July Wrap Up

Summer is finally here and it has been amazing! It's been great laying outside and reading after work and on my days off. This has been an interesting month for me. For the most part it's been pretty good month. I've got gifted some great books and scored an early copy of Hench, which I will be cracking open next. I did pretty good with my July TBR and I read 9 freaking books. Which is way more than I've managed in a while. However this month has hit a couple of bumps that have thrown me for a loop and I'm till wrapping my head around them. Even though I have a plan it doesn't mean it's easy, and it has effected my reading the last couple of days. But, I'm determined to stay postive, and I have a lot of good books I want to dive into in August. 

Books Read: 11 
BINGO Books: 3
Backlist Books: 7

Pages Read: 2234

Currently Reading: The Fell of Dark

Bout of Books 29 (Aug. 17 - Aug. 23)

Reverse Readathon (Aug. 7  - Aug. 8)

How was everyone else's month? What books blew your mind? Which ones disappointed you? What books do I need to add to my list?

HAPPY READING!!

Mini Reviews

This was super cute! I love that Mary Shelley's mother Mary had a mention because she was also an amazing woman. The artwork worked wonderfully well with the story, and this would be a great book to read around Halloween with your kids. It has that scary edge without being too scary. I also thought it was a fun way to recreate how Frankenstein was created. A good mix fact and storytelling!  4 stars!

This one surprised me in the best way. I thought I knew what I was getting into, but it was so much more. The story on this was fun and had a great pace. There are three different stories all being told in this one volume. It works though because it all comes together in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed all three of main characters, Al, Pete, and Charlie. There are some witty one-liners and love the way they handle Pete coming out to his brother. I just love the bond the two brothers have. All around great midnight read and I'm excited for the next installment! 5 stars!

HAPPY READING!!

Waiting on Wednesday

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about what we have yet to read. Generally, they are books that have yet to be released but don't have to be. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous at Breaking the Spine.

California, 1952. It's the early years of the Cold War, and the threat of invasion from the Communist-controlled Soviet Union has people in a panic. President Truman has put out a call to civilians to act as radar--and Teddy, John, Caroline, Eleanor, Bunny, Frank, and Oscar eagerly answer. The teens are members of their high school's "Operation Skywatch" club in an effort to protect the country from attack. Across the country, people of all ages are looking to the sky.

But they're not prepared for the strange green light they see when on duty, which looks like nothing they've been trained to look out for. And when the mysterious object lands in the forest, Teddy, John, Caroline, and Bunny go in to investigate. Then they go missing. Three days later, John, Caroline, and Bunny all emerge from the forest--with no memory of what happened. And without Teddy.

Why I'm Waiting: This sounds like an absolute delight to read. Something I could curl up and devour on our patio.

HAPPY READING!! 

New Release Tuesday

As our story opens, a sea of troubles threatens the valiant Resistance, who are pursued by the sound and fury of the vile First Order. Can Rey, Poe, Finn, Rose, BB-8, Chewbacca, and their allies overcome such toil and trouble? Shall Kylo Ren be proven fortune’s fool or master of his fate? What will become of the House of Skywalker? And is all well that ends well?

HAPPY READING!!

August TBR

I think this might the first month that didn't feel like it flew by. Maybe I'm finally getting into a routine of things not that we've reached some kind of normal here, or maybe I'm just getting used to the fact I never know what the next week will bring. All that being said I did alright with last month's TBR. I managed two books from my list, and then went completely off the map and read whatever I wanted to. So for August, picked brand new books that have been on mind for a bit. A series I've been wanting to jump back into and a reread that's been calling my name for the last few weeks. Along with a handful of things I've been meaning to read.

It would seem the theme for next month is green and gold. When I was picking books I wasn't really looking at the covers I was just thinking about the kind of mood I'd been in lately, and remembering that not only is Bout of Books 29 in August, Dewey's is doing a Reverse Readathon. So I was thinking more along the line of books for those two things, and somehow all the green and gold.

What's everyone else got on their line up for next month?

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

They say don't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes it's the cover that originally catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday I'm going to post some of my favorite covers of books coming soon! Some are by authors I already enjoy, some are the reason I gave the book a longer look. Either way they're all going to find their way here!

