March Wrap-Up 2020

Hey there! It’s been a long time and tough times have brought me here. Currently being stuck at home during this pandemic means no work, no performances (spoken word), no  socializing, etc. And so I’ve been finding myself reading a lot more than usual. I truly do miss blogging and here we are.

In the month of March I read 9 books and DNFed 2 books. The title of the books will link you to the goodreads page


Books Read

  1. The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James★★★★ 
    Genre: Thriller
  2. Depression & Other Magic Tricks by Sabrina Benaim★★★★★ 
    Genre: Poetry
  3. House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1) by Sarah J. Maas★★★★★
    Genre: Adult Fantasy
  4. Root of It by Lee Ortiz ★★★★★
    Genre: Poetry
  5. Night Sky With Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong★★★★★
    Genre: Poetry
  6. New American Best Friend by Olivia Gatwood★★★★★
    Genre: Poetry
  7. Undercover Bromance (Bromance Book Club #2) by Lyssa Cay Adams★★★★★
    Genre: Adult Romance
  8. One Day In December by Josie Silver★★★★
    Genre: Adult Romance
  9. Nothing is Okay by Rachel Wiley★★★★
    Genre: Poetry

My favorite reads this month were House of Blood and Earth, Depression & Other Magic Tricks, and Undercover Bromance. I’m so happy that I gave Sarah J. Maas another shot. She has definitely grown as a writer, the diversity felt organic, and I really believe that Adult Fantasy is her genre to write. She has so much freedom and it was just *chef’s kiss*,  I cannot wait to read the other parts of this series. It ended great but I can’t wait to see what happens.

Depression & Other Magic Tricks was a complete fave! What a poetry collection. I resonated and connected so much. Not only with her themes but with how she writes too. Undercover Bromance was another amazing book for me. I read that within 24 hours. I loved it so much. It was hilarious and deep too. I can’t wait for the third book because I also loved the first.


Books I DNFed

When I had originally found out that Wild at Heart (Wild #2) by K.A. Tucker was coming out, I was super excited and surprised as well. Surprised because I thought The Simple Wild ended perfectly. I read 120 pages of Wild at Heart before giving up on it. I couldn’t do it. The main character was annoying me and I’m not in the mood to continue reading about a character is keeps making my eyes roll lol.

Then there’s Writers & Lovers by Lily King. I was really excited about this book. I actually like the writing. However, it was a scene in this book that did it for me. This small scene that scarred me. There are certain things that I cannot read at all. It’s not a trigger warning per se, it’s just a personal thing.


and that is all for now! i will do a march book haul in a separate post. how are you all doing? and what was your favorite book in march? xo

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Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking The Spine. Every Wednesday you discuss a book that you are highly anticipating.

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Ninth House (Alex Stern #1)
by Leigh Bardugo

Release Date: October 1st, 2019
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Genre: Adult Fantasy

The mesmerizing adult debut from #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo

Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?

Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.

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Just knowing that one of my favorite authors is coming out with an ADULT FANTASY novel has me squealing. I am very happy that some of my favorite YA Authors are slowly transitioning to Adult since I am not much of a YA reader anymore. I can’t wait to read this! Leigh Bardugo has made an endless point that this is ADULT and will have some  disturbing scenes which I’m honestly all ready for. Also, I’m excited to see what she can bring with another world since pretty much all we know is The Grishaverse. I love seeing authors expand. This book sounds right up my ally. I love secret societies, mysteries, and schools. Funny enough, I’m currently watching The Order on Netflix and the synopsis reminds me a tad bit of it. October can’t come any sooner.


Are you excited for this Ninth House? Thoughts on a new world by Leigh Bardugo? Let’s chat in the comments!


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september book haul – 2018

well hello. hi. how are ya? it’s been a very long time since i’ve done a book haul. i actually haven’t been buying books because i don’t read. i’ve been in a huge reading slump since i started this whole author thing. i don’t remember the last fictional book i read tbh. but umm i’ve been wanting to read again so here we are =) let’s get started okuuuurrrrrr


26856502Vengeful (Villains #2) by V.E. Schwab

Genre: Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Synopsis: The sequel to VICIOUS, V.E. Schwab’s first adult novel.

Sydney once had Serena—beloved sister, betrayed enemy, powerful ally. But now she is alone, except for her thrice-dead dog, Dol, and then there’s Victor, who thinks Sydney doesn’t know about his most recent act of vengeance.

Victor himself is under the radar these days—being buried and re-animated can strike concern even if one has superhuman powers. But despite his own worries, his anger remains. And Eli Ever still has yet to pay for the evil he has done.

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29386918Wildcard (Warcross #2) by Marie Lu

Genre: YA Sci-Fi

Synopsis: Emika Chen barely made it out of the Warcross Championships alive. Now that she knows the truth behind Hideo’s new NeuroLink algorithm, she can no longer trust the one person she’s always looked up to, who she once thought was on her side.

Determined to put a stop to Hideo’s grim plans, Emika and the Phoenix Riders band together, only to find a new threat lurking on the neon-lit streets of Tokyo. Someone’s put a bounty on Emika’s head, and her sole chance for survival lies with Zero and the Blackcoats, his ruthless crew. But Emika soon learns that Zero isn’t all that he seems–and his protection comes at a price.

Caught in a web of betrayal, with the future of free will at risk, just how far will Emika go to take down the man she loves?

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35403058City of Ghosts (Cassidy Blake #1) by Victoria Schwab

Genre: Middle Grade, Paranormal, Fantasy

Synopsis: Cassidy Blake’s parents are The Inspectres, a (somewhat inept) ghost-hunting team. But Cass herself can REALLY see ghosts. In fact, her best friend, Jacob, just happens to be one.

When The Inspectres head to ultra-haunted Edinburgh, Scotland, for their new TV show, Cass—and Jacob—come along. In Scotland, Cass is surrounded by ghosts, not all of them friendly. Then she meets Lara, a girl who can also see the dead. But Lara tells Cassidy that as an In-betweener, their job is to send ghosts permanently beyond the Veil. Cass isn’t sure about her new mission, but she does know the sinister Red Raven haunting the city doesn’t belong in her world. Cassidy’s powers will draw her into an epic fight that stretches through the worlds of the living and the dead, in order to save herself.

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39088508Fierce Fairytales: Poems and Stories to Stir Your Soul by Nikita Gill

Genre: Poetry, Short Stories

Synopsis: Traditional fairytales are rife with cliches and gender stereotypes: beautiful, silent princesses; ugly, jealous, and bitter villainesses; girls who need rescuing; and men who take all the glory.

But in this rousing new prose and poetry collection, Nikita Gill gives Once Upon a Time a much-needed modern makeover. Through her gorgeous reimagining of fairytale classics and spellbinding original tales, she dismantles the old-fashioned tropes that have been ingrained in our minds. In this book, gone are the docile women and male saviors. Instead, lines blur between heroes and villains. You will meet fearless princesses, a new kind of wolf lurking in the concrete jungle, and an independent Gretel who can bring down monsters on her own.

Complete with beautifully hand-drawn illustrations by Gill herself, Fierce Fairytales is an empowering collection of poems and stories for a new generation.

***thanks you Hachette Books and Nikita Gill for sending me a finished copy

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41154741Lemon Acuarelas by Chyenne Raine

Genre: Poetry

Synopsis: cheyenne raine explores the themes of culture, faith, love, and more in a bilingual collection of poetry. lemon acuarelas is soaked in light and things that feel both sweet and sour.

 

 

 

 

 

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42141361By The Thread of My Heart: A Poetry Collection by Nicki Naomi

Genre: Poetry

Synopsis: ‘By the Thread of My Heart’ is self-love, honesty and the beauty of what it is to be a woman. It is the belief in the magic that happens when we stop hurting and begin healing. The shift changing occurrences that happen when we begin to own exactly who we are. This collection of prose and poetry also contains a series of letters written to Love. Personifying it and speaking to it in its truest form. This is a collection based on the personal life experiences of Nicki Naomi as she continues to remain vulnerably open to growth.

