Goodreads Monday – Page 9 – The Bookish Mutant

Goodreads Monday (2/24/20)–Valentine

Posted on February 24, 2020 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

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Happy Monday, 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.

Another one dredged from the middle reaches of my TBR, Valentine seems like an inventive twist on the combination of paranormal/urban fantasy and mystery. I’ll try and ignore the fact that the synopsis describes it as perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Holly Black (both of which have produced books that are hyped to no end, but I personally think are rather overrated), because this looks like it could be a unique novel.

Let’s begin, shall we?

GOODREADS MONDAY (2/24/20)–VALENTINE by Jodi McAlister

Blurb from Goodreads:

Four teenagers – all born on the same Valentine’s Day – begin to disappear. As the bodies mount up, Pearl Linford has to work out what in the supernatural hell is going on, before it happens to her.

Finn Blacklin is the boy with whom Pearl shares a birthday, the boy she has known all her life and disliked every second of it, the boy her subconscious has a totally annoying crush on. Finn is also the Valentine: a Seelie fairy changeling swapped for a human boy at birth. The Unseelie have come to kill the Valentine – except they don’t know who it is. And now both the Seelie and the Unseelie think Pearl is the Valentine, and if they find out she isn’t, she’ll disappear too.

Pearl must use all her wits to protect herself. Finn must come to terms with his newfound heritage. And then there’s the explosive chemistry between them that neither of them know quite what to do about . . .

So why do I want to read this?

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Another re-read of the synopsis, and I’m getting hit with some major Holly Black vibes…personally, I think she’s incredibly creative, but one of the reasons that I didn’t enjoy The Cruel Prince was that I didn’t care for/despised all of the main cast. Anyway, let’s get back on topic.

I’m fascinated to see how McAlister handles this (very interesting!) concept of the Valentines. Changelings are kind of hard to mess up in fantasy literature, so I don’t doubt that she’ll deliver in that aspect. All in all, Valentine sounds like a deft melding of fantasy, mystery, and maybe a sprinkling of horror. I like it…

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Today’s song:

(These riffs…THESE RIFFS…)

That just about wraps up this week’s Goodreads Monday! Just as a heads-up, I’ll probably be a *bit* more lethargic posting-wise this week, due to several upcoming quizzes/exams I’ll have to take in the middle of the week. In the meantime, stay tuned for a Book Review Tuesday tomorrow! Have a wonderful day, and take care of yourselves!

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Books, Goodreads Monday

Goodreads Monday (2/17/20)–From Under the Mountain

Posted on February 17, 2020February 17, 2020 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

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Happy Monday, 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’m so sad that I forgot about this one for a while, because it seems like everything that I’d want in a fantasy novel–witches, forbidden love, and apparently, loads of LGBTQ+/POC representation! I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

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Let’s begin, shall we?

GOODREADS MONDAY (2/17/20)–FROM UNDER THE MOUNTAIN (TRIDENT CHRONICLES, #1) by C.M. Spivey

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Blurb from Goodreads:

As the second child of the Aridan imperial family, nineteen-year-old Guerline knows exactly what is expected of her: be unobtrusive, be compliant, and do not fall in love with her low-born companion, Eva. She has succeeded at only two of those.

But before her feelings for Eva can become a point of contention for the royal house, Guerline’s calm and narrow life is ripped away from her—in the course of a single night—and she is abruptly cast in the role of empress.

Faced with a council that aggressively fears the four witch clans charged with protecting Arido and believes they are, in fact, waging war against the humans, Guerline struggles to maintain order. As her control over the land crumbles, she learns that the war is rooted in a conflict much older than she realized—one centuries in the making, which is now crawling from under the mountain and into the light. With the fate of Arido hanging in the balance, Guerline must decide who to trust when even her closest councilors seem to have an agenda.

Darkly cinematic, From Under the Mountain pairs the sweeping landscape of epic fantasy with the personal journey of finding one’s voice in the world, posing the question: how do you define evil, when everything society tells you is a lie?

So why do I want to read this?