After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her previous life, family memories, or her childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at a local university seems like the perfect escape—until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus.

A flying demon feeding on human energies.

A secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down.

And a teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” and who attempts—and fails—to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw.

The mage’s failure reveals Bree’s own, unique magic and unlocks a buried memory with a hidden connection: the night her mother died, another Merlin was at the hospital. Now that she knows there’s more to her mother’s death than what’s on the police report, Bree will do whatever it takes to find out the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn by becoming one of their initiates. But when the Legendborn reveal themselves as the descendants of King Arthur and his knights and explain that a magical war is coming, Bree has to decide how far she’ll go for the truth and whether she should use her magic to take the society down—or join the fight. 

HAPPY READING!!

Mini Reviews

What this book proves is a lot that happens in this movie that makes it hard to condense down. To fit everything in the story felt rushed and was really wordy compared to what I'm used to for Little Golden Books. The artwork was cute though, fun and bright, but I feel like the story itself was rushed. Even though I've seen the movie twice now and how it goes. I'm also not even sure if there was a better way to shorten this storyline into 15 pages. Just so much a happens. 3 Stars.

This was super cute! It was also a fun take on Bruce Wayne's teenage years and his idolization of his father. I liked that it brought in characters that are easily recognizable, and though Matteo was a fun addition to the cast. I'm also always pro getting a bit of Alfred's backstory because that man has lived a life, and I always love hearing how much he cares about Bruce. This was super cute and I'm glad I didn't pass it over. 5 Stars.

Business Cat

Happy Friday all! I realize that in the four years I've had Bookish Whispers I've never introduced everyone to Maxwell Edison, the fat boy who loves to help me blog! He also likes to chew on my books when he feels he isn't getting enough attention, to lay on any open book I'm reading to prove he is more important, and who loves to sit on the couch behind me as I work on the day-to-day posts. He also really enjoys any time I get book mail because nothing is better than chewing on plastic or sitting in a new box. He even really loves it to watch BookTube with me!

He really is absolutely no help what so ever, but he has been with me since the start. Dewey's 24-Hour Readathon is one of his favorites because all of us are home all day and camped out in the living room for prime cuddling. Though, he much rather I didn't read on our front balcony for several hours a day during the summer. But, he really does love to business cat and nose around what I'm working on or reading! 

And, in case anyone is wondering he is twenty pounds of ginger cat that thinks my face is the best cuddling spot in the whole house!  

HAPPY READING!!

Deathless Divide - Review

Author: Justine Ireland

Genre:  Historical Fiction / Zombies / Young Adult

Format: Hardback

Pages: 560

This book... I think I spent all five hundred plus pages with my heart in my throat. If it wasn't one thing it was another, and honestly putting this down was as hard as the first book. I had forgotten how much I adore Justine Ireland's writing style, and it was so easy to fall into Deathless Divide. I thought Ireland did a wonderful of calling back to moments that happened in Dread Nation without pulling away from the new storyline.

Deathless Divide is broken up into two parts. The first part takes right after Dread Nation ends with everyone heading off toward Nicodemus and what they hope is safety. This is also when we meet our new villain, and as much as it broke my heart to see this person our new bad guy I really kind of enjoyed the evolution of it. Or, maybe not evolution but the revolution that some people just can't see past their own hubris. 

After the first part of the book came to a close I did need to walk away from the book for a second. Because that ending punched me right in the heart and new the second part of this book would only mangle it more.

I like that Justina Ireland time jumped the story a little for the second part. You learn about what happened at that time here and there, but the story pushes on. Right off an emotional cliff. I liked that this part of the story had a different tone and a different pace. Katherine and Jane are different people after Nicodemus, and California holds different battles for them both. Still, I really enjoyed the evolution of the story here and the addition of Carolina Jones. Though a part of me hates Callie for what she did to Jane, but Salty and Tomas were a wonderful addition as well.

One of my favorite bits was Jane's chapter headers in the second part. It was a fun way to learn about the Devil's Bride while the story progressed one, and honestly, I'd kill for a novella of some Jane's exploits during that missing year.

