Showing posts with label j bree. Show all posts
Showing posts with label j bree. Show all posts

Friday, October 4, 2024

September 2024 Wrap-Up + Book Haul


Another month gone and we're finally into October and the spooky month! September was mostly a good month, particularly in terms of the reading I got done. I read a total of 14 books in September which officially pushed me over the 100-book total for the year so far. I have a couple new favorites and finished a series this month. That being said, most of what I read was more "easy" reading to escape into and won't find its way onto my favorites of all time list. But, overall, an enjoyable reading month with a few standout reads as well as a reread of one of my favorite series.  

1. 
Title: Psycho Beasts
Author: Jasmine Mas
Rating: 3 // 5 stars

2. 
Title: Psycho Academy
Author: Jasmine Mas
Rating: 4 // 5 stars

3.
Title: Psycho Devils
Author: Jasmine Mas
Rating: 3.5 // 5 stars

4. 
Title: Psycho Gods
Author: Jasmine Mas
Rating: 3.5 // 5 stars

5.  
Title: The Blighted Stars
Author: Megan E. O'Keefe
Rating: 5 // 5 stars 
Review TK 

6. 
Title: Forbidden: Part One
Author: Emilia Emerson 
Rating: 4 // 5 stars

7. 
Title: Forbidden: Part Two
Author: Emilia Emerson 
Rating: 4 // 5 stars

8. 
Title: Cherished
Author: Emilia Emerson 
Rating: 4.5 // 5 stars

9. 
Title: Runaway Omega
Author: Ember L. Nicole
Rating: 3 // 5 stars

10. 
Title: Captivate
Author: E.J. Lawson
Rating: 3 // 5 stars

11. 
Title: Broken Bonds
Author: J. Bree
Rating: 5 // 5 stars
-reread- 

12. 
Title: Savage Bonds
Author: J. Bree
Rating: 5 // 5 stars
-reread- 

13. 
Title: Blood Bonds
Author: J. Bree
Rating: 5 // 5 stars
-reread- 

14. 
Title: Forced Bonds
Author: J. Bree
Rating: 5 // 5 stars
-reread- 


I hauled just three books in September. I'm pretty excited about all of them. I've found that being more intentional about the books I'm buying lately has led to more enjoyment out of the purchase and act of owning a copy. 


The first two books I got were The Fractured Dark and The Bound Worlds by Megan E. O'Keefe. These are the last two books in the Devoured Worlds trilogy, of which I read the first book this month. My library only had the first book on Libby so once I'd read that and knew I loved the story I bought the others to be able to continue with it. I have not yet read them, though I've started The Fractured Dark and they're on my immediate list to read soon. They're fascinating and complex and addicting but also require a lot of brain power that I find hard to give when I'm working a lot. 


The third book I got this month was Heir by Sabaa Tahir. To my understanding, this is a spin-off/set in the same world as the Embers in the Ashes quartet which is one that I haven't finished but have really enjoyed so far. I forgot I'd preordered this so it was a really happy surprise when it showed up on my doorstep. And the physical book is absolutely stunning! Under the dust jacket is a gorgeous case and the cover itself and spine are stunning. I can't wait to put this on my future shelf next to the Ember series. I will wait to read it until I've finished that quartet but it is on my rather immediate list. 


Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren


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Tuesday, September 3, 2024

August 2024 Wrap-Up + Haul


Another month gone in 2024. What a month it was! Lots of great things happened, including a lot of financial wins and some exciting purchases as well as fun events and moments. In between everything happening in real life, I also read 12 books! I read a new series, reread a favorite series, and started another. I got a new favorite book in it all and everything I read was, at the very least, an enjoyable read. There wasn't anything too complex or full of depth, but with how my reading mood has been this year that's okay. 

1. 
Title: Belladonna
Author: Adalyn Grace
Rating: 4.25 // 5 stars
Review TK

2. 
Title: The Never King
Author: Nikki St. Crowe
Rating: 3.5 // 5 stars

3. 
Title: The Dark One
Author: Nikki St. Crowe
Rating: 3.5 // 5 stars

4.
Title: Their Vicious Darling
Author: Nikki St. Crowe
Rating: 3.5 // 5 stars

5.
Title: The Fae Princes
Author: Nikki St. Crowe
Rating: 3 // 5 stars

6.
Title: Just Drop Out
Author: J. Bree
Rating: 5 // 5 stars
-reread-

7. 
Title: Make Your Move
Author: J. Bree
Rating: 5 // 5 stars
-reread-

8. 
Title: Play the Game
Author: J. Bree
Rating: 5 // 5 stars
-reread-

9. 
Title: To the End
Author: J. Bree
Rating: 5 // 5 stars
-reread-

10. 
Title: Blood of Hercules
Author: Jasmine Mas
Rating: 5 // 5 stars
Review TK

11. 
Title: Psycho Shifters
Author: Jasmine Mas
Rating: 3.5 // 5 stars 

12. 
Title: Psycho Fae 
Author: Jasmine Mas
Rating: 3.5 // 5 stars


I hauled only three books this month. I feel like that's a pretty good number as it means I appreciate them more. I also got a lot of non-bookish items this month so, if anything, I feel like I've over-hauled this month in all areas. Of the three books I got, I bought one for myself on preorder and the other two were birthday presents. I'm excited about all of them!