Wow, everything about this novel seems like the perfect ingredients for the fantasy book that I’ve always wanted to read! Aside from the aforementioned reasons, From Under the Mountain seems incredibly intricate and complex, touching on the gray area between good and evil, questioning how society defines the other, and discovering yourself–all themes that I always adore seeing in books. Plus, that cover looks pre-tty gorgeous, if I do say so myself. 😜

Today’s song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_lIRM8ZSos

That just about wraps up this week’s Goodreads Monday! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!

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Books, Goodreads Monday

Goodreads Monday (2/10/20)-Final Draft

Posted on February 10, 2020 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

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Happy Monday, 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.

While scouring the middle reaches of my TBR, this book stood out to me, especially from the synopsis; aside from the shenanigans that ensue from the switching of a creative writing teacher ([mournful sigh], oh, how I wish my school had more English options…[single tear slides down cheek]), the main character seems…a bit like me. Or, how I want to be, at least.

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Ooo…

GOODREADS MONDAY (2/10/20)-FINAL DRAFT by Riley Redgate

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Blurb from Goodreads:

The only sort of risk 18-year-old Laila Piedra enjoys is the peril she writes for the characters in her stories: epic sci-fi worlds full of quests, forbidden love, and robots. Her creative writing teacher has always told her she has a special talent. But three months before her graduation, he’s suddenly replaced—by Nadiya Nazarenko, a Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist who is sadistically critical and perpetually unimpressed.

At first, Nazarenko’s eccentric assignments seem absurd. But before long, Laila grows obsessed with gaining the woman’s approval. Soon Laila is pushing herself far from her comfort zone, discovering the psychedelic highs and perilous lows of nightlife, temporary flings, and instability. Dr. Nazarenko has led Laila to believe that she must choose between perfection and sanity—but rejecting her all-powerful mentor may be the only way for Laila to thrive.

So why do I want to read this?

As a young, aspiring writer myself, I’m intrigued to see how–or if–I relate to Laila. Beyond that, I’m interested to see how the near-fall-from-grace plotline is handled, tightroping the line between approval from others and mental stability.

Oh, hey, and I just noticed…

…IT’S SHELVED AS LGBTQ+ ON GOODREADS!

SUCCESS!

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Today’s song:

hadakjsdkajshkdjashdkjaskjhj such a good cover eeee

That just about wraps up this week’s Goodreads Monday! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!

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Goodreads Monday

Goodreads Monday (1/27/20)-Lies Beneath

Posted on January 27, 2020 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

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Happy Monday, everyone!

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’ve been itching to read this one for a while, so here goes nothin’…

GOODREADS MONDAY (1/27/20)-LIES BENEATH by Anne Greenwood Brown

Blurb from Goodreads:

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans and absorb their positive energy. Usually, they select their victims at random, but this time around, the underwater clan chooses its target for a reason: revenge. They want to kill Jason Hancock, the man they blame for their mother’s death.

It’s going to take a concerted effort to lure the aquaphobic Hancock onto the water. Calder’s job is to gain Hancock’s trust by getting close to his family. Relying on his irresistible good looks and charm, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock’s daughter Lily. Easy enough, but Calder screws everything up by falling in love – just as Lily starts to suspect there’s more to the monster-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined, and just as the mermaids threaten to take matters into their own hands, forcing Calder to choose between them and the girl he loves.

One thing’s for sure: whatever Calder decides, the outcome won’t be pretty.

So why do I want to read this?

Even though the romantic subplot does sound a bit cliched, I’m still hooked for one reason, and one reason only…

MERMAIDS.

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Beyond that, I’m interested how they weave said supernatural element into an intricate revenge story. Like I said; not enough quality mermaid content in YA. [chanting] good mermaid book good mermaid book GOOD MERMAID BOOK GOOD MERMAID BOOK GOOD MERMAID BOOK G O O D M E R M A I D B O O K

[ahem]

Anyway. Needless to say, I’m pretty excited to get my hands on this one.

Today’s song:

Yep. Watchmen is my newest obsession now.

That just about wraps up this week’s Goodreads Monday! Have a great rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!

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Books, Goodreads Monday

Goodreads Monday (1/20/20)-So This is How it Ends

Posted on January 20, 2020January 20, 2020 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

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Happy Monday, bibliophiles!