 

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and done! i am excited for all these books. i keep eyeing vengeful though because vicious was an ultimate fave and i have been waiting YEARS for this second book. i had received the owlcrate special edition and schwab wrote a note for the readers, she mentioned some new characters that i cannot wait to read more about. any of these books on your tbr or to be hauled pile? let’s chat in the comments!


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Fictional Books I Want to Read in 2018

Hey everyone! I wanted to share what books I really want to get to in this New Year! Since I don’t read as much as I used to, I wanted to keep this post small and to the point. Majority of these books have been released already and some I am still waiting for! The list is an no particular order. Without further ado, let’s get started! (all links lead you to the goodreads page)

 

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas a YA Realistic Fiction take on the black lives matter movement and police brutality.

Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Ormsbree a YA Contemporary book about a girl who’s an “overnight” internet sensation and when an online flirtation can happen in real life, how will she tell him that she’s a romantic asexual?

Ringer (Replica #2) by Lauren Oliver a continuation of the YA SciFi Dystopian novel Replica. After discovering some uncomfortable truths about the Haven Institute and cloning, we see what happens afterwards in Ringer.

Hunting Prince Dracula (Stalking Jack the Ripper #2) by Kerri Maniscalco the continuation of the YA Historical Fiction Mystery Stalking Jack the Ripper, we follow the main character Audrey in another adventure featuring Vlad the Impaler. 

Obsidio (The Illuminae Files #3) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff in continuation of the amazing YA SciFi novels Illuminae and Gemina, comes Obsidio with more action and adventure. This is the finale of the teams and oh my heart be still.

Wonder Woman: Warbringer (DC Icons #1) by Leigh Bardugo a YA Fantasy following one of my favorite heroes, Diana, who has risked exile for saving a mortal which changes everything.

Unearthed (Unearthed #1) by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner a YA SciFi that has to do with earth getting a message from a long extinct alien race, infiltration, secrets, and survival.

Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orïsha #1) by Tomy Adeyemi a YA Fantasy about magic disappearing in Orïsha under orders of a ruthless king, yet the main character is struggling with controlling her powers and feelings towards the enemy.

Daughter of the Pirate King (Daughter of the Pirate King #1) by Tricia Levenseller  a YA fantasy that has a female pirate, adventure, and hidden map!

Renegades (Renegades #1) by Marissa Meyer a YA Fantasy about secret identities, powers, vengeance, and justice.

The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell a YA Fantasy filled with time-travel and historical fiction, one character has to travel back in time to 1902 to steal an ancient book. However Old New York is filled with gangs, secret societies, and too much magic.

Godsgrave (The Nevernight Chronicle #2) by Jay Kristoff this Adult Fantasy continues the journey of our ruthless assassin main character where she is still looking for revenge.

The Girl in the Tower (Winternight Trilogy #2) by Katherine Arden a Fantasy Historical Fiction, this story continues the adventure of main character Vasya and what lies ahead for her.


and that is all for this post! any of these books you’re looking forward too? or you’ve read already? i would love to know your thoughts in the comments!


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Friday Reads and other things

It’s a super weird Friday for me. However, that’s not going to stop me from posting a Friday Reads. I really love this meme because it gives me a chance to catch up with you all and talk about what’s been going on.

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I finished A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic #1) by V.E. Schwab and I loved all of it! I should’ve had my review out for today but I had decided to blog hop instead on Wednesday night and yesterday came out of nowhere. Chester Bennington’s death has hit me really hard and therefore the plans to finish the review were off the table. I’m not sure when I will have my review up but I am really aiming for this weekend or latest, Monday.

 

 

 


35558311I also finished Maroon Daydreams by Cheyenne Raine. It’s a poetry collection and this is another review that I will be tackling sometime in the next coming week. This collection was great and I cannot wait to read more by this author in the future.

