Month In Review: October 2018

October seems to have blown by really fast! And yet I managed to have a GREAT reading month! Maybe having such a dismal reading month in September really helped turned things around for me. I read 11 books this past month, including one that I decided not to finish. Not only did I read 11 books, but I read well over 3,000 pages and I’m only three books away from completing my Goodreads goal of reading 100 books this year. And what might be even more amazing to me is that I finished every single book that I had on my October TBR! That has NEVER happened! I’m such a mood reader that it is hard for me to pick books for a whole month and then stick to those choices. But I guess I picked out a great stack this past month. Either that or I was just in a super Halloweeny mood the whole month!

One book that was a little bittersweet to read was Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor. It was absolutely amazing, everything I wanted and more in the finale of the Strange the Dreamer duology…. But that’s it, no more to the story so that made me pretty sad about finishing it. Definitely my favorite book of the month, and of 2018 so far! With the pushback on publication of the Nevernight trilogy finale, Muse of Nightmares was my most anticipated book of 2018. So, so happy that it lived up to my expectations.

October 2018 Books Read: 11 (including 1 DNF)

Total 2018 Books Read: 97 (including 5 DNF)

October 2018 Pages Read: 3,289 (not including DNF)

Total 2018 Pages Read: 31,044 (not including DNFs)

• There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins
• City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
• Pet Sematary by Stephen King
• Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
• And the Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich
• Saga vol. 8
• Saga vol. 9
• Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
• An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
• Hocus Pocus & the All-New Sequel by A.W. Jantha
• Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor

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What books did you read in October?

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Night of Cake and Puppets by Laini Taylor

Night of Cake and Puppets by Laini Taylor, illustrated by Jim Di Bartolo

Expected publication: September 12th 2017 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

256 Pages

Goodreads Summary: In this stand-alone companion to the New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone series comes the story of Mik and Zuzana’s fantastical first date—as a gorgeously illustrated gift edition with bonus content included.

Petite though she may be, Zuzana is not known for timidity. Her best friend, Karou, calls her “rabid fairy,” her “voodoo eyes” are said to freeze blood, and even her older brother fears her wrath. But when it comes to the simple matter of talking to Mik, or “Violin Boy,” her courage deserts her. Now, enough is enough. Zuzana is determined to make the first move, and she has a fistful of magic and a plan. It’s a wonderfully elaborate treasure hunt of a plan that will take Mik all over Prague on a cold winter’s night before leading him to the treasure: herself! Violin Boy is not going to know what hit him.

New York Times bestselling author Laini Taylor brings to life a night only hinted at in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy—the magical first date of fan-favorites Zuzana and Mik. Originally published as an ebook, this new print edition will include breathtaking black and white illustrations, plus bonus content in a gorgeous package perfect for new and current fans of the series.

Review: Earlier this year, Strange the Dreamer was my first experience with Laini Taylor’s words.  I instantly fell in love with her writing.  So I was really eager to get into her previous series, Daughter of Smoke and Bone.  When I read Daughter of Smoke and Bone, I really loved Zuzana’s character.   She was so spunky and had a great sense of humor.  Her friendship with Karou reminded me a lot of my own friendship with one of my best friends.  When I heard about Night of Cake and Puppets I was so excited to be able to read about how Zuzana and Mik come together because, let’s face it, they’re absolutely adorable.  I’m a big sucker for romance and big romantic gestures so this seemed like it was going to be a really great read. Plus there is just something special about having Laini and her husband, illustrator Jim Di Bartolo, teaming up to take this book to the next level.  I read this ARC in a few hours because I could not put it down!  The first section is from Zuzana’s POV and it totally took me back to those times when I had a huge thing for a guy and wasn’t sure how to approach that.  I also really loved the little flashback stories of when Zuzana and Karou first became friends. One of the things I really love about Laini Taylor’s writing is that it is so visually descriptive without overdoing it so it is really easy to visualize the scenes in your head.  I’ve dreamed of going to Prague for years and with her help, I feel almost as if I have been there.  When it got to the section from Mik’s POV, I couldn’t help but swoon.  This story was everything I hoped it would be and more.  The illustrations that were included in the ARC were absolutely incredible so I can’t wait to see how they look in the final copies!

5 Stars

I received a copy of this from The Novl in exchange for an honest review.

Reading Update

Hey everyone! It’s been awhile since my last post so I thought I would just check in now that things are starting to die down again in my personal life.  We moved out of our townhouse and officially listed it for sale a week ago today.  It’s been a crazy couple of weeks but I finally started having time to read again this week.  I was so happy to receive an ARC of Night of Cake & Puppets by Laini Taylor in the mail last week from The Novl! I jumped up and down with joy.  So I’m currently reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone to prepare to read it.  After I finish DoSaB, I will move on to Days of Blood and Starlight.  When that is finished I will pick up the ARC.  I’ve flipped through it and the illustrations that made it into the ARC are fantastic!  I’ve already preordered my finished copy so I can’t wait to see the rest of the illustrations.

I am also still continuing my re-read of the Outlander series.  I had to put it down for a couple weeks but started reading it again last night.  I’ve missed these characters and story so much.  It’s been almost three years since I first fell in love with this series.  Going back and reading it again reminds me of all of the differences between the book and the tv adaptation.  Not bad differences though… I love the adaptation as well.

I am also currently listening to an audiobook of a non-fiction history book that I read years ago.  It is called The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir.  I love Tudor history, especially about Henry VIII and his wives.  Alison Weir is probably my favorite non-fiction author who writes about Tudor history.  The narrator has a very soothing voice similar to Jim Dale who is one of my favorite narrators.

What have you been reading lately?

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Published March 28th 2017 by Hodder & Stoughton

536 Pages

Goodreads Summary: The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?

The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?

Welcome to Weep.

Review: Oh my gods… I was completely blown away by this book! I had a feeling when it came out that I would end up loving this book but I had no idea that it would become one of my new favorite books! I’m talking top 5 here people!  It was that good!  The writing is absolutely magical and so visual. I adored Lazlo Strange from the beginning. A quirky oddball who is also a great lover of books. Definitely can’t go wrong there.  Enter Sarai and I have a new ship to root for.  So many feels in this book, especially towards the end!  I was literally bouncing around in my chair because I was so nervous about what was happening.  Absolutely one of the most stunning books I have ever read. I can’t wait to read this book again, and again, and again… and I’ve only just finished it.  Officially obsessed.

5 Stars