Quick edit: I just learned of some changes to the Let’s Talk Bookish weekly meme so I’m now updating this introduction session. Since April 2022, Rukky @Eternity Books will no longer host LTB and instead, Aria @ Book Nook Bits will be its new host—congratulations, Aria! 🎉 With the change, there are also four brand new headers, so be sure to check out Aria’s announcement post + May 2022 prompts! The April 2022 prompts are still listed on Rukky’s page.
Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme where we get to discuss certain topics, share our opinions, and spread the love by visiting each other’s posts!
Now without further ado… The topic asks us about:
EATING & READING: YEA OR NAY?
(SUGGESTED BY FIVES @ DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE) Prompts:Do you ever (carefully) eat and read at the same time? Or are your books too precious to possibly get dirty? Perhaps eating and an audiobook? Do any books ever make you hungry? Is there a time and place for a nice snack or meal with a good book, or should books be focused on independently?
I’m excited to be shining a spotlight on The Tiltersmith by Amy Herrick today! This middle-grade story combines science and folklore to spin a page-turning, action-packed story of friendship, love, teamwork, and environmental stewardship. It sounds like a pretty unique read and certainly like nothing that I’ve read before especially for this age range, and I’m excited to read it at some point! Plus, how great is this cover?!
Myths and monsters collide with climate chaos in a thrilling fantasy adventure
“Vacillating between scientific reasoning and lore from worldwide cultures, the descriptions of beautiful legends of seasons and the sobering study of climate change are so rich.”—Kirkus Reviews
Special thanks to Algonquin Young Readers for having me on tour and for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Goodreads: The Tiltersmith Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers Publication Date: 06 April 2022 Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Spring has arrived in Brooklyn, New York, but winter refuses to let go. Sleet, snow, and even a tornado batter the city. Mr. Ross, the science teacher, believes climate change is the cause, but classmates Edward, Feenix, Danton, and Brigit suspect older, magical forces are at work. When a peculiar character calling himself Superintendent Tiltersmith appears with a keen interest in the foursome, their suspicions are confirmed, and they’re swept up in a battle of wits and courage.
The friends must protect a set of mysterious tools belonging to the Lady of Spring. If they can free her from her underground prison, winter will end. But if the Tiltersmith steals the tools, he will keep the Lady in his power and upset the balance of nature forever.
Perfect for readers of Madeleine L’Engle and Susan Cooper, The Tiltersmith returns to the world of Amy Herrick’s acclaimed Time Fetch in a timely, exciting stand-alone adventure.
I knocked up my best friend’s sister. Figured I would get straight to the point because how it happened is a mere snippet of the story I have to tell. The real meat and potatoes is what happened after.
Let’s start with how she decided to inform me and Pacey the news…together. Imagine that nightmare. I was going into what I thought was a hockey marketing meeting and then BAM! I’m going to be a dad and my best friend/teammate is attempting to imprint my face with his fist. It wasn’t pretty.
Threats were tossed around, friendships were revoked, and then I was marched up to her apartment, suitcases in hand, and forced to live with her so I could take care of her every need. Given how much I’ve pined for the girl, you would think that wouldn’t be a hardship. Wrong.
This is my one shot to win my teammate back. Pacey is the only family I’ve got, so hooking up with his sister isn’t a mistake I can make twice…despite the fact that she’s pregnant with my child. But with every mood swing, every pair of pants that doesn’t fit right, and every late night run to find the perfect donut, I’m finding it harder and harder not to fall for my best friend’s little sister. Especially when she kisses me…
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Hello, friends! It’s my stop on the TBR & Beyond Tours for Heartbreak Symphony by Laekan Zea Kemp and I’m excited to share my review and journal spread with you today!
Thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
Click here or on the banner above to check out the rest of the amazing bloggers on tour!
Goodreads:Heartbreak Symphony Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Publication Date: 05 April 2022 Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Panda Rating: (4.5 pandas)
Clap When You Land meets On the Come Up in this heart-gripping story about navigating first love and overcoming grief through the power of music.
