROM CAR SEAT HEADREST I REPEAT NEW MUSIC FROM CAR SEAT HEADREST–
That just about wraps up this tag! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!
I’ve been wanting to do this tag for a little while, but I figured that it would be good for today since I’ve pretty much been subsisting off of Netflix for most of this four-day weekend. (*coughcough I AM MOTHER coughcough MONTY PYTHON coughcough*) I found this tag on First Line Reader, and the tag was originally created by A Darker Shade of Whitney.
RECENTLY WATCHED: The last book you finished reading
I’ve been a big fan of Raina Telgemeier for years, and I was so excited to find Gutsat the comic shop last week!
TOP PICKS: A book/books that have been recommended to you based on a book you have previously read
POPULAR ON NETFLIX: Books that everyone knows about (2 you’ve read and 2 you haven’t or have no interest in reading)
BothThe Poet Xand Red Queenhave received tons of hype over the years, but I have very different opinions about them: the former was an absolute triumph, and the latter was…ugh. Nope.
I’ve been recommended bothThe Hate U Giveand One of Us is Lyingcountless times, but I’m not super invested in reading them. I might, but they’re low on my priority.
COMEDIES: A funny book
I know I use this one every time I do a book tag, but Good Omenshad me in stitches.
DRAMA: A character who is a drama king/queen
Elliot fromIn Other Landswas the very definition of melodramatic…part of why I DNF’d this book, ultimately.
I haven’t read The Catcher in the Ryesince we read it for my English class last year, but I enjoyed it immensely.
DOCUMENTARIES: A nonfiction book that you’d recommend to everybody
My nonfiction shelf is pretty slim, but for those of you who are writers/aspiring writers, I’d highly recommend On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.
ACTION AND ADVENTURE: An action-packed book
Though it was a bit more slow-burn at the beginning, The Smoke Thievesmanaged to keep me on my toes for a good 3/4 of the book.
NEW RELEASES: A book that just came out or will be coming out soon that you can’t wait to read
I had no idea this had come out until my school librarian (who I recommended the series to, and now loves it 😄) told me that it had come out! I cannot WAIT to get my hands on Honor Lost!
This tag was created by Another Book in the Wall, (oh my God, what an incredible blog name…🤣), and I got this tag from The Corner of Laura. It looked super cute, so I figured that I’d give it a go!
The Mean Girl | A Book You Can’t Help But Rant About
I’ve got a fair amount of books that I’d put in this category, but I’ll go with Samantha Young’s Smokeless Fire. Lord…this book is practically screaming in agony for an editor’s pen…
The Bro | Your Favorite Sidekick
Without question, Doop from Peter Milligan and Mike Allred’sX-Statix. He’s just…floating about wherever the team goes, filming everything, knowing everything, and just being straight-up relatable, sometimes, with that tired face of his. I mean, he plays a hilariously big role later on, but I guess you could call him a sidekick.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with X-Statix, here’s Doop himself…
LEGEND.
The Dumb Jock | A Book Whose Cover Is Better Than Its Story
I’ll have to go with Laura Weymouth’s The Light Between Worlds. The cover is stunning and so well designed, but the story was just so…unbearably…boring…
The Loner | A Standalone You Love
Jessica Khoury’s sci-fi retelling of the tale of Anastasia, Last of Her Name, blew me out of the water with its lush writing and worldbuilding. Maybe I should read it again sometime.
The Overachiever | A Series That Should’ve Ended After Book 1
As much as I love Rainbow Rowell’s Carry On, I don’t know if Wayward Son was really necessary, as much as I hate to admit it. It just lacked that emotional punch that defined book 1, and now a third book is confirmed…dunno how to feel about that…
The Class Clown | A Book That Makes You Laugh
Without a doubt, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens. That book made me laugh like no other book I’d read before.
The Outcast | A Unique Fictional World You’d Want To Visit
As mediocre as much of the book was, I must say, I’d definitely like to visit the Martian Exovet Cloister in Christian Schoon’s Zenn Scarlett. Certainly wouldn’t have any dull days while caring for weird alien critters.
The Nerd | An Author With the Best Writing
Neal Shusterman, without question. Not only is he incredibly clever in every little detail he creates, the writing is all at once heartrending and witty, beautiful and terrifying.
