It’s that time of the year again when I ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ over how fast the past month has gone by. I can’t believe it, time is flying, et cetera, et cetera — I know I’ve said this literally every time but I’ve always meant it too…
But anyway! Last week I had the wonderful opportunity of going to the Melbourne Writers Festival with some other book bloggers. I take back what I said about not being into authors, you guys — I was totally starstruck and in giggles when in the queue to get my books signed by Rainbow Rowell and David Levithan. 🙈
In other news, August marks the twelfth month I’ve been blogging so it’s now been a year! There’s a giveaway here if you haven’t entered yet. For now, though… let’s check out what I got up to on the blog this month. 💕
Book Reviews
- The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson | ★★★☆☆ | Important themes, but a really easy, light-hearted read. Overall enjoyable.
- The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoski | ★★★★☆ | Great world-building and political tactics. Loved the protagonist, not so much the romance or the love interest.
- Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes | ★★★★☆ | Wonderful portrayal of mental health and therapy. Adorable, multi-dimensional characters.
- When Michael Met Mina by Randa Abdel-Fattah | ★★★★☆ | Very relevant, very important. Strong character development.
- The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater | ★★☆☆☆ | Super inventive world-building but lacking in character voice and development. Also really, really sluggish plot.
- The Yearbook Committee by Sarah Ayoub | ★★★☆☆ | Reminiscent of The Breakfast Club and Seven Ways We Lie, but the multiple POV didn’t work as well and the characters aren’t as interesting.
- Nevernight by Jay Kristoff | ★★★★☆ | Took FOREVER to get interesting, and has a very convoluted writing style. Dark and brutal when it comes to it, though.
- Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee and Susan Elizabeth McClelland | ★★★★☆ | The story of a North Korean defector. Not super great writing, considering that it’s a memoir, but an important story to tell anyhow.
Book Looks
Miscellaneous Posts
- Let’s Talk: Must-Have Blogging Tools | What tools have helped me keep my sanity thus far, despite all the time and effort that blogging takes?
- Top Ten Books with Imaginative Settings | Breaking down the setting of some of my favourite books and thinking about what makes them unique.
- Top Ten Turn-Offs in a Book | Includes things like girl-hate, controlling love interests, and Mary Sues.
- BBCP 2016: Match Made in the Pages Part 1 | Where I interview Kell from A Darker Shade of Magic…
- BBCP 2016: Match Made in the Pages Part 2 | … and send him on a ‘date’ with Jane from My Lady Jane. 💖
Around the Blogsophere
- Halee @ Confessions of a Book Addict interviewed me for her inaugural Book Blogger Positivity Network project! Super honoured. 😊
- Naz @ Read Diverse Books is preparing to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in a couple of weeks! Check out the details here.
- CW @ Read, Think, Ponder sums up her problem with the word ‘diverse’.
- Claire @ Cover to Cover shares four steps to capture the best Bookstagram pictures.
- Aimal @ Bookshelves and Paperbacks talks about trigger warnings in books.
- Sam @ Bookshelves and Biros discusses the importance of YA literature.
- Ari @ The Daydreaming Book Worm asks: how personal is “too personal” when it comes to blogging?
- Esther @ Chapter Adventures shares some tips to avoid blogging stress.
- Puput @ Sparkling Letters wonders: are novellas and companion books really necessary?
- Fadwa @ Word Wonders finally found an English-selling bookstore in her area and shares her experience!
- Anushka @ Going Through Books asks: what makes you follow a book blog?
- Cilla @ Paved with Books discusses the upsides of having a book budget.
- Cee Arr @ Diary of a Reading Addict tells us how to support authors when we’re broke.
- Ashleigh @ A Frolic through Fiction asks: are book clubs still a thing?
- Lauren @ Wonderless Reviews shares a LOT of very, very useful book blogging tips.
- Marie @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books walks us through a day in the life of a book blogger.
Most Anticipated Reads
A Torch Against the Night – Sabaa Tahir
After the events of the Fourth Trial, Martial soldