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Goodreads Monday (4/13/20)–The Invisible Library

Posted on April 13, 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 put this one on my TBR more recently; it sounds a little bit like it’ll be out of my reading comfort zone, but I’m so excited to read it!

Let’s begin, shall we?

GOODREADS MONDAY (4/13/20)–THE INVISIBLE LIBRARY by Genevieve Cogman

Genevieve Cogman | The Invisible Library

Blurb from Goodreads:

Irene must be at the top of her game or she’ll be off the case – permanently…

Irene is a professional spy for the mysterious Library, which harvests fiction from different realities. And along with her enigmatic assistant Kai, she’s posted to an alternative London. Their mission – to retrieve a dangerous book. But when they arrive, it’s already been stolen. London’s underground factions seem prepared to fight to the very death to find her book.

Adding to the jeopardy, this world is chaos-infested – the laws of nature bent to allow supernatural creatures and unpredictable magic. Irene’s new assistant is also hiding secrets of his own.

Soon, she’s up to her eyebrows in a heady mix of danger, clues and secret societies. Yet failure is not an option – the nature of reality itself is at stake.

So why do I want to read this?

I have lived almost my entire life close to libraries. Though the role grew from a place for storytime with the other kids to my haven for books and a place to volunteer and give back to my community, my local library has played an integral part in my life.

So naturally, I’m drawn to stories about libraries.

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Beyond that, I’m fascinated by the premise of fiction in alternate realities. There are infinite possibilities of what could be done and played within that vein, and I’m SO excited to see how it turns out! Adding onto that, the promise of rival organizations who want nothing more than one particular book…hmm, this could get interesting…

And what of alternate London? I’m glad the synopsis didn’t give much detail on what time period this London would be in, so I’m interested to see what Cogman’s vision of alternate realities–and fictions–end up looking like.

All in all, another reason why I want to enjoy The Invisible Library is that it’s SUCH A LONG SERIES. AND ALMOST ALL OF IT IS AVAILABLE ON THE KINDLE LIBRARY. Most of the books that I’ve checked out recently have been parts of a series, but their sequels haven’t been available, so I’m so glad that I might be able to have a lengthy series to binge! Of course, there’s the possibility of a story being perpetuated for an unnecessarily long time (there’s currently 7 books in the Invisible Library series), but I’m trying to push that from my mind. Fingers tightly crossed…

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Today’s song:

That’s it for 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 (4/6/20)–The Wicker King

Posted on April 6, 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.

This one’s been on my TBR for a little under a year, and the more I look at the synopsis, the more elements of this novel I find that make me want to read it! Hopefully, I can find it on the Kindle library soon…

Let’s begin, shall we?

GOODREADS MONDAY (4/6/20)–THE WICKER KING by K. Ancrum

Amazon.com: The Wicker King (9781250101549): Ancrum, K.: Books

Blurb from Goodreads:

When August learns that his best friend, Jack, shows signs of degenerative hallucinatory disorder, he is determined to help Jack cope. Jack’s vivid and long-term visions take the form of an elaborate fantasy world layered over our own—a world ruled by the Wicker King. As Jack leads them on a quest to fulfill a dark prophecy in this alternate world, even August begins to question what is real or not.

August and Jack struggle to keep afloat as they teeter between fantasy and their own emotions. In the end, each must choose his own truth.

So why do I want to read this?

I need to add this one to the long list of books that give off some serious Legion vibes…

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Not only does The Wicker King seem to shed a unique light on mental illness, but it also does so in a creative way. Exploration of realms within a character’s mind is always an interesting plot direction, and there seem to be strong themes of the line between reality and fantasy. Beyond that, this book is shelved as LGBTQ+, and according to the author, Jack is bisexual, and August is questioning his sexuality! Always a win! 💗💜💙

Plus, you can’t deny how gorgeous the cover is…

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Today’s song:

That’s it for today’s Goodreads Monday! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!

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Goodreads Monday

Goodreads Monday (3/30/20)–The Starlight Watchmaker

Posted on March 30, 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’ve had a small taste of James’s work (The Loneliest Girl in the Universe), and I have a few other novels of hers on my TBR (The Quiet at the End of the World, The Next Together), and this one sounds like it has an absolutely fascinating premise.

Let’s begin, shall we?

