July 2016 Wrap Up

July was a pretty good reading month and while I did have my first DNF in over 3 years, I had numerous 4 and 5 paw reads so I guess it balanced out.  I would be lying though if I said that DNF still didn't bother me - it's just something that I rarely do. The challenges are going well and so far, summer COYER has been a blast and it has been a lot of fun reconnecting with some familiar bloggers and meeting some new ones.  On with the recap and update!

GOODREADS: 70/100
WHAT AN ANIMAL IX: 16/12 (finished)
CLOAK & DAGGER CHALLENGE: 15/20
HORROR READING CHALLENGE: 15/16
NEW RELEASE CHALLENGE: 46/30 (finished)
SUMMER COYER CHALLENGE: 13

So overall I read 10 books in July and 100 pages of the DNF one.  I had 2 3-paw reads, 5 4-paw reads and 3 5-paw reads.  I really read some great books this month and had a lot of fun doing so.  Guess that somewhat makes up for the DNF.  I'm getting really close to finishing my Cloak & Dagger Challenge and my Horror Reading Challenge and I'm pretty sure I'll finish those in August.  Hope everyone is staying on task and thanks for stopping by the farm!

Stacking the Shelves (74)

Stacking the Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves or TBR piles, may it be physical or virtual.  This means you can include books you buy in a physical store, online, books you borrow from the library or friends, review books, gifts and of course, ebooks! The original meme was started over at Tynga's Reviews.  Clicking on the book should take you to the Goodreads page. 

I hinted last week that I had won 2 Goodreads Giveaways which I was absolutely thrilled about and they have both arrived so now I can show them in all their glory.

Anyone who follows my blog knows I'm beyond ecstatic to have Moon Chosen in my hands and The Call sounds like a wonderful dystopian/horror.

I also grabbed a few books for my Kindle - they were either bought really cheap or were free.  I honestly don't remember which were which so double check before you one-click :)

I also had to return some books to the library this week and pick up a couple of holds (and then some) so here is my library haul.


I didn't really care for Outcast Vol 1 but since I've been watching the series on Cinemax, and since the library had it on their new release shelf, I figured I would give it another try.

So what did you guys add to your shelves this week?

Weekly Reads (07/29/16) - Well, At Least I Didn't Melt Yet!

So it was a hot, miserable week here at the farm.  We finally got some rain on Thursday, and although the temps drop, the humidity didn't so it still feels like a soup bowl.  I keep telling myself that come winter, I'll want some of this heat, but so far, I haven't convinced myself much.  The pups are surviving and love to crash in front of the AC but Booker T is more "pugged" than some boxers so when it's this hot, we have to be careful about him being outside for any length of time.

It wasn't a great movie week.  We finally watched "Allegiant" and I was really disappointed.  It was 2 hours long and I was ready for it to end about 30 minutes in.  Also, I thought it was the last one but I guess there is a final one planned for TV release (or for releases somewhere?) but this one ended well enough for me so for our family, the series is done.  We also watched "Queen of Spades: Dark Rite" which is a Russian horror movie and if you can deal with subtitles, it's a pretty good watch.  The folklore basically reminds me of Bloody Mary, but the effects were good and it was a dark and snowy movie which I enjoy.

However, did you hear????Netflix finally released the Gilmore Girls release date for the new shows - NOVEMBER 25th.  My husband thinks it's cruel to plan it for the day after Thanksgiving as that is when everyone should be watching football.  Also, he now thinks I will wrangle him into watching all 6 hours with me since it's 2 days after our wedding anniversary.  WHO NEEDS BLACK FRIDAY???? It will be Gilmore Girls Friday!!!

Don't really know what is on the agenda this weekend but here are the books I'm hoping to get to over the next week:

I'm about halfway through "The Smallest Evil" and all I can say is what a strange book. I also can't start "To Die Fur" until at least August 1st since it's part of my "Read a Series in a Month" challenge. 