Aarón Medrano has been haunted by the onstage persona of his favorite musician ever since his mother passed away. He seems to know all of Aarón’s deepest fears, like that his brain doesn’t work the way it should and that’s why his brother and father seems to be pushing him away. He thinks his ticket out is a scholarship to the prestigious Acadia School of Music. That is, if he can avoid blowing his audition.
Mia Villanueva has a haunting of her own and it’s the only family heirloom her parents left her: doubt. It’s the reason she can’t overcome her stage fright or believe that her music is worth making. Even though her trumpet teacher tells her she has a gift, she’s not sure if she’ll ever figure out how to use it or if she’s even deserving of it in the first place.
When Aarón and Mia cross paths, Aarón sees a chance to get close to the girl he’s had a crush on for years and to finally feel connected to someone since losing his mother. Mia sees a chance to hold herself accountable by making them both face their fears, and hopefully make their dreams come true. But soon they’ll realize there’s something much scarier than getting up on stage—falling in love with a broken heart.
Hello, hello and welcome back to another episode of WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be answering these questions:
What did you read last?
What are you currently reading?
What will you read next?
Since last week I’ve managed to read five books. March has ended on a high note and I’m hoping that means that April’s gonna be a great month for reading!
Kiss and Don’t Tell (The Vancouver Agitators #1) by Meghan Quinn ★★★★½ I don’t know what took me so long to read this one but I’m glad that I finally did because this was so good and this series is looking like it’s gonna be a favourite of mine! The banter, the chemistry, THE STEAM! 🥵 Wowow, so freaking good!
(ARC) Those Three Little Words (The Vancouver Agitators #2) by Meghan Quinn ★★★★½ This was slightly angstier than the first book but no less delicious when it came to everything I love in a romance. I wasn’t wrong when I said this series is becoming a favourite… I already can’t wait for the next one. This book is out now (and on KU btw) and my review will go up on Friday! 😉
This week isactually a freebie and so I decided to do a topic that I don’t think I’ve done before: Kindle Unlimited Books That I Want to Read (ASAP)!
I know this is a pretty specific topic as not everyone has Kindle Unlimited or likes using Amazon but I love KU. As an international reader, it gives me access to so many books that I wouldn’t have even heard of otherwise and all 20 slots in my library are always full! I primarily read romances on KU and that’s what I thought I’d focus on BUT there are so many other amazing titles I can’t wait to read as well, so today I’m coming at you with a list of 20 Kindle Unlimited books that I can’t wait to read (woo, rebel me)! I have Amazon UK so this list might differ for other Amazon locations but I hope they’re available to all readers too!
Hello, friends! It’s my stop on the TBR & Beyond Tours for This Rebel Heart by Katherine Locke and I’m excited to share my review and favourite quotes with you today.
Special thanks to Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
Click here or on the banner above to check out the rest of the amazing bloggers on tour!
Goodreads:This Rebel Heart Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers Publication Date: 05 April 2022 Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction, Magical Realism
Panda Rating: (4.5 pandas)
A tale set amid the 1956 Hungarian revolution in post-WWII Communist Budapest.
In the middle of Budapest, there is a river. Csilla knows the river is magic. During WWII, the river kept her family safe when they needed it most–safe from the Holocaust. But that was before the Communists seized power. Before her parents were murdered by the Soviet police. Before Csilla knew things about her father’s legacy that she wishes she could forget.
Now Csilla keeps her head down, planning her escape from this country that has never loved her the way she loves it. But her carefully laid plans fall to pieces when her parents are unexpectedly, publicly exonerated. As the protests in other countries spur talk of a larger revolution in Hungary, Csilla must decide if she believes in the promise and magic of her deeply flawed country enough to risk her life to help save it, or if she should let it burn to the ground.