Up first is Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer. This is the sequel to Assistant to the Villain, which I read last year and thoroughly enjoyed. To me, this book feels like the fantasy romance equivalent of a Hallmark movie. Addicting and fun, but not overly complex. The first book ended on a cliffhanger so I am very much anticipating diving into this sequel after I do a reread of the first. 

Then I got Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X Kendi. I had a copy of this that I sadly had to leave behind when I moved back from the UK. I knew I wanted to replace it though and continue reading it. I feel it's an important part of history that often gets toned down or completely erased. As an American and white person, I feel it's even more important to read and learn these things to be able to properly understand a lot of how the country and society has been impacted by this history.

Lastly, I got Broken Bonds by J. Bree. This is a book I've read multiple times but have not been able to get a physical copy of yet. I love this series and I want to slowly start getting the paperbacks to add to my bookshelves. My plan is to turn my bookshelves into a space where only my absolute favorite books get to live. And this series definitely deserves a spot. I can't wait to reread this one and give it a nice, thorough annotation while I do so. 


Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren


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Friday, July 12, 2024

Book Review: "The Throne of Honor and Blood" by J. Bree

Title: The Throne of Honor and Blood
Author: J. Bree
Series: "Mortal Fates" #2
Genre: NA Fantasy Romance
Page Length: 683 pages
Publication Date: May 19, 2024
Rating: 4 // 5 stars

The Throne of Honor and Blood was one of my most anticipated releases of the year. The first book, A Crown of Oaths and Curses, was in my top reads of 2023. I hadn't stopped thinking about it since I finished it and I was endlessly looking for updates on when the sequel would come. Finally, after a somewhat difficult release month for J. Bree, it finally arrived!

I read this book over the course of two days and I could barely put it down. I was so excited to be back with these characters and in this world. I absolutely could not stop thinking about it anytime I had to do something like work or eat food or brush my teeth. I was addicted.

That being said, I do feel some disappointment in this book as a follow-up to Oaths and Curses. The first book was such a strong, amazing story. While I loved this book, a lot of that comes from the fact that I already loved the characters after the first book and was just happy to be with them again. From the standpoint of personal enjoyment, this book was five stars to me. But, unfortunately, some of the issues with it were too much objectively for me to be able to rate it that.

What it really boils down to, for me, is that this feels like a very disjointed story akin to a first draft. I know that J. Bree did a re-edit for sensitivity reasons in the last couple months before it finally releases and, while I don't know what the original text was like, this did not feel like a fully edited book ready for release. I do believe that she might have been under stress from readers and put it out before she was ready. 

There were glaringly obvious mistakes like switching between first and third person multiple times in the same page. And then there were the plot turns that felt out of the blue and completely wrong for the story. Maybe the plot changed as she wrote, maybe not, but I do know that it often felt disjointed. 

I will say, despite issues with it, I still loved it. It's still a series I love. And my hope would be that J. Bree would take the time needed to write an absolutely stellar third book even if it takes longer to do so. She's one of my auto-buy authors and I did love this book, even though I have complicated feelings around some of the larger issues with it. 


Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren


You can follow my bookstagram here for more bookish content!

To get more awesome posts like this post, click the follow button to the right!


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Monday, June 3, 2024

May 2024 Wrap-Up + Book Haul


Well, May was a busy month. I worked 20 days straight and then had only a few days off sprinkled in. In light of that, I feel pretty accomplished with the number of books I got through. I read 8 books in May, though I ended up in a slump the last couple weeks of it so I potentially could have read even more. Still, an overall good reading month. I only hauled two books this month as well, so we're still on track for downsizing my book collection and saving money. But, without further ado, let's dive in! 

1. 
Title: Yellowface
Author: R.F. Kuang
Rating: 5 // 5 stars


2. 
Title: Pack Darling, Part One
Author: Lola Rock
Rating: 5 // 5 stars
-reread-

3. 
Title: Pack Darling, Part Two
Author: Lola Rock
Rating: 5 // 5 stars
-reread-

4. 
Title: Pucking Around
Author: Emily Rath
Rating: 3 // 5 stars

5. 
Title: The Scepter
Author: J. Bree
Rating: 5 // 5 stars
-reread-

6. 
Title: The Sword
Author: J. Bree
Rating: 4 // 5 stars
-reread-

7. 
Title: The Crown of Oaths and Curses
Author: J. Bree
Rating: 5 // 5 stars
-reread-

8. 
Title: The Throne of Honor and Blood
Author: J. Bree
Rating: 4 // 5 stars


The first of two books I got this month was Tourner by Jane Washington. This is the second book in her Ironside Academy series and one I absolutely adore. With the release of the fourth book at the end of May and the upcoming series cover change, I knew I wanted this book on my shelves. I love these covers and Tourner really is one of the more stunning ones in the series. Plus, the story is so much fun and very addicting. I'm just excited to have it and add the next two to my shelves later in the summer. 

Then I picked up the Stardew Valley Official Cookbook by ConcernedApe and Ryan Novak. I've become a huge Stardew Valley fan in the last six months and, being a huge foodie, I was so excited when this cookbook was announced. Cooking is a relatively big part of the game and having a lot of the recipes be represented in this cookbook to then get to try is a very fun prospect. I've had a couple cursory flip throughs so far but I'm pretty excited to dedicate some time soon to having a proper look. 


Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Lauren


You can follow my bookstagram here for more bookish content!

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