 

 

 

 

 


Let’s talk about my new blog feature coming in August! In June I ran a poll asking about doing this new feature and 90% voted YES!! I am excited to announce that coming the second or third Thursday of August, Conspiracy Theory Thursday will be the name of my new blog feature. Conspiracy Theory Thursday will only happen once a month and if you have not guessed it, it’s all about conspiracy theory’s…yes I love conspiracy theories, I am a firm believer that there is more than what media/gov’t tells us. I am going to dedicate a post to one topic and the different theories surrounding that topic. So far I’ve thought of posting on aliens, mermaids, deja vu, area 51, the bermuda triangle, the lost world of atlantis..among other ones.


the actual purpose of friday reads:

I am reading Black Bird of the Gallows by Meg Kassel who I met during BookCon and she was a super sweetheart! I obtained an ARC of this beautiful book and it releases September 5th. Once I read the synopsis with my twin Lilly@LairOfBooks I knew I was going to like it. And let me tell you, I am loving this book! It definitely has some LUX vibes going on (without the aliens) but it’s set in a small town during winter and there are a bunch of crows everywhere. This is the perfect read for me since I despise summer and would love Autumn and Winter to get here.

33509076synopsis:
A simple but forgotten truth: Where harbingers of death appear, the morgues will soon be full.

Angie Dovage can tell there’s more to Reece Fernandez than just the tall, brooding athlete who has her classmates swooning, but she can’t imagine his presence signals a tragedy that will devastate her small town. When something supernatural tries to attack her, Angie is thrown into a battle between good and evil she never saw coming. Right in the center of it is Reece—and he’s not human.

What’s more, she knows something most don’t. That the secrets her town holds could kill them all. But that’s only half as dangerous as falling in love with a harbinger of death.

 

 


that is all for today’s post! have you heard of the books mentioned above? i would love to know your thoughts on my conspiracy theory thursday blog feature. any specific theory request you have? i would love to know! let’s chat in the comments!


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Twitter: @chicnerdreads

Top Ten Tuesday: Series I’ve Been Meaning to Start But Haven’t

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature with new topics every Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. If you would like to participate, the link provided will lead you to the feature and upcoming topics for the rest of the month

Today’s topic is: Top Ten Series I’ve Been Meaning To Start But Haven’t

I love this topic because it was the easiest most embarrassing compiled list I have done in a matter of seconds lol. When I saw the topic, I literally turned around, looked at my shelves and the list happened!

**the synopsis attached to each series belongs to the first book


Series I’ve Been Meaning to Start:

Shades of Magic Trilogy by V.E. Schwab

I have been meaning to start this trilogy since it first came out! eventually, i decided to just wait for all of it so i can marathon it which is exactly what i am going to do before the year is over!

synopsis from goodreads:

Kell is one of the last Antari—magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black.
Kell was raised in Arnes—Red London—and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see.
Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they’ll never see. It’s a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand.
After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.
Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they’ll first need to stay alive.


The Young Elites Trilogy by Marie Lu

One of in real life friends is probably reading this and shaking their head lol. I don’t know what is possibly taking my so long to read this because I am pretty sure that I will love this one just as much as I loved Lu’s Legend Trilogy.

synopsis from goodreads:

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.
Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.
Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.
Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.
Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.
It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.


Mara Dyer Trilogy by Michelle Hodkin

Another trilogy that I have a very strong feeling I am going to love and devour. And I definitely need to read this especially with the spin off being announced. EEEEEEK!

synopsis from goodreads:

Mara Dyer believes life can’t get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed.
There is.
She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.
She’s wrong.


Penryn & the End of Days Trilogy by Susan Ee

This trilogy can seriously fall under any number on this list because I am waiting to be on an “Angels” mood to read it!!

synopsis from goodreads:

It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.
Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.
Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.
Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco where she’ll risk everything to rescue her sister and he’ll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.


