Mid Year Book Freak Out Tag | 2019 edition

Hi booklovers

Since we've passed the midway point of the year, I thought it'd be fun to do this tag. 

This tag was originally created by Chami (ReadLikeWildfire) and Earl Grey Books. I read about it on Nadine's blog.

Best book you've read so far in 2019.

I'm going to cheat a bit for this one, because there are already a couple of books that will make it to my best books of 2019 list at the end of the year.

Days of Blood and Starlight

Dreams of Gods and Monsters

The Mad Ship

Ship of Destiny

Nevernight

(Even though this is a reread, I'm still including it.)

Best sequel you've read so far in 2019.

Besides Days of Blood and Starlight and The Mad Ship, this one:

The Risk

New release you haven't read, but want to.

Even though I've been a bit disappointed with my rereads of Caraval and Legendary, I still want to read Finale. I'm just not sure when yet.

Most anticipated releases for the second half of the year.

Darkdawn

The Toll

Starsight

Biggest disappointment.

The Dream Thieves

I originally started this back in October 2018, but I couldn't get into it, so I put it down. I gave it another try in March, but after a couple of chapters I decided to DNF it because it just wasn't the story for me.

I've also been disappointed in my rereads of Caraval and Legendary, I enjoyed them more the first time around.

Biggest surprise.

One Word Kill

I'd only read one book by Mark Lawrence, Prince of Thorns (I'just the second book in the trilogy, King of Thorns). So I was unsure of what to expect with this one, since it is a YA sci-fi story. I listened to it on audio and I was pleasantly surprised. Being an 80s kid myself, I found the atmosphere and the setting to be really cool.

Favourite new author (debut or new to you).

Brent Weeks. I'm very curious to continue with his Lightbringer series and to start his Night Angel trilogy.

Newest fictional crush.

Bancroft Mills from Shacking Up by Helena Hunting.

Newest favourite character.

Malta Vestrit from The Mad Ship and Ship of Destiny (I didn't like her in Ship of Magic) by Robin Hobb.

Waxillian and Wayne from The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson.

Book that made you cry.

Charade

Book that made you happy.

Shacking Up by Helena Hunting.

Most beautiful book you've bought (or received) this year.

Fool's Errand

What books do you need to read before the end of the year?

 The Handmaid's Tale

 Emperor of Thorns

 The Blinding Knife

 Red Rising

 Leviathan Wakes

 Senlin Ascends

Kings of the Wyld

Malice

These are a few of the books I would like to read before the end of the year.

I also have a couple of rereads I need to do before the next one comes out.

 Godsgrave

Scythe

Thunderhead

This is what my reading year so far looks like. Here's to a second half of the reading year that's just as good as the first half.

Bye for now

Annelies

Beat the Backlist - reading challenge (April) check-in.

Hi booklovers

At the beginning of the year I committed myself to reading 24 books that were published before 2019.

Since it's already April, I thought it was time for a check-in.

It was actually going pretty well so I decided to up the amount of books I want to read from 24 to 30 (and I'm still 10 books ahead of schedule). Funny thing is my total GR goal for this year is 30. I'm not going to up that amount.

Out of the books I put on my Beat the Backlist TBR, let's see how many I've actually read:

*The Blade Itself - Joe Abercrombie

*The Hazelwood - Melissa Albert

*The Cruel Prince - Holly Black

*Three Dark Crowns - Kendare Blake

*The Painted Man - Peter V. Brett

*The Furies of Calderon - Jim Butcher

*The Red Knight - Miles Cameron

*Priestess of the White - Trudi Canavan

*Spellwright - Blake Charlton

*The Last Namsara - Kristen Ciccarelli

*Spellslinger - Sebastien de Castell (I'm currently reading this one)

*Knight's Shadow - Sebastien de Castell

*Even the Darkest Star - Heather Fawcett

*Malice - John Gwynne

*The Mad Ship - Robin Hobb

*King of Thorns - Mark Lawrence

*Clariel - Garth Nix

*The Colour of Magic - Terry Pratchett

*The Alloy of Law - Brandon Sanderson

*Warbreaker - Brandon Sanderson

*The Way of Kings (pt 1) - Brandon Sanderson

*The Crown Tower - Michael J. Sullivan

*The Way of Shadows - Brent Weeks

Which backlist books have I read instead? These are in reading order.

*Alphas Like Us - Krista & Becca Ritchie
*Unravel Me - Tahereh Mafi
*Days of Blood and Starlight - Laini Taylor
*Saga volume 9 - Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples
*The Mad Ship - Robin Hobb
*Fracture Me - Tahereh Mafi
*Sleeping Giants - Sylvain Neuvel
*Waking Gods - Sylvain Neuvel
*The Redemption of Callie and Kayden - Jessica Sorensen
*Dreams of Gods and Monsters - Laini Taylor
*Girls: conception - The Luna Brothers
*Gils: emergence - The Luna Brothers
*Ignite Me - Tahereh Mafi
*Only Human - Sylvain Neuvel
*Restore Me - Tahereh Mafi
*The Destiny of Violet & Luke - Jessica Sorensen
*Paper Girls - Brian K. Vaughan
*The Great Hunt - Wendy Higgins

Have I lowered my physical TBR? Nope, simply because I've been buying books, reading e-books, rereading books and listening to audiobooks :-s

I'm going to continue focusing on reading backlist books from my physical TBR. At the same time there are some series I want to continue, but I still need to get the next book(s).