How has another month already come and gone?! March was… something. Half the month passed by too quickly and the other half could’ve passed faster. A good chunk of the month saw me drowning in work stress + insomnia but there were some good times to counter the not-so-fun moments!
I got exciting book mail from Goldsboro and Illumicrate!
My parents had their wedding anniversary on the 21st and it was dad’s birthday on the 30th!
It was a pretty great foodie-licious month with ramen, biryani and decadent melt-in-your-mouth cookies!
It’s finally April which means that classes are now officially in session! What exactly am I on about? The Magical Readathon: Orilium Spring Equinox 2022, of course! Still confused? Check out this video below. The Magical Readathon is hosted byG @ Book Roast who has done an exceptional job preparing all the materials for us—it’s honestly stunning and sets the fantastical vibes of this readathon up so well! If you’re looking for a fun, unique and immersive readathon to join, you don’t need to look any further. This is it! 😍
Last year, I participated in The Novice Path which helped me kickstart the journey to Orilium which was followed up by a mini-readathon last week to “gear up” for classes starting from 01-30 April. Before diving into my classes, prompts and possibility pile, here’s a little character background:
Character BACKGROUND:
Name: Meeska
Guild: House of the Arcane
Calling: Illusionist Rogue
Background: Urban
Province: Kerador
Heritage: Earthling (Fire)
Orilium Spring Equinox Class Prompts+Possibility Pile
It was a little tough to choose a calling because there are so many fantastic options but with a little bit of help, I settled on Illusionist Rogue. I mean, how cool does this sound?
“Illusionist rogues are a mystery in many ways, but one thing about them is certain: reality bends to their will.”
To fulfil my calling I luckily only need to take three classes this Spring Equinox: Shapeshifting, Art of Illusion, and Psionics & Divination. There are little extras that we can choose to do, allowing us to earn points for our guild and guild tier ranking, but those extras will be announced via Twitter and Discord and will be more like “limited time/first come first serve” offers.
I’m terrible with TBRs but I’ll be buddy reading one book so that prompt is set but for the other two, I’m not quite sure what I’ll end up reading so I thought I’d share a list of possibilities. Who knows, if you need recommendations, some of these might work for you as well!
*covers linked to Goodreads*
SHAPESHIFTING: CREATURE WITH CLAWS ON THE COVER
I struggled the most with this prompt as it turns out I don’t have many books that have creatures with claws on the cover? 😂 I’m technically buddy reading The Dream Thieves with Leslie this month but any of these options could work too. If you have other suggestions, let me know!
ART OF ILLUSION: BOOK WITH A TROPE YOU LIKE
This is by far the easiest cos I love so many tropes. I’ll be buddy reading My Mechanical Romance with Leslie & Julie, which is the rivals to lovers trope. The others listed here have fake dating, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers/hate to love and found family!
PSIONICS & DIVINATION: BOOK SET IN THE FUTURE
I couldn’t come up with many books on my TBR for this and I’m kinda playing it loose with some of these “future” picks but I’m liking this list! 😂 I’m always open to more suggestions though if anyone has any!
Are you joining the Magical Readathon as well? What’s your calling? Anyone else pursuing the Illusionist Rogue calling or part of House Arcane? If anyone has recommendations, needs recommendations or wants to buddy read anything, let me know! I’d be more than happy to do one 😃
Hello, friends! Today is my stop on the TBR & Beyond Tours for A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin, one of my most anticipated releases this year! I’m excited to share my (slightly rambling) review and a journal spread with you and I hope you enjoy this post! 🍵
Special thanks to Judy I. Lin and Feiwel and Friends for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Click here or on the banner above to check out the rest of the amazing bloggers on tour!
Judy I. Lin’s sweeping debut A Magic Steeped in Poison, first in a duology, is sure to enchant fans of Adrienne Young and Leigh Bardugo. I used to look at my hands with pride. Now all I can think is, “These are the hands that buried my mother.”
For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it’s her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.
When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom’s greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning’s only chance to save her sister’s life.
But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.
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