First off, today’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so I’d like to say thank you, sir, for making this world a better place. ♥️

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 one’s been on my TBR for a while, so let’s see how this goes…

GOODREADS MONDAY (1/20/20)-SO THIS IS HOW IT ENDS by Tui T. Sutherland

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Blurb from Goodreads:

Something was different. She stepped hesitantly out of the subway car, her boots sounding even louder now. What was it? The graffiti. Had that been there before?

Emblazoned across the far wall in huge silver letters:

The end has come.

In New York, Kali wakes to an empty subway car, and an even emptier city. Venus and Gus survive an earthquake in Los Angeles and realize they have to deal with more than just the aftershocks. In Chile, Tigre finds himself in an unfamiliar jungle, and strangely not alone. And Amon, in Egypt, can see his path but is blind to the full picture.

They are suddenly trapped in a deserted world, five teenagers with no hope of escape. Why have they survived? What force or intelligence connects them? Drawn inexorably toward one another, they only know their future involves an experience outside anything they could have imagined. Fantasy newcomer Tui T. Sutherland creates a future in which teens have the power to complete the destruction of Earth or to save it.

So why do I want to read this?

Okay, first of all, I just noticed that the blurb describes Sutherland as a “fantasy newcomer.”

[glances at the 10+ Wings of Fire books I bought on my kindle three years ago] I feel so old…

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Aaaaanyway. I’ve loved Sutherland’s MG works for a while, among them, the Wings of Fire series (I think they’re still going…GOD…), and the Menagerie trilogy she co-wrote with Kari Sutherland. I’m interested to see how her style translates to a slightly older audience. And, plus, this post-apocalyptic, quite possibly X-Men-esque plot is pretty intriguing, if I do say so myself. If I can find this anywhere, I’d like to pick it up soon. Here’s hoping that my love of Sutherland’s witty writing prevails to this day. 🤞

Today’s song:

(I just started trying to figure this out on guitar, thanks to the awesome OK Computer songbook that my dad got me…thank you!)

That just about wraps up this week’s Goodreads Monday! Have a great day, and take care of yourselves!

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Books, Goodreads Monday

Goodreads Monday (1/13/20)–Hollow Kingdom

Posted on January 13, 2020 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

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As my English teacher said this morning, Happy Monday…if there is such a thing.

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, this week’s Goodreads Monday!

GOODREADS MONDAY (1/13/20)–HOLLOW KINGDOM by Kira Jane Buxton

Blurb from Goodreads:

One pet crow fights to save humanity from an apocalypse in this uniquely hilarious debut from a genre-bending literary author.

S.T., a domesticated crow, is a bird of simple pleasures: hanging out with his owner Big Jim, trading insults with Seattle’s wild crows (those idiots), and enjoying the finest food humankind has to offer: Cheetos ®.

Then Big Jim’s eyeball falls out of his head, and S.T. starts to feel like something isn’t quite right. His most tried-and-true remedies–from beak-delivered beer to the slobbering affection of Big Jim’s loyal but dim-witted dog, Dennis–fail to cure Big Jim’s debilitating malady. S.T. is left with no choice but to abandon his old life and venture out into a wild and frightening new world with his trusty steed Dennis, where he discovers that the neighbors are devouring each other and the local wildlife is abuzz with rumors of dangerous new predators roaming Seattle. Humanity’s extinction has seemingly arrived, and the only one determined to save it is a foul-mouthed crow whose knowledge of the world around him comes from his TV-watching education.

Hollow Kingdom is a humorous, big-hearted, and boundlessly beautiful romp through the apocalypse and the world that comes after, where even a cowardly crow can become a hero.

So why do I want to read this?

Many a post-apocalyptic read has passed over my eyes, and I’ve seen a handful of novels from the perspective of animals in this genre. But a crow? They’re such intelligent little creatures; I’d love to read a book that’s entirely from their perspective. It takes a talented author to not just create a non-human character, but to get inside their mind, to explore their instincts, to live as they would.

In other words: You had me at “post-apocalyptic book told from the perspective of a crow”.

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I’m also interested to see how they portray the relationships between this crow and his human and other animal companions; whether purely biologically based or fantastical, I’m so excited to see how Buxton executes this.