GOODREADS MONDAY (3/30/20)–THE STARLIGHT WATCHMAKER by Lauren James

Blurb from Goodreads:

Wealthy students from across the galaxy come to learn at the prestigious academy where Hugo toils as a watchmaker. But he is one of the lucky ones. Many androids like him are jobless and homeless. Someone like Dorian could never understand their struggle – or so Hugo thinks when the pompous duke comes banging at his door. But when Dorian’s broken time-travel watch leads them to discover a sinister scheme, the pair must reconcile their differences if they are to find the culprit in time.

So why do I want to read this?

Man, I wish that this book was published a few years earlier…I remember being in a bookstore with my mom at some point, and I said something about wishing that there was a subgenre (not my exact wording) that was in between middle grade and YA. The Starlight Watchmaker seems to hit that sweet spot, just where I wanted it. Not that I don’t want to read it now, or anything, I’m all in on this one.

Also, robots! I haven’t seen too much YA/MG from the perspective of robots (save for LIFEL1K3, parts of Heart of Iron and The Illuminae Files), so I’m excited to see how the POV of Hugo is fleshed out. That, along with a dash of time travel and classic sci-fi, seems like the recipe of a novel I’m sure to enjoy. Plus, props to Ms. James for making the format of this book ideal for dyslexic people, especially dyslexic youth! I’m not sure of the details, but James said that “it’s designed to be really readable for struggling readers” and part of the blurb describes it as “particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 13+”. Good for her! 💗

Imgur: The magic of the Internet — ROBOTS!

Today’s song:

I woke up with this one stuck in my head yesterday morning…

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 (3/23/20)–A Constellation of Roses

Posted on March 23, 2020July 9, 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.

Apart from its gorgeous cover (and title?), I’m drawn to this one on the prospect of magical realism. When done well, it can produce lush, rich, and unforgettable novels like Wild Beauty and The Looking Glass, and if all is well-executed, I’m hoping to find another gem.

Let’s begin…

GOODREADS MONDAY (3/23/20)–A CONSTELLATION OF ROSES by Miranda Asebedo

Blurb from Goodreads:

Ever since her mother walked out, Trix McCabe has been determined to make it on her own. And with her near-magical gift for pulling valuables off unsuspecting strangers, Trix is confident she has what it takes to survive. Until she’s caught and given a choice: jail time, or go live with her long-lost family in the tiny town of Rocksaw, Kansas.

Trix doesn’t plan to stick around Rocksaw long, but there’s something special about her McCabe relatives that she is drawn to. Her aunt, Mia, bakes pies that seem to cure all ills. Her cousin, Ember, can tell a person’s deepest secret with the touch of a hand. And Trix’s great-aunt takes one look at Trix’s palm and tells her that if she doesn’t put down roots somewhere, she won’t have a future anywhere.

Before long, Trix feels like she might finally belong with this special group of women in this tiny town in Kansas. But when her past comes back to haunt her, she’ll have to decide whether to take a chance on this new life . . . or keep running from the one she’s always known.

So why do I want to read this?

This seems like a PERFECT, misfitty magical realism novel! I’m getting themes of family, feminism, sisterhood, and some wonderful magical powers on the side. Trix seems like a lovable character, and the more I pore over this synopsis, I’m reminded again and again of Wild Beauty. It doesn’t seem like a ripoff, luckily, but reminiscent of it in several places.

At best, I’m hoping for a well-written tale of magic, sisterhood, and the powers that bind family and friends together.

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Today’s song:

Today just keeps getting better and better…new music from Car Seat Headrest AND my APUSH teacher just removed our homework for spring break!

Also, before I go, I’m *thinking* of making an original book tag. I can guarantee that it’ll be a fandom-related one, but I might make that happen in the next few days or weeks.

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 (3/16/20)–Missing, Presumed Dead

Posted on March 16, 2020 by madeline @ The Bookish Mutant

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Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you’re all safe and healthy amid this COVID-19 chaos. 💗

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 not an avid mystery fan, but I’m a sucker for paranormal fantasy-type books. Missing, Presumed Dead, if all is well-executed, seems like a twisty, feminist paranormal mystery.

Let’s begin, shall we?

