Dewey's 24 hour ReadaThon Master Post

The time has come!  Dewey's is officially upon us.  That means that despite having the day off I'm still hearing my alarm go off at 5am!! Soon, but never soon enough, there will be coffee and cinnamon rolls! Huzzah! Today marks my fourth year of participating in Dewey's 24-hour Readathon, and the third year I've had the whole day to give to reading.  I cannot thank my job enough for letting my rearrange my schedule to have all day! I can't wait to see what everyone is going to pick up from their TBR's today, and I hope they are all amazing! Good Luck to all the readers!!

ALSO!! If you can't spend the whole day reading, today is also Indie Bookstore today!  So stop into your favorite little bookshop and show them some love!!

Currently Reading: Lost Boy 

Updates:

• 5am - I am most definitely awake.  It's a toss up to whether I break out the Redbull this early, or if I'm patient enough to wait for our coffee pot.  But I can tell you I am most definitely not sleeping, or packing for the trip I'm taking in 3 days!  Ah, procrastination my old friend. I've started my morning off with Future Quest.  Because between these pages is my childhood!
• 11am - Hour 6 has just started, and I'm one book down (Future Quest Vol 1). Somewhere alone hour 2 and 3 I napped... inside my comic. Then there was breakfast and more coffee!
• 2pm - Finished Forbidden Bride.  Today is flying by faster than I'd like! How is already mid afternoon?! 

Bout of Books 19

I know, as I prepare for Dewey's tomorrow, I'm signing up for another one today. What can you do?!  Now, Bout is super low stress that stretches across an entire week.  Something I love because I read on my lunch break, and between shifts and bouts of writing. I've been participating in Bout of Books for going on two years, and only missed one.  Moving, no one likes it...

For those who are new to Bout, here's a bit about it:

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 8th and runs through Sunday, May 14th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 19 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

The first few days of Bout of Books 19 fall while on my vacation (and I'm totally using it as an excuse to go to the used bookstore in my hometown).  So I plan on reading every chance I get between hanging with the family!  Of course I'll have my progress page up by Monday, which will be clickable on the side of page to the left!!

HAPPY READING!

Waiting on Wednesday - The Battlemage

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme started by Breaking the Spine, where bloggers chose a book they are patiently, or maybe not so patiently, waiting to ready!

Release Date: May 2nd, 2017

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Author Taran Matharu

Genre: Fantasy & Young Adult

Series: The Summoner #3

Pages: 352

One boy's ability to summon demons will change the fate of an empire ... The epic conclusion to the fantasy trilogy The Summoner.  I'd put more up, but I don't want to give away what happened prior to this!

Why I'm Waiting: I fell in love with the series two summers ago, and I've been waiting for the last two books to his selves so I can marathon the series.  Because I don't think I could have read The Inquisition and survived the wait for book 3!

Tell me about your favorite Fantasy series?!

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme started by the Broke and the Bookish.  Each week they chose a new meme and bloggers pick their Top Ten Books, TV Shows, Movies, etc that fit that theme. This week theme is: What makes me put down (or pass up) a book.

• Romance Novels
• This is just one Genre I've never been able to get into.  Just not my thing.
• Spy Books
• The Spy Thriller is another Genre I've just never gotten into.  Occasionally one will sound good, but I never manage to make it through the entire book.
• Books written in First Person
• This is a serious personal perference on my part.  I always have a hard time getting into books where the story is told first peron.  The only expection to this rule is books set through diary enteries and letters.
• Textbook Nonfiction
• This comes down to tone of the book.  Sometimes when I read a nonfiction book it's like I'm back in school reading and a textbook.  Which no matter the subject always puts me off to the point I usaully don't pick it up.
• Annoying Main Characters
• Annoying may be a little harsh.  I'm not a fan of books where the main character (male or female) just lets the events of the book happen.  Where the complain about everything that's being thrust upon them.  I want strong main characters that take all the crap thrown at them, yeah they complain, but the come of it stronger.  Not just letting the story happen to them and let other people save them.
• Love Triangles
• These thing. I don't know, they've never been my cup of tea.  Always I find myself wanting to yell for the main character to just pick one!
• Some Sci-Fi
• This is a genre that I'm super picky about when I get books. I'm not a huge Science Fiction fan, but I have found a few gems in the Genre.  But I usually pass these books by unless something hooks me.
• Too Much Backstory
• I love backstory.  I love when the characters have a past, not matter what that is.  But sometimes all that backstory gets thrown at me to quickly and I get whiplash.  Too much information at the start of the book is always a reason I put them down.  
• Overly Hyped Books
• Okay, books with a lot of press and blog hype always make me nervous to read, because what if I don't like it as much as everyone else.  Yada, yada, yada... So I generally pass these books for something else.  Though I usually pick them up later so I can enjoy this story.
• If I've seen the movie first
• I don't even know why this is, but if I've seen the movie first I can never make it through the book.  I spend the whole time comparing the two and finding the difference.  So this is why I'm a stickler for reading before watching.

So what's something that makes you pass a book, or just put it down before you've finished it?

Waiting on Wednesday - The Radium Girls

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme started by Breaking the Spine, where bloggers chose a book they are patiently, or maybe not so patiently, waiting to ready!

Release Date: May 2, 2017

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Author: Kate Moore

Genre: Non-Fiction

Pages: 480

As World War I raged across the globe, hundreds of young women toiled away at the radium-dial factories, where they painted clock faces with a mysterious new substance called radium. Assured by their bosses that the luminous material was safe, the women themselves shone brightly in the dark, covered from head to toe with the glowing dust. With such a coveted job, these “shining girls” were considered the luckiest alive—until they began to fall mysteriously ill. As the fatal poison of the radium took hold, they found themselves embroiled in one of America’s biggest scandals and a groundbreaking battle for workers’ rights.

Why I'm Waiting: Up until I stumbled across this book (which I can't remember how I did) I had never heard about these girls. My flatmate however knew exactly who they were, though. So I'm intrigued to read this book and learn about these women and what they went through working in these factories.

Does anyone have a favorite book about women during WW 1?

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme started by the Broke and the Bookish.  Each week they chose a new meme and bloggers pick their Top Ten Books, TV Shows, Movies, etc that fit that theme. This week theme is: What makes me want to read a book. 

• Sherlock Holmes
• I am a sucker for anything with Sherlock Holmes in it.  Whether it follows Canon or is its own take on the characters and stories.  Honestly it doesn't matter how cheesey the plot makes it sound, I will always pick it up.  So far it has worked in my favor.  I've read a lot of good books that pick up the Holmes mantel.
• True Crime
• Okay, I'm that weird kid who loves to read about past crimes, and it doesn't have to be just about Serial Killers.  I love old heists, murder mysteries, basically anything in the crime genre that was before my time.
• Favorite Author
• I feel this will on a lists today.  There are a few authors out there that I'll nearly always pick up anything they write.  Authors like: Seth Grahame-Smith, Michael J Sullivan, Tamora Pierce, Scott Synder, Mike Mignola, Lish McBride, Joe Abercrombe.  Just to name a few!
• Murder Mystery
• I love a good murder mystery! Doesn't matter the era they are placed in.  I seriously live in this part of the book store.
• Odd Historical Nonfiction
• This one is sort of hard for me to explain. These are like compilations books about strange things in history.  A few I have on my TBR are: History Bytes: 37 People, Places, and Events that Shaped American History, Entertaining Women: Actresses, Dancers, and Singers in the Old West, and Wicked Women: Notorious, Mischievous, and Wayward Ladies from the Old West

• Middle Grade
• Sometimes you just need a cute, fun, book to take your mind of real life.  For me those are Middle Grade novels were I don't have to think about the plot, keep characters straight, or a thousand back stories.  I can get lost in the adorable plot and lose myself.
• Victorian Setting
• I don't know what is about this era, but I love it.  Anything set in Victorian times I will pick up and read.  I honestly can't even give a reason why.  It's such a strange era because everything was changing.
• Covers
• I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but sometimes you just do.  Honestly I love the cheesey 80"s fantasy novel covers.  They make me so very happy!
• Mash-Ups
• And even re-tellings.  I've gotten into both in the last few years and read some really good ones.  So I always give these a second look online and book stores!
• Horror 
• Yup, I'm one of those people who loves to be scared.  I love good creepy book that makes it hard to sleep with the lights off.  Especially in the Fall!  But, I'll totally pick them up any other time of the year.  

So what's something that always make you guys pick up a book and take it home?

A Readathon is coming!

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon only comes around twice a year, and the first one is right around the corner! April 29! I'm still not hundred percent sure that I'll have all day off.  However, that won't stop me from reading through my lunch hour, on the bus home, and then more when I get there!  Personally I think it's super low stress.  Of course there are mini-challenges and other blogs to follow as the day go on.  For more information you can here!  