The Prom Queen | An Over-Hyped Book
I’ll say it once, and I’ll say it again…Red Queen. [whips out megaphone] IT’S JUST A SLOPPY LITTLE BALL OF OVERUSED TROPES, PEOPLE, NOTHING TO SEE HERE…
I promise that I didn’t choose this one because both it and the prompt have the word “queen” in them…no pun intended, I swear…[breaks into a nervous sweat]
The Drama Kids | A Protagonist Who Is Melodramatic
It’s been a while since I’ve read Sarah Rees Brennan’sIn Other Lands, but one of my distinct memories of why I DNF’d it was because of how whiny and entitled I found Elliot to be.
The Teacher’s Pet | Favorite Animal Sidekick
Again, I’m turning to the world of Marvel–specifically the world of mutants–because Lockheed is an absolute show-stealer who I must shower with love and appreciation.
Here’s Our Boy™, shown with Kitty Pryde.
The Hipsters | A Book You Love That Isn’t In Your Comfort Zone
I’m not an avid fan of neither novels in verse, nor historical fiction. Kip Wilson’s White Rosehappens to be both, and I adored its poignant and tragic story.
Aaaand that just about wraps it up! I had so much fun doing this tag!
Today’s song:
I forgot about this song for years, and I just remembered its existence a few days ago. And what can I say except…[loud sobbing]
Have a lovely rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!
I found this tag on A Little Haze Book Blog, and I’m so excited to take part! Let’s begin, shall we?
FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME
Oooh…hard decision, but if I had to pick, I’d go with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. I read it a little under two years ago for the first time, and it’s never left my thoughts since.
FAVORITE BOOK FIVE YEARS AGO
The entire Search for WondLa trilogy captured my heart around middle school, but my favorite of the three was the beautifully written (and illustrated) and shocking finale, The Battle for WondLa.
FAVORITE DUOLOGY/TRILOGY/SERIES
Hands down, Ashley Poston’s masterful Heart of Iron duology. Both books are so lovable in every sense of the word.
LAST BOOK YOU READ
I’ll be reviewing this one later, but I just finished up Supernova, the last installment in Marissa Meyer’s Renegades trilogy. Such a stunning end to the series!
LAST POETRY BOOK YOU READ
I bought a collection of Tennyson’s poetry in April, I think. Such remarkable and heartstring-tugging words…In Memoriam was probably my favorite.
WHAT BOOK MOST INFLUENCED YOUR LIFE?
Alright, sorry, I know I keep coming back to this, but The Search for WondLa was not only my gateway to my favorite genre, science fiction, but what inspired me to be an author. Tony DiTerlizzi will never stop being my hero, just for that series alone.
BOOK THAT MADE YOU UGLY CRY
Yeeeeeeeesh, A Monster Calls SLAYED me when I first read it. I had to re-read it over twice, and both times, I ended up bawling my eyes out at the end. GOD. 😭
BOOK THAT MADE YOU LAUGH
Good Omens, without a doubt. I don’t think a book has made me laugh as much as that in a very long time.
CHARACTER YOU’D LIKE TO BE FOR A DAY
Hmm…the first character that came to mind was Alosa from Daughter of the Pirate King duology.Oh, to be a fearsome pirate queen on the high seas (with fabulous hair)…
BOOK SO GOOD YOU DREAMT ABOUT IT
I can’t quite think of any books that come to mind other than WondLa, and I’ve already mentioned that one in two of the questions, so…sorry about that.
BOOK YOU DNF’D
Oh, there’s a long, long list…
But the most recent book I DNF’d was Lifestyles of Gods and Monsters. Such an interesting concept for a plot, but the dialogue made it crash and burn. Curse you, deceptively gorgeous cover…
WHAT BOOK ARE YOU EXCITED TO READ?
I loved The Hazel Wood, and I just found out that the sequel, The Night Country, will be released on January 7th! REJOICE!
That just about wraps it up! If you’d like to do the tag, feel free to do so. Please be sure to link back to this post if you do so 🙂
Today’s song: “One and a Half Stars”–Wilco (listening to this as I wrap up this post!)
Have a lovely rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!