GOODREADS MONDAY (3/16/20)–MISSING, PRESUMED DEAD by Emma Berquist

Image result for missing presumed dead emma berquist

Blurb from Goodreads:

With a touch, Lexi can sense how and when someone will die. Some say it’s a gift. But to Lexi it’s a curse—one that keeps her friendless and alone. All that changes when Lexi foresees the violent death of a young woman, Jane, outside a club. But Jane doesn’t go to the afterlife quietly. Her ghost remains behind, determined to hunt down her murderer, and she needs Lexi’s help. In life, Jane was everything Lexi is not—outgoing, happy, popular. But in death, all Jane wants is revenge. Lexi will do anything to help Jane, to make up for the fact that she didn’t—couldn’t—save Jane’s life, and to keep this beautiful ghost of a girl by her side for as long as possible.

So why do I want to read this?

Though I haven’t read any Stephen King (save for On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft), this is giving me some very similar vibes. I’m excited to see how this melding of paranormal fantasy and murder mystery plays out. I’d forgotten about this one for a while, I should check it out soon! 🙂

Oh, and it’s shelved as LGBTQ+ on Goodreads! 🎉🌈

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Today’s song:

That just about wraps up this week’s Goodreads Monday! Stay tuned for more content later in the week! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!

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Goodreads Monday

Goodreads Monday (3/9/20)–Kiss Me in New York

Posted on March 9, 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 don’t give realistic fiction as much love on here, so I figured that I’d change things up a little bit this week. I’d forgotten about this one’s existence, and it seems like a light, fluffy holiday read. I mean, it’s a Christmasy book, but nobody really cares that it’s March, right? Right?

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Let’s begin, shall we?

GOODREADS MONDAY (3/9/20)–KISS ME IN NEW YORK by Catherine Rider

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Blurb from Goodreads:

It’s Christmas Eve at JFK in NYC.

Charlotte is a British student, waiting for a flight home after the worst semester of her life. Anthony is a native New Yorker, surprising his girlfriend at the airport after three months apart. Charlotte has just been dumped, and Anthony is about to be dumped, right in the middle of the holiday crowd.

Charlotte’s flight is canceled when a blizzard blows in, and Anthony can’t bear to go home. So, they set out into the city together, clutching a book Charlotte picks up in the airport gift shop: Ten Easy Steps for Getting Over Your Ex. For this one night, they’ll focus on healing their broken hearts … together.

Step-by-step, the two struggle to put the past behind them. But the snow is so enchanting, and the holiday lights are so beguiling, that soon their shared misery gives way to something else. Soon, they’re not only over their exes — they’re falling for each other.

Then a subway ride splits them up by mistake. Will they reunite before Charlotte’s flight leaves New York forever?

So why do I want to read this?

I’ll have to save this one for when I’m actually in the Christmas spirit, but it seems like a super cute holiday romance, something to bring a little light, love, and levity into my life. And even though I’m opposed to the trope of girls discovering themselves with the “necessary” aid of a man, this doesn’t quite seem to be the case. Plus, the “ten easy steps for getting over your ex” seems pretty funny, if you ask me.

Today’s song:

This one’s been stuck in my head for…almost a week straight? Classic.

That just about wraps up this week’s Goodreads Monday! Stay tuned for more content later in the week! Have a wonderful rest of your day, and take care of yourselves!

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Goodreads Monday

Goodreads Monday (3/2/20)–Do You Dream of Terra-Two?

Posted on March 2, 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.

This one is a more recent addition to my TBR. It hasn’t gotten a lot of hype or recognition, but if it lives up to my expectations, it seems like a fascinating of sci-fi, with a bit of horror blended in. (???)

Let’s begin, shall we?

GOODREADS MONDAY (3/2/20)–DO YOU DREAM OF TERRA-TWO? by Temi Oh

Blurb from Goodreads:

A century ago, scientists theorised that a habitable planet existed in a nearby solar system. Today, ten astronauts will leave a dying Earth to find it. Four are decorated veterans of the 20th century’s space-race. And six are teenagers, graduates of the exclusive Dalton Academy, who’ve been in training for this mission for most of their lives.

It will take the team 23 years to reach Terra-Two. Twenty-three years spent in close quarters. Twenty-three years with no one to rely on but each other. Twenty-three years with no rescue possible, should something go wrong. And something always goes wrong.

So why do I want to read this?

Other than my insatiable appetite for sci-fi, I’m interested to see how this alternate history plays out. The synopsis is reminiscent of books like Contagion, Tangled Planet, and The Pioneer, all books that have been chiefly speculative sci-fi, with a blend of survival horror within them. If anything, I’m just expecting a fun, sci-fi thriller that’ll keep me on the edge of my seat. Also, the title is pretty fun, not gonna lie.

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Today’s song:

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 (2/24/20)–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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