I've been super lucky to get the last two Dewey's off from work.  Each the one Readathon my whole house gets involved in. My flatmate and I usually make blanket nests and fill the house full of snacks. As for real food, I normally shove something in our crockpot and use that to stand up and stretch every so often.

Honestly, I fell like Dewey's is super low stress.  You can set up your reading however you want, there's no prize fore whoever reads the most, it's just a bunch of readers from around the world getting together to do their thing.  Which is read!  

So if this sounds up your alley click the image above and flip through their site!!

Waiting on Wednesday - Spellslinger

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme started by Breaking the Spine, where bloggers chose a book they are patiently, or maybe not so patiently, waiting to ready!

Release Date: May 4, 2017
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Author: Sebastien De Castell
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 416

Kellen’s dreams of becoming a powerful mage like his father are shattered after a failed magical duel results in the complete loss of his abilities. When other young mages begin to suffer the same fate, Kellen is accused of unleashing a magical curse on his own clan and is forced to flee with the help of a mysterious foreign woman who may in fact be a spy in service to an enemy country. Unsure of who to trust, Kellen struggles to learn how to survive in a dangerous world without his magic even as he seeks out the true source of the curse. But when Kellen uncovers a conspiracy hatched by members of his own clan seeking to take power, he races back to his city in a desperate bid to outwit the mages arrayed against him before they can destroy his family.

 Why I'm Waiting: I just love the way this book sounds, a western-esque fantasy novel! Also, I've heard amazing things about Sebastien De Castell's other series, Greatcoats.

What's your favorite genres to mash together?

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme started by the Broke and the Bookish.  Each week they chose a new meme and bloggers pick their Top Ten Books, TV Shows, Movies, etc that fit that theme. This week theme is: Most Unique Books I've Read. This is a busy week for me (I nearly didn't get this posted) so I went with five books instead of ten!! 

1. Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion - I honestly think Isaac Marion's writing style and the voice he gives to his characters.  R is one of my favorite fictional characters, and it's because of how he sees the world.  
2. Warlock Holmes by GS Denning - It's an interesting spin on the world of Sherlock Holmes.  I really like how the roles are a bit flipped with Sherlock and Watson.  It's a unique look at one of my favorite series.
3. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff - Just the way the book is written is unique.  I've seen very few like it, but the way these two authors have spun this plot has been so cool! I cannot wait to see how the end it.

1. Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero - Not only is the book written differently than most, the plot itself is unique.  The story is told through video tape feeds, letters, and diary entries. It takes a while for the whole pictures to form.  And the ending!  It's a really unique and amazing book.
2. Novice by Taran Matharu - The world that Taran Matharu has created is unique. While this book could have easily turned into something similar to Hogwarts, it really had a life of it's own.  The way worlds co-exist and the characters themselves. It's really a unique read.

What's the most unique read, or author, you've read?

March Wrap-Up

Oh March!  For some reason this month felt like one of the shortest, and yet longest, months I've had in a while.  The month started off pretty freaking awesome!  I was at Comic-Con geeky out with friends for two days. I got to meet Robert Englund, the original Freddy Kruger.  Which that was something off my bucket list.  I got to fangirl over a lot of my comic book writers and artists, and had an awesome time altogether!  Of course I wen to see Beauty and the Beast.  I thought it was pretty good.  My flatmate is a big fan and she loved it! Which is all that mattes.  Also, this month we (my flatmate and me) discovered our local theater airs the Walking Dead on Sundays.  The finale was so much better shared with theater full of people!  Oh, and for the first time in months I've gotten back into writing.  It hasn't been much, or anything any good, but it feels good to be filling my notebooks full of stories again.

Other than that it's just me going to work and coming home to read.  With random intervals of hanging out with friends.  Spring is here and everyone is finally out of hibernation!

Books Read: 6

Pages Read: 1,008

BINGO Books: 2 (Check our my card here!)

Currently Reading: Bad Blood by Shannon A. Thompson

Okay so technically, one doesn't think Comic-Con means book haul.  Well, in Seattle we do it a little different my friend.  I made out with a pretty decent haul that weekend.  In fact I've had a hard time trying to figure out which ones to pick up first.  Which is no easy task once you see the titles.  Like usual I've ignored the problem and started a book not from that pile until I can make up my mind!

Not long after that I got an email that I was lucky enough to win a book from Goodreads.  I honestly don't win that often.  So it's pretty exciting when I do.  This time was more so because of the nature of the book.  I haven't picked it up yet because I have a long flight coming up in May. This will be the perfect thing to keep entertained and keep people from bugging me about what it's about.  Though, I'm sure it'll earn some weird looks.  Which is fine.  I'll be to busy reading to notice.  If your interest in the book, just click the photo.  It'll take to the Goodreads page!!