 So what's on your agenda this week?????

Decender, Vol 1: Tin Stars

TITLE: Descender, Vol. 1: Tin Stars
AUTHOR: Jeff Lemire (writer), Dustin Nguyen (illustrator)
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PUBLISHING DATE: September 24, 2015

FROM GOODREADS: Young Robot boy TIM-21 and his companions struggle to stay alive in a universe where all androids have been outlawed and bounty hunters lurk on every planet. Written by award-winning creator, Jeff Lemire, Descender is a rip-roaring and heart-felt cosmic odyssey. Lemire pits humanity against machine, and world against world, to create a sprawling epic. Created by Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth, Trillium) and Dustin Nguyen's (Little Gotham) critically acclaimed, bestselling new science fiction series!

MY THOUGHTS: 
I am trying to read more science fiction this year because I believe it's a genre I would really enjoy if I gave it a chance so I thought Descender, Vol 1 was a great pick. I've seen this graphic novel get quite a bit of hype on Booktube and since my library had it, I basically had nothing to lose.

Descender tells the futuristic story where robots and droids are outlawed after the collapse of several planets/forces. Suddenly, a lone bot, Tim-21, awakens and sends a signal out from an deserted colony and the fun ensues from there. Government officials, scientists and bounty hunters are all after Tim-21 believing he holds the answer to an unsettling future. Along the way, Tin-21 meets some sidekicks such as Driller and Bandit, his droid dog, as well as the scientist who created him.

The artwork is really nice and at times, quite graphic. In addition, the story is also action-packed and full of twists and turns. I'm really excited to see where this graphic novel heads and will be greatly anticipating volume 2. If you like science fiction or just enjoy graphic novels in general, this is one definitely worth considering.  

RATING: 4 PAWS

BOOKER T'S THOUGHTS:  I have to comment on Bandit, the droid dog.  He seems really cute but man, he barks a lot. Also, I am not unsure why someone would chose to have a dog that doesn't cuddle and isn't warm but hey, to each his own.  Mom says she would not want to live in a futuristic land without real dogs and after reading this, I agree - I wouldn't want to live in a futuristic land without real people!

Waiting on Wednesday (66) - The Middle Grade Edition

"Waiting on" Wednesday" is weekly meme hosted over at Breaking the Spine which spotlights upcoming anticipated releases. This week Booker T has picked out a new middle grade book we discovered this past week or so.  He is in love with the cover (and he tends to have good taste).

January 17, 2017

FROM GOODREADS: A magical story full of humor and heart. Katherine Applegate, Newbery-winning author of "The One and Only Ivan."
For fans of "The Hero s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom" comes an offbeat, comedic spin on the Excalibur legend told from the point of view of a talking dog who wants to be a magician!
Meet Nosewise. He s spunky. He s curious. And he s a dog who can't understand why his pack mates Merlin and Morgana spend all day practicing magic tricks. If it s a trick they want, he's the dog to ask! He can already Sit!, Stay!, and Roll Over!
But there s no way Nosewise is Staying! when his master and best friend, Merlin, is kidnapped. There's nothing Nosewise won't do to get Merlin back, even if it means facing the strange Fae people and their magic-eating worms, or tangling with the mysterious Sword in the Stone. But it may take more than sniffing out a spell to do it!
Nosewise's hilarious escapades and steadfast loyalty get him and his companions through King Arthur's Dark Ages. ""The Wizard's Dog" casts a captivating spell as it carries readers on a quest of legendary proportions.

WHY I'M WAITING:  A magical, talking dog name Nosewise...King Arthur...hilarious escapades.  Sounds like just what I need in a middle grade from time to time.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR THIS WEEK?

 

It Happened One Doomsday - Who Knew the 4 Horseman Could Drive Cars!