27969081Brooklyn Brujas Series by Zoraida Córdova

Labyrinth Lost is the only first book out right now for the series BUT I NEED TO READ IT!

synopsis from goodreads:

Nothing says Happy Birthday like summoning the spirits of your dead relatives.
Alex is a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation…and she hates magic. At her Deathday celebration, Alex performs a spell to rid herself of her power. But it backfires. Her whole family vanishes into thin air, leaving her alone with Nova, a brujo boy she can’t trust. A boy whose intentions are as dark as the strange marks on his skin.
The only way to get her family back is to travel with Nova to Los Lagos, a land in-between, as dark as Limbo and as strange as Wonderland…


Vinyl Trilogy by Sophia Elaine Hanson

this trilogy is not finished. Siren releases in 2018 but i cannot wait to read this!!! the ratings/reviews are alllll amazing. i have the privilege of personally knowing this lovely author and she just informed me that her trilogy will have a short story collection called CODA. if Sophia’s name rings a bell, she also wrote a poetry collection, Hummingbird that I reviewed here.

synopsis from goodreads:

All citizens within the soaring black walls of Revinia have metal Singers grafted into their skulls at birth. The parasitic machines issue a form of auditory hypnosis called The Music, which keeps their minds malleable and emotions flat. All artistic expression—especially real music—is strictly prohibited.

On the edge of the city, nineteen year old Ronja struggles to support her cousins and disabled mother. A chance meeting leads to her kidnapping by an underground resistance striving to preserve the human spirit. Violently severed from her Singer by the brash young agent Roark, Ronja revels in her newfound freedom until the consequences of her disappearance begin to unfold.


The Diviners Series by Libba Bray

I have most likely never announced this but I am obsessed with the 1920s. I am also obsessed with ghost and the paranormal. This series has all of that! So far the first two books are out and the third one releases in October. I am not sure when I will be getting to this but I am hoping before the year is over.

synopsis from goodreads:

Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.
Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.
As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened.


Firebird Trilogy by Claudia Gray

I will never ever get over how beautiful these covers are!!! I have had the first book of this trilogy sitting on my shelf for quite some time now but I will not give up. I know that I will read it one day!

synopsis from goodreads:

Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their groundbreaking achievements. Their most astonishing invention, called the Firebird, allows users to jump into multiple universes—and promises to revolutionize science forever. But then Marguerite’s father is murdered, and the killer—her parent’s handsome, enigmatic assistant Paul— escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.
Marguerite refuses to let the man who destroyed her family go free. So she races after Paul through different universes, always leaping into another version of herself. But she also meets alternate versions of the people she knows—including Paul, whose life entangles with hers in increasingly familiar ways. Before long she begins to question Paul’s guilt—as well as her own heart. And soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is far more sinister than she expected.
A Thousand Pieces of You explores an amazingly intricate multi-universe where fate is unavoidable, the truth elusive, and love the greatest mystery of all.


12954620Falling Kingdoms Series by Morgan Rhodes

I really want to get into this series but there are so many books at this point (6 books) plus a spin-off. I feel like I will never have the time to commit!

synopsis from goodreads:

In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest now simmers below the surface.
As the rulers of each kingdom grapple for power, the lives of their subjects are brutally transformed… and four key players, royals and rebels alike, find their fates forever intertwined. Cleo, Jonas, Lucia, and Magnus are caught in a dizzying world of treacherous betrayals, shocking murders, secret alliances, and even unforeseen love.
The only outcome that’s certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?
It’s the eve of war…. Choose your side.


The Program Duology by Suzanne Young

now you might be thinking “Gretchen aren’t there more?” and the answer is yes but the author has broken it down. the next books after these two follow other characters. and i love not getting into a full commitment with a number of books lol.

synopsis from goodreads:

In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.
Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.
Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.


and that is it for today! have you read any of these books or are they on your list?? let’s chat in the comments!! ❤


Instagram: @chicnerdreads
Twitter: @ChicNerdReads

The Night Circus Spoiler Free Book Review

Title: The Night Circus
Author: Erin Morgenstern
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Anchor Books
Format: Paperback
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. 

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.


Summary/Plot

Years later I have finally read this book and it was amazing!! An atmospheric story telling novel about two people, Celia and Marco, who have been placed in a competition due to their fathers. The Night Circus is told from when Celia and Marco are kids to adulthood. They are bound together and they will be a part of this competition till one of them is left standing. However, the rules aren’t that simple. And when Celia and Marco, the magicians, realize that every single move doesn’t only affect them but everyone and everything that’s involved within The Night Circus, things change. And in all of this Celia and Marco fall in love with one another which makes this competition all that much harder because it is not easy to escape The Night Circus. The Night Circus is like a chess board and Celia, Marco, and the rest of the team are the chess pieces.