My last book event was probably my favorite!  Sorry Comic-Con, but Lish McBride is a baddass (not even sorry about the language).  If you've read her books then you know what I'm talking about.  If you haven't read her books, then I cannot recommend them enough.  They are hilarious, fun, and wonderfully written.  I have put off reading Firebug so I could read the duology together.  Now the time has come! It was honestly amazing to hear her talk about the books, her writing process, and what was coming.  She's amazing and gave some really good advice to those of struggling to write our own books.  So seriously if you haven't checked her out, do it!!  Like right now!! Nothing else I have to say is important or half as cool.  Go! Run!

Publisher:  ECCO

Release Date: April 4, 2017

Author: Daniel Cole

Genre: Thriller / Crime

Series: Detective William Fawkes #1

A body is discovered with the dismembered parts of six victims stitched together like a puppet, nicknamed by the press as the 'ragdoll'. Assigned to the shocking case are Detective William 'Wolf' Fawkes, recently reinstated to the London Met, and his former partner Detective Emily Baxter. The 'Ragdoll Killer' taunts the police by releasing a list of names to the media, and the dates on which he intends to murder them.

How was everyone else's month? Read anything good?

Warrent the 13th and the Whispering Woods - A Review

Author: Tania del Rio

Publisher: Quirk Books

Genre: Fantasy / Middle Grade

Series: Warren the 13th #2

Format: Hardback

Pages: 224

This sequel to Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye begins soon after the first book's conclusion.Twelve-year-old Warren has learned that his beloved hotel can walk, and now it's ferrying guests around the countryside, transporting tourists to strange and foreign destinations. But when an unexpected detour brings everyone into the dark and sinister Malwoods, Warren finds himself separated from his hotel and his friends and racing after them on foot through a forest teeming with witches, snakes, talking trees, and mind-boggling riddles. Once again, you can expect stunning illustrations and gorgeous design from Will Staehle on every page along with plenty of nonstop action and adventure!

First I need to say thank you to Quirk Books for giving me a copy of Warren the 13th and The Whispering Woods in exchange for my honest review.

I have to admit I've been super excited for this since I read the first book, Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye, and there was a mention of a sequel.  My excitement was only doubled after I finally got to see the cover.  Honestly, I can't decide which cover is my favorite.  It was even better when I was given a chance to support the release back in January, and dedicated my first free afternoon to reading The Whispering Woods. I didn't want anything to get in the way.

The story takes place just short while after The All-Seeing Eye ends, and all of the characters return for the next adventure at the Warren. Sketchy is my absolute favorite of all the cast! I was excited to see him have a decent roll in the second book, instead of pushed aside. He's so cute and precious!  There are also a handful of new characters joining the Warren, and a new enemy looking to make the famous walking hotel her own.

While this series is clearly aimed for a younger reader, I fully enjoyed it!  Sometimes I want a story that entertains me.  A book that is light and fun.  For me I feel like this book does that.  The story is full of adventure, puzzles, and mystery.  It's about being afraid, only to be brave and to keep going anyway.  Warren the 13th is about family.

As for the story itself I felt like it moved at a steady pace and never once really backed tracked, or slowed to a crawl.  Our main characters are forced to split up and for a while the point of view jumps between them, but it wasn't hard to keep track of the story as it went along.  

The world that Tania del Rio created in the first books has been expanded to see more of the country side as the Warren is finally up and walking with it's guests.  Which means we get a few new characters and a wider look at the world of Fauntleroy.  It was nice to see an expansion and get a taste of how far Warren could take his hotel.

Of course I have to mention Will Staehle's artwork.  I love that each book has a theme color, green for this book.  Will Staehle's art brings a visualization to the story that I love.  I don't think it takes away from the story.  In fact I think it adds a little something getting to see the posters, the maps, and even the character as the story evolves. 

I really can't thank Quirk Books enough for sending me this to read.  It was a wonderful afternoon curled up in my blanket nest with the Little Monster (my cat).  I've already talked a friend into buying these for her daughter!  I've geeked out over the last few days with my other friends who read.  Honestly I can't stop recommending this to people.

Just remember: BEWARE THE SAP-SQUATCH!

Buy, Borrow, or Skip: Seriously, buy both of them! Buy one for a friend!  DO IT!