Today’s song (which has been stuck in my head for almost a week, and I’m completely fine with it):

[off-key singing] oOOOOOooOoooo loverrrr bOOOOOOOOOYYYYyyyY

That just about wraps up this week’s post! I’ll be back with a Book Review Tuesday tomorrow, but be warned: I’m probably going to be a bit more sluggish in terms of posts, as I’ve got a lot coming up in school (*coughcoughHONORSBIOcoughcough*), and I’m going to try and go the Womxn’s March on Saturday. (I’ll try and post a few photos from the latter.)

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

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Books, Goodreads Monday

Goodreads Monday (1/6/20)–Show Stopper

Posted on January 6, 2020 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Happy Monday, 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.

My deluge of Goodreads recommendations seems to have slowed down, so I’m currently trying to clean out the older content on there. This was part of the recommendation barrage, but its twist on the traditional dystopian plot caught my eye. It seems to be an inventive shattering of the trope, so hopefully this one will be worthwhile.

Let’s begin, shall we?

GOODREADS MONDAY (1/6/20)–SHOW STOPPER by Hayley Barker

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Blurb from Goodreads:

Set in a near-future England where the poorest people in the land are forced to sell their children to a travelling circus – to perform at the mercy of hungry lions, sabotaged high wires and a demonic ringmaster. The ruling class visit the circus as an escape from their structured, high-achieving lives – pure entertainment with a bloodthirsty edge. Ben, the teenage son of a draconian government minister, visits the circus for the first time and falls instantly in love with Hoshiko, a young performer. They come from harshly different worlds – but must join together to escape the circus and put an end to its brutal sport.

So why do I want to read this?

You’ve all heard me rant about how jaded I am with YA dystopia. But the element of the traveling circus in Show Stopper seems absolutely fascinating: a tiny bit Hunger Games-y, in the sense that it’s for the entertainment of the upper class, but creative enough that I’m absolutely hooked. If anything, I’m hoping for a well-needed subversion of the genre. Plus, not gonna lie, but I love the style that the cover was drawn in.

Here’s today’s song:

(God, I love the guitar in this one…)

That just about wraps up this week’s Goodreads Monday! Have a great rest of your day, and keep on reading!

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Books, Goodreads Monday, Movies

Goodreads Monday (12/30/19)–Seven Devils

Posted on December 30, 2019December 30, 2019 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Happy Monday, bibliophiles, and welcome to…wow, the last Goodreads Monday of 2019…

Sheesh, this year really sped by…

Anyway, I came across this one over the summer, I think, and I was hooked from the first sentences of the synopsis. It hasn’t come out yet, but without any reviews and only the synopsis, I am BEYOND excited to read this one!

Let’s begin, shall we?

GOODREADS MONDAY (12/30/19)–SEVEN DEVILS by Laura Lam and Elizabeth May

Blurb from Goodreads:

This first book in a feminist space opera duology follows seven resistance fighters who will free the galaxy from the ruthless Tholosian Empire — or die trying.

When Eris faked her death, she thought she had left her old life as the heir to the galaxy’s most ruthless empire behind. But her recruitment by the Novantaen Resistance, an organization opposed to the empire’s voracious expansion, throws her right back into the fray.

Eris has been assigned a new mission: to infiltrate a spaceship ferrying deadly cargo and return the intelligence gathered to the Resistance. But her partner for the mission, mechanic and hotshot pilot Cloelia, bears an old grudge against Eris, making an already difficult infiltration even more complicated.

When they find the ship, they discover more than they bargained for: three fugitives with firsthand knowledge of the corrupt empire’s inner workings.

Together, these women possess the knowledge and capabilities to bring the empire to its knees. But the clock is ticking: the new heir to the empire plans to disrupt a peace summit with the only remaining alien empire, ensuring the empire’s continued expansion. If they can find a way to stop him, they will save the galaxy. If they can’t, millions may die.

So why do I want to read this?

Alright, not gonna lie, I was hooked even before they had a coherent synopsis on Goodreads. Why? Simple: All it had was a release date, and something along the lines of “perfect for fans of Rogue One.”

Aaaaaaand, you’ve got my attention.

From the sparse reviews I’ve seen, it’s been oft-described as a “feminist, queer space opera”. And honestly? That’s all I ask for in a book. That’s what I want to write, in the first place. Plus, the cover. GORGEOUS.