“The most difficult thing to read is time.
Maybe because it changes so many things.”

The Night Circus isn’t your regular circus. No this one is full of enchanting tents like The Ice Garden, The Wishing Tree, Cloud Maze, and so many more. Each one built filled with magic, illusions, and manipulations. Each tent serves a purpose. Every single thing that happens within the circus has a reason and a purpose because in the end, it’s all part of game.

Writing

I loved the writing. The story is told in third person so we get to see a little of everything that’s going on. It’s a little slow paced but so worth it because of it’s poetic flowery way of writing. It’s avid descriptions of every single person, thing, circus, surroundings were vivid and wonderful. The writing completely sucked me in. I also loved how the author makes you think since she doesn’t entail everything. I love authors who do that, don’t give you everything in written detail but have a way of saying things that you still understand what’s truly being said.

Every single time I picked up this book, the author definitely sucked me into The Night Circus and I felt like I was there experiencing it all through every sentence that flowed through this book.

“I would have written you, myself, if I could put down in words everything I want to say to you. A sea of ink would not be enough. But you built me dreams instead.”

Characters:

We meet so many characters throughout this book and they are all important to the story because they play important roles within what’s taking place in the competition. Although Celia and Marco are the main characters of the story, we also get insight of other characters which in my opinion, makes me feel like The Night Circus in a whole is just the main character at this point lol.

Celia and Marco wouldn’t be the amazing Illusionist they are without their instructors. Celia’s instructor who so happens to be her father Prospero the Enchanter. He is a downright douchebag who always claimed he wanted the best for her. Through his character we see that Celia and Prospero don’t have the greatest relationship. I’ll go to say that he’s emotionally abusive to Celia, all for a win. We also meet Mr. A.H., Marco’s instructor, who is merely present in Marco’s adult life but still has a hold of the circus and knows what’s going on at all times!

There are a few characters that I absolutely loved though, the red haired twins Poppet and Widget. One born a minute before the circus opens and the other born during the grand opening. Poppet and Widget aren’t just any bit human, they have these magical abilities. Just like Celia and Marco, we also see Poppet and Widget grow into adolescence (sheds a tear). Poppet and Widget really stole my heart because of their sweet innocence. You can’t help but love them so much (my precious babies). Another character that grows with them but we don’t really see much of is Bailey. Bailey is not apart of the circus but his story was very heartwarming and added more to the summary and plot. Bailey’s story started off with a dare from his sister to take something from the circus in the middle of the day, meanwhile the circus only opened up at night.

 We meet other side characters, which like I said take apart of the circus. Some take you totally by surprise which is why I am leaving them out of this section. Just read the book if you haven’t already lol.

Thoughts:

I still can’t believe how long it took me to read this book but I am so happy that I started off the new year with this dark circus read. It’s branded as a favorite of 2017 for sure. I took a long time reading it for good reason, I have a thing with faves…they take me forever to finish. I just didn’t want to let go of the circus. I know I said this but again, The Night Circus isn’t a regular circus. It’s full of magical elements that I have never seen or read in any other book. The Night Circus consumed me in amazing ways. We even get to meet these group of people in the book who follow the circus wherever it goes, and if this book was real, I’m sure I would be apart of that group.

I loved that we get to grow throughout the years with these characters and we see character development for sure. Everyone plays an important role and there were times that I was scared of what was going to happen. There is also a take on mental instability for some of the characters and I liked how the author handled that eloquently.

One of my favorite things about this book is how there isn’t instalove. Both Celia and Marco were around one another for years but didn’t really KNOW each other. I would ask myself “sooooo when are you two falling in love, hmm?” The author definitely took us on a ride with those two characters but it was so worth it.

I am hoping that maybe one day the author will write a book about Poppet and Widget, that would be my ultimate dream come true besides making a movie for this.

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Have you read this book? What are your thoughts? Let’s chat in the comments!


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