TITLE: It Happened One Doomsday (Dru Jasper #1)
AUTHOR: Laurence MacNaughton
PUBLISHER: Pyr
PUBLISHING DATE: July 12, 2016

FROM GOODREADS: Magic is real. Only a handful of natural-born sorcerers can wield its arcane power against demons, foul creatures, and the forces of darkness. These protectors of the powerless are descendants of an elite order. The best magic-users in the world.

Unfortunately, Dru isn’t one of them.

Sure, she’s got a smidge of magical potential. She can use crystals to see enchantments or brew up an occasional potion. And she can research practically anything in the library of dusty leather-bound tomes she keeps stacked in the back of her little store. There, sandwiched between a pawn shop and a 24-hour liquor mart, she sells enough crystals, incense, and magic charms to scrape by. But everything changes the day a handsome mechanic pulls up in a possessed black muscle car, his eyes glowing red.

Just being near Greyson raises Dru’s magical powers to dizzying heights. But he’s been cursed to transform into a demonic creature that could bring about the end of the world.

Then she discovers that the Harbingers, seven fallen sorcerers, want to wipe the planet clean of humans and install themselves as new lords of an unfettered magical realm. And when they unearth the Apocalypse Scroll, the possibility of a fiery cosmic do-over suddenly becomes very real.

There’s only one chance to break Greyson’s curse and save the world from a fiery Doomsday – and it’s about to fall into Dru’s magically inexperienced hands...

MY THOUGHTS: 
This book was so much fun and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. Dru Jasper runs a crystal shop where she helps people solve problems with magic. She has never considered herself a sorceress like her mother, but instead sees herself as a geek who dabbles in magic and longs for normalcy. That's until Greyson walks into her store and into her life. Once they meet, sparks fly, literally and figuratively. Greyson is turning into a demon and has no idea why, not to mention that the previously week he had no idea magic existed. Dru and her friends, Opal and Rane, set out to help Greyson and basically save the world as they learn that he is quickly morphing into one of the 4 horses of the apocalypse.

While I actually feel this is a "light" urban fantasy book, I enjoyed it nonetheless. I have to give MacNaughton credit for his premise of the 4 horses taking earth by storm in the form of demons driving muscle cars. It's such an awesome concept and as the child one a once-upon-a-time drag racer, I probably don't have to say that muscle cars and fast rides excite me. I also really love MacNaughton's characters, especially Dru's best friend Rane. Rane has the ability to morph into whatever geological substance she is in contact with, which definitely helps in the battle against demons. She and Dru have a tenuous relationship at times, but the reader can tell they are really close and always have each other's back. There is sort of a love triangle in this book, and I really just want Dru to wake up and see what a jerk Nate is, but I have a feeling that's a story for a different book.

If you like urban fantasy which is light on the grit, but want to read an interesting new take on the 4 horses of the apocalypse, then you need to pick up this book. It's a whole lot of fun and a promising start to a new series.  

RATING: 4 PAWS

 

TTT - Top 10 Books That Made Me Want to Learn More About Being a Witch

This top 10 weekly meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish and can be found HERE.  Each week they focus on lists which cover various topics related to books and reading. 






OK...so I really don't want to be a witch.  And if I did, it would be a good witch (probably) except maybe on a rare occasion or two.  But I was having difficulty with today's topic and wanted to do something fun so here it goes!

Figi seems like the funnest witch ever.  This is a great series and please don't let the Sookie Stackhouse books keep you from giving it a chance.

One of my first experience with witches.  These were truly spooky and terrifying to me.

This whole series is under read and under appreciated if you ask me.  Dark witches always make for interesting adventures.

Carly is a good witch in a small town - one of my favorite elements.  Blake writes a lot of cozies centering around witches and I have enjoyed all of them I've read.

Garnet Lacy is another fun witch who deals with all sorts of supernatural creatures.  This series is a fun read.

Classic witches - this contains some of my favorite witches ever. 

Who doesn't love Rachel Morgan.  I witch with a golden heart and a bunch of bad ass associates.