Hey, fellow bibliophiles! Sorry that I haven’t been active since Tuesday. I’ve had a kind of rough, busy, and rather emotional week (and an awful lot of homework), but hey, at least I finally finished watching Good Omens.
I saw this post on Prose and Pancakes, and I figured that I’d give it a go. (And if you can, please check out Nikita’s lovely blog!) The tag itself was created by Ariel Bisett. So, without further ado, let’s begin!
Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?
Well…not quite, in the sense of the question. I’d like to think that I’m pretty good about finishing books in one sitting. BUT, I did just start reading Bill Konigsberg’s The Music of What Happens,which I’m enjoying so far! 🙂
Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?
I read pretty much all of the autumnal books that I wanted to read either in October or over the summer (oops), but I think Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks’ Pumpkinheadswould fit the bill perfectly.
Is there a new release that you’re still waiting for?
I think this one technically came out in November, but I haven’t yet read Marissa Meyer’s Supernova, and I am OVER THE MOON excited for that one!
What are the three books you need to read before the end of the year?
Hmmm…
I don’t really have anything that I have planned for the end of the year, so I’ll just hash out a few books off of my TBR that I’m particularly excited about…
Hopefully I can get this one on my next comic-shop run…
I’m fascinated by the direction that Magneto was taken in during the Brian Michael Bendis run, and I’m excited to see it all from his perspective. I also loved Bunn’s work on Harrow County, so I’m sure it’ll translate well to the iconic villain.
And speaking of X-Men (references, anyway)…
I’ve been meaning to read Lyn Miller-Lachmann’s Roguefor ages, and I haven’t been able to find it anywhere. I haven’t read much MG in a while, and it seems like this will be a very poignant coming-of-age story.
Aaaaaaand completely unrelated from the other two, here’s Marcus Sedgwick’s The Monsters We Deserve. As Frankenstein is one of my favorite (if not my favorite) book of all time, I’m intrigued to see his take on the fateful night that Mary Shelley spun the iconic story.
Is there a book that could still shock you and become your favorite book of the year?
I doubt it, honestly. My expectations have practically shot through the stratosphere after the combined glory of Honor Bound, Aurora Rising, Like A Love Story, The Pioneer, and The Toll. (I’ll be reviewing the latter of those next week. MY GOD…)
Have you already started making reading plans for 2020?
Reading plans? What are these ‘reading plans’ you speak of?
Not really, no. But, I’d like to up my Goodreads reading goal to…let’s say…250. I’ve already passed my goal of 200 this year, and my goal was 300 the year before, and that was veeeery stressful. Barely passed that one. So I’m hoping that 250 will be a happy medium.
Good afternoon (or whatever time it is in your time zone), bibliophiles!
This tag was originally created for YouTube by Kate’s Book Date, and I was tagged by the wonderful A Little Haze Book Blog to take part in it. And honestly, how could I say no? I mean, books and music: two of my favorite things! (So thank you, both of you! 🙂 )
Alright, let’s get started…
1. MY JAM – a song you MUST listen to every time it comes on, no matter how old or how many times you’ve listened to it / a book you’ll never get sick of
This song is, without question, one of my favorites of all time, but it rarely comes on shuffle, and so I absolutely swell with joy when I hear it: David Bowie’s “Quicksand”.
The fact that Bowie created a song so profound, yet can also rock me blissfully to sleep like a baby, is sheer genius. If you haven’t listened to this song, PLEASE DO, AS YOUR LIFE WILL BE FAR BETTER FOR IT.
As for books, I’m going with Ashley Poston’s Heart of Iron.
In the 1.5(ish) years since its release, I’ve re-read it…oh, at least six times, and it never ceases to make me feel every possible emotion.
2. THROWBACK – a song that reminds you of the cringiest time of your life / a book that also reminds you of this time (or just something you wouldn’t like as much if you picked it up for the first time now)
Cringiest time in my life? 6th grade, here we come…
For the longest time, this was my favorite song of all time. I couldn’t stop listening to it, I tried to get my friends into St. Vincent, and…well, I pretty much became associated with St. Vincent among my classmates. (A blessing and a curse.) Don’t get me wrong, I still love this song, but…man, 6th grade me was a nightmare. And speaking of being associated with certain things…
This series…
The Search for WondLa trilogy was my moon, my sun, and all the stars in my sky at that age. And, as with “Bad Believer”, I carried this bad boy around me whenever I re-read it, and that meant getting weird looks from my classmates, because, yet again, it was “that book”…
I still stand by that it’s a phenomenal series, but man, does it bring back a boatload of memories.