I'll be checking in with this challenge again in July.

Have you been able to reduce your (physical) TBR yet this year?

Are there any books on my TBR you think I should get to first? Let me know in the comments.

Bye for now

Annelies

Book Haul Dec. '18 - Jan. - March '19.

Hi booklovers

Let's take a look at the books I bought during the last couple of months.

At the very end of December I went bookshopping with a friend and we went to Waterstones Brussels and Sterling Books.

Here are the books that I got there:

Half a King by Joe Abercrombie

La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey

The Black Prism by Brent Weeks

Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft

In January I bought only one book: Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody. I bought this secondhand from someone I follow on IG.

I didn't buy any books in February, but I did buy some in March:

Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb

Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor (which I've already read.)

The His Dark Materials box set by Philip Pullman. (Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass) I've read these about 15 years ago for my dissertation, but the copies I had didn't match. Plus, I also found out that the first one was the American edition, which is apparently censored. So I wanted to get the matching UK editions and I have to say, they look stunning.

Which books did you get over the last couple of months? Let me know in the comments.

Bye for now

Annelies

Anticipated releases April - June 2019.

Hi booklovers

Just like at the beginning of the year I'm going to take a look at the books I'm looking forward to in the months of April, May and June.

April

*2nd: Defy Me by Tahereh Mafi

I read Restore Me(#4) and Shadow Me(#4.5) for the O.W.L.s magical readathon and I'm curious to see how the story will continue.

May

*1st: One Word Kill by Mark Lawrence

This premise sounds really intriguing.

*7th: Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

I already know that these two write awesome space stories. Hopefully this one will be up there with the Illuminae Files.

*9th: Finale by Stephanie Garber

Very excited to see how the story ends. I might do a reread of the first two before reading this one. I'm going to preorder the hardcover edition so it has the secret cover like the other two.

June

*11th: Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I remember really enjoying The Dark Elements trilogy by Armentrout. This is apparently a spin-off series so I'm going to give the first book a go.

Are any of these books on your anticipated releases lists as well or are there other books you are excited about? Let me know in the comments.

Bye for now

Annelies

Jan - Feb - March '19 wrap-up.

Hi booklovers

I just realised that I haven't posted any monthly wrap-ups this year.

So, today, I'm going to combine the January, February and March wrap-up.

* = Beat the Backlist reading challenge book

January

1) Lovers Like Us* - Becca and Krista Ritchie - 4 stars

2) Alphas Like Us* - Becca and Krista Ritchie - 4 stars

3) The Eye of the World* - Robert Jordan - 4 stars

4) Unravel Me* - Tahereh Mafi - 3 stars

5) In An Absent Dream - Seanan McGuire - 5 stars

6) Tangled Like Us - Becca and Krista Ritchie - 4 stars

7) Days of Blood and Starlight* - Laini Taylor - 5 stars

8) Saga Volume 9* - Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples - 5 stars

February

9) The Mad Ship* - Robin Hobb - 5 stars

10) Fracture Me* - Tahereh Mafi - 3.5 stars

11) Sleeping Giants* - Sylvain Neuvel - 4 stars

12) Waking Gods* - Sylvain Neuvel - 4 stars

March

13) The Redemption of Callie and Kayden* - Jessica Sorensen - 4.5 stars

14) The Risk - Elle Kennedy - 4.5 stars

15) Dreams of Gods and Monsters* - Laini Taylor - 5 stars

16) Girls: Conception* - the Luna brothers - 4 stars

17) Girls: Emergence* - the Luna brothers - 4 stars

18) Ignite Me* - Tahereh Mafi - 3.5 stars

I can honestly say that I've had three great reading months so far and I hope it will continue to be a great reading year.

How has your reading been so far? Let me know in the comments.

Bye for now

Annelies

Anticipated releases Jan. - March 2019.

Hi booklovers

Even though I'm going to be focusing on reading my backlist books this year, there are still some new releases I'm really looking forward to.

Let's take a look at the first three months of the year.



January

*8th: In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire

I actually pre-ordered the audiobook.

*17th: Tangled Like Us - Krista and Becca Ritchie

These kinds of covers aren't my favourite ones, that's why I only read NA on my e-reader :-)

*29th: King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

I can't wait to be back in the Grisha Universe.

February
*5th: Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers

I really loved the His Fair Assassin trilogy and I'm very excited for this spin-off duology. And look at that stunning cover.

*18th: The Risk by Elle Kennedy

March
*5th: Wild Country by Anne Bishop

I didn't enjoy the first book in the spin-off series of The Others as much as I did the original series, but I still enjoyed it enough to want to continue with it.

*5th: Shadow Me by Tahereh Mafi

Even though I still need to read Restore Me (I'm rereading the first three books) I'm very curious about this novella from Kenji's POV. (I just hope it's not a disappointment like ACOFAS was.)


*Peace and Turmoil by Elliot Brooks

I received an e-arc from the author in exchange for an honest review and I'm very much looking forward to reading this. You can check out her channel here.

Are any of these books on your anticipated releases lists as well or are there other books you are excited about? Let me know in the comments.

Bye for now

Annelies