People either seem to love or hate this series but I found the witches in it at least interesting enough to read about.

Chloe Hobbs is a witch in a small town who owns a yard shop.  I hardly ever hear anything about this series but if you like witches or cozy mysteries,  you should give it a chance.

Jennifer Harlow writes some great books - and a lot of them feature witches.

So I know this subject matter was probably a stretch, but hopefully I've introduced you to some lesser known books.  Thanks for stopping by!

Riverkeep - I Just Couldn't Finish

TITLE: Riverkeep
AUTHOR: Martin Stewart
PUBLISHER: Viking
PUBLISHING DATE: July 26, 2016

FROM GOODREADS: The Danék is a wild, treacherous river, and the Fobisher family has tended it for generations—clearing it of ice and weed, making sure boats can get through, and fishing corpses from its bleak depths. Wulliam’s father, the current Riverkeep, is proud of this work. Wull dreads it. And in one week, when he comes of age, he will have to take over.
Then the unthinkable happens. While recovering a drowned man, Wull’s father is pulled under—and when he emerges, he is no longer himself. A dark spirit possesses him, devouring him from the inside. In an instant, Wull is Riverkeep. And he must care for his father, too.
When he hears that a cure for his father lurks in the belly of a great sea-dwelling beast known as the mormorach, he embarks on an epic journey down the river that his family has so long protected—but never explored. Along the way, he faces death in any number of ways, meets people and creatures touched by magic and madness and alchemy, and finds courage he never knew he possessed.

MY THOUGHTS: As I mentioned earlier, I have decided that I am not able to finish reading Riverkeep. I gave the book 100 pages and almost the entire time reading it, all I could think of was other things which I wanted to read. I adore the cover of this book and it sounded like an awesome premise to me. However, I just couldn't lose myself in this book like I wanted to.

Riverkeep tells the story of Wulliam, who is set to inherit the job of Riverkeep upon his 16th birthday in a week or so. The job entails keeping the river flowing in the horribly cold weather and removing the dead when they are found. Wulliam does not want the job, but is forced to start early when his father is taken by the river late one evening, only to return a few hours later as a very different person. Add in a few sea legends and some monsters and it sounds like a great book, and I am sure there will be many out there who will like it.

There were just too many issues for me. I found the book to be long-winded and boring. There is a specific dialect used with the writing and I was just not focused enough to catch on or even care. I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters and although I have it 100 pages, when I decided to quit, there was still over 300 pages still waiting and I just couldn't bear to go on.

I rarely DNF a book. I think this is the third since 2011. It is not a decision I take lightly and even after it was made, and I moved on to another book which I am thrilled to say I am really liking, I still feel bad. I will never know what happened to Wulliam and his father, or if the sea monster was caught or killed. I will just have to live with that though because there is no going back for me. I am not providing a rating for Riverkeep because I think it would be unfair. I do believe it holds an interesting story for some and hope others find it interesting and intriguing. This was just the wrong book for me.

I received Riverkeep from the Penguin First to Read program in exchange for an honest review.

RATING: DNF at 100 pages.

Stacking the Shelves (73)

Stacking the Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves or TBR piles, may it be physical or virtual.  This means you can include books you buy in a physical store, online, books you borrow from the library or friends, review books, gifts and of course, ebooks! The original meme was started over at Tynga's Reviews.  Clicking on the book should take you to the Goodreads page. 

A few weeks ago I placed an order for a few books from Book Depository and I think they were all shipped separately so they have been trickling in over the past week or so.  Here's the physical copies I snagged:





I also received a few galleys which I am excited about:


Tammy from Books, Bones & Buffy sent me the following book. Thanks Tammy and if you aren't checking her blog on a regular basis, you should be.

And Laura Daleo sent me the latest in her series.  I read "Immortal Kiss" last year and found it to be really enjoyable so I was glad she contacted me about its sequel.

So what did you add to your shelves this week??? Have you read any of these???