3. REPLAY – a recent song you have on repeat right now / a recent favorite book
I’m very, very late to hop on this bandwagon, but I just discovered Pink Floyd’s “Time” a few days ago, and I have not stopped listening to it since.
That surreal, dream-like quality, the poetic and yet blatantly real lyrics…man oh man, I love this song.
As for books, the last book (I believe) that I gave a solid five stars to was Like A Love Story.
gAH, TALK ABOUT FEELING ALL THE FEELS KNOWN TO MAN…such an expertly written, heartstring-ripping novel…
4. GETS ME – this song IS ME / this book is me in book form
[clicks on YouTube link] [gets flooded with Hellboy II memories circa 8th grade]
I’m not sure if this is necessarily me in book form, but I have often felt like an outsider, for several reasons. I’ve struggled to fit in for most of my life, and it’s only been in the past two or so years that I’ve been able to find my tribe. So, in a way, this song gives me hope. Hope that someday, maybe I’ll find true love from someone who sees me for who I truly am.
As for books, I’d say…yeah, you guessed it, Aurora Rising. But really, the central theme of this book is finding your people, finding those who see you for who you are, and cherish you for the qualities that others abhor.
5. WUT – weird but I like it? / a unique book that stuck out to you for whatever reason
I mean, the weirdest part of this song is the title, but Sidney Gish’s music is generally filled to the brim with absolutely lovely, crafty lyrics that not only catch my eye (and ear), but resonate with me on some level.
Good Omens would be my obvious literary choice for this question. An absolutely madcap gem, this book never fails to make me cry laughing. Same goes for the series, too–I’m only three episodes in, but I adore it.
6. LET’S GO – best pump up song (for workouts or just life) / a book that inspired you
This song makes me feel unbelievably powerful, no matter when or where I listen to it. Björk is nothing short of a visionary.
As for the book, The Martian Chronicles , I’d say. Yeah, I know, not the most inspirational, uplifting collection, but Bradbury’s writing is what makes me want to be a writer, what motivates me to dream, to create. Although I’ve read a few of his works, this is the first of his that I’ve read, and my personal favorite.
7. CHILL – fave chill, relaxing song / a book you’d curl up with and read on a rainy day
I mean, I could probably put most anything by Frankie Cosmos for this question, but this was the first song of hers that I was introduced to. Mellow, with a warm, nostalgic feel that never fails to make me smile.
Kindred Spirits is easily the shortest novel I own, and it’s filled to the brim with adorable, slow-burn romance. Not to mention the fact that it centers around Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Gotta love Star Wars.
8. ADDICTING – guilty pleasure song (one that’s catchy and addicting but not a whole lot of substance) / guilty pleasure/trashy/fast/light read
Yeah, pretty simple lyricism here, but I feel little pink hearts forming in my eyes whenever “Johanna” comes on. 💗
Again with the Rainbow Rowell…you guessed it, folks…
I’ll say it once, and I’ll say it again: Pumpkinheadsis the ideal antidote for any of the sadness and troubles in your life.
9. NOSTALGIA – throwback you look back on fondly / a book you read forever ago that you look back on fondly or reminds you of a happy childhood time
I know, more Hunky Dory era David Bowie. But personally, I stand by my belief that this is easily the best album in the history of music.
“Kooks”, in particular, has a special place in my heart, for the simple reason that it’s the center of one of my earliest childhood memories. I was in the car, probably still a baby, and my whole family was with me. No idea where we were going, but “Kooks” was playing.
Most of Roald Dahl’s novels have a special place in my heart, but Matilda, in particular, has the most vibrantly fond memories for me. My teacher read it to my class in third grade (we were on a Roald Dahl kick, as this followed both of the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory books), and I got it as a gift later that year.
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. 😉
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 Starssoon…
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 Risingwas 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
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.
The Bookish Mutant 