Seven Devils doesn’t come out until August 2020, but you can bet that I’ll be anxiously awaiting its release until then. 😉

That just about wraps up this week’s Goodreads Monday! Stay tuned for more content later in the week, and though I’ll be posting all throughout the week (or I’ll try, at least), have a Happy New Year!

Books, Goodreads Monday

Goodreads Monday (12/23/19)-Viper

Posted on December 23, 2019 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Happy Monday, 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.

At this point, my tactic for picking out books for Goodreads Monday is basically just picking a random number on my TBR, and then finding a book on that shelf. I forgot about this one, but I’ve only had in on my TBR for about a month, and, if all goes well, I think it could be an adventurous, fast-paced fantasy on the high seas.

Only one way to find out…

GOODREADS MONDAY (12/23/19)-VIPER by Bex Hogan

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Blurb from Goodreads:

He will make me a killer. Or he will have me killed. That is my destiny.

Seventeen-year-old Marianne is fated to one day become the Viper, defender of the Twelve Isles.

But the reigning Viper stands in her way. Corrupt and merciless, he prowls the seas in his warship, killing with impunity, leaving only pain and suffering in his wake.

He’s the most dangerous man on the ocean . . . and he is Marianne’s father.

She was born to protect the islands. But can she fight for them if it means losing her family, her home, the boy she loves – and perhaps even her life?

So why do I want to read this?

Hmmm. Intriguing.

I’m getting some good vibes from this one…if all goes well, I think it’ll at least be a feminist, swashbuckling, pirate-inspired fantasy, in the vein of Seafire and the Daughter of the Pirate King duology. From the looks of it, there’s some themes of defying one’s family to do what you know is right, which I am 100% for. And, judging from the concept of the Viper, I’m hoping for a rich history behind that. Certainly not expecting Sally Green level worldbuilding, but if handled well, I think this could be an incredibly exciting read.

Viper came out this year, but I haven’t heard about it, sadly. Rather underrated/under-talked-about compared to a few…other fantasy novels that were grossly overhyped. Either way, it’s gotten some good reviews, from the looks of it, (3.87/5 average rating on Goodreads), and I’m hoping that it’ll deliver. I’m sure it’ll be three stars, at least.

That just about wraps up this week’s Goodreads Monday! Have a lovely rest of your day, and stay tuned for more content later in the week!

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Books, Goodreads Monday

Goodreads Monday (12/9/19)–A Song Below Water

Posted on December 10, 2019 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

Happy Monday, 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.

This one caught my eye not long ago: Not only is it a premise set around sirens, but a) they’re POC sirens, and b) it’s a pretty obvious metaphor for the other? COUNT ME IN! I’ve yet to read it (obviously…), but I’ve got high hopes…

Let’s begin, shall we?

GOODREADS MONDAY (12/9/19)–A SONG BELOW WATER by Bethany C. Morrow

Blurb from Goodreads:

Tavia is already at odds with the world, forced to keep her siren identity under wraps in a society that wants to keep her kind under lock and key. Nevermind she’s also stuck in Portland, Oregon, a city with only a handful of black folk and even fewer of those with magical powers. At least she has her bestie Effie by her side as they tackle high school drama, family secrets, and unrequited crushes.

But everything changes in the aftermath of a siren murder trial that rocks the nation; the girls’ favorite Internet fashion icon reveals she’s also a siren, and the news rips through their community. Tensions escalate when Effie starts being haunted by demons from her past, and Tavia accidentally lets out her magical voice during a police stop. No secret seems safe anymore—soon Portland won’t be either.

So why do I want to read this?

As I said earlier, I’m always aching for a good mermaid/siren novel. Not only that, our siren protagonists, Tavia and Effie, are both POC.

What I got from the synopsis is that the whole siren/human situation is an incredibly dicey one, with a history of prejudice, discrimination, and fear. (Sound familiar? Hello, almost every minority that I can think of in the U.S. and elsewhere…) If all goes well, this sounds like an excellent metaphor for minority groups and the other, well-supported by its plot and characters. And who wouldn’t swoon over that gorgeous cover?

A Song Below Water doesn’t come out until June of next year, and you know that I’m eagerly awaiting its release! 😀

Thanks for stopping by, everyone! Stay tuned for more content later in the week! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and remember: you are so loved. 💗

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