Another great addition was Katherin's chapters. She is an asexual mess and I love her! Also, her point of view was a nice addition to the story. She sees the world differently than Jane, and she actually she's Jane for everything she really is. Everything she isn't. Despite everything that has happened there is a hopefulness about Katherine that is sort of the balm to Jane's chapters as she fights through her understandable anger.

Also, I love the friendship between Katherine and Jane. It's beautiful in the way the sort of fit together. Katherine keeps Jane human and in a way Jane sort of holds Katherine together. Through the last two years, they became family and it was wonderful to watch Katherine bring Jane back to herself. To remind her she wasn't so lost.

The ending though. I cheered when Katherine made that shot, not caring that I was in public. It was aces! It also made my heart soar that Sue got her happy ending. If anyone was going to get one, I'm glad it was her. I also really liked that while Jane's story didn't have the ending she hoped for, at least she got closer. I'm also really happy to see an open kind of ending. The potential for more stories, but not a guarantee. 

Deathless Divide was absolutely wonderful and I enjoyed every second of it. 

Buy, Borrow, or Skip: Buy! This is definitely a series I will be re-reading. It's too good to only read once.

HAPPY READING!!

Waiting on Wednesday

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about what we have yet to read. Generally, they are books that have yet to be released but don't have to be. It is based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous at Breaking the Spine.

Fifteen-year-old RJ Armante has never known a life outside his dead-end hometown of Arcangel, CA. The Blackjacks still rule as they have for generations, luring the poorest kids into their monopoly on petty crime. For years, they’ve left RJ alone…until now.

When the Blackjacks come knocking, they want RJ to prey upon an old loner. But RJ is at his breaking point. It’s not just about the gang who rules the town. It’s about Charley, his younger brother, who is disabled. It’s about Roxanne, the girl he can’t reach. It’s about the kids in his crew who have nothing to live for. If RJ is to resist, he must fight to free Arcangel of its past.

Why I'm Waiting: This isn't my normal pick up for a book, but something about has stuck with me. It seems kind of in the vein of The Outsiders.

HAPPY READING!!

Reading BINGO Update

Being halfway through the year I thought it was a good time to check in with everyone on how their Reading BINGO was going. This year another friend has joined in on the challenge! So that's four of us trying to clear our board before the end of the year. The upside is none of us have managed a BINGO yet. Though, it looks like I'm playing a game of snake on my old phone instead of trying to snag the first BINGO of the year.

Catherine's Card

Kathleen's Card

Sarah's Card

My Card

Honestly, I feel like all of us are doing really well. This hasn't been the easiest reading year for some with everything going on in the world, and my friend Catherine joined late in the game. So who really knows what the next six months will bring.

I've seen a lot of different BINGO challenges throughout the year. Anyone else doing a version of this challenge? How's your year going so far?

HAPPY READING!!

Cover Runway Sunday

They say don't judge a book by its cover, but we all know we do it. Sometimes it's the cover that originally catches our eye, drawing us to give a book a closer look. It's the first thing we see, our first impression. Every Sunday I'm going to post some of my favorite covers of books coming soon! Some are by authors I already enjoy, some are the reason I gave the book a longer look. Either way, they're all going to find their way here!

Catherine Daly has an unusual talent. By day she works for a printer. But by night, she awakens the dead for a few precious moments with loved ones seeking a final goodbye. But this magic comes with a price: for every hour that a ghost is brought back, Catherine loses an hour from her own life.

When Catherine is given the unusual task of collecting a timepiece from an old grave, she is sure that the mysterious item must contain some kind of enchantment. So she enlists Guy Nolan, the watchmaker’s son, to help her dig it up. But instead of a timepiece, they find a surprise: the body of a teenage boy. And as they watch, he comes back to life—not as the pale imitation that Catherine can conjure, but as a living, breathing boy. A boy with no memory of his past.

This magic is more powerful than any Catherine has ever encountered, and revealing it brings dangerous enemies. Catherine and Guy must race to unravel the connection between the missing timepiece and the undead boy. For this mysterious magic could mean the difference between life and death—for all of them. 

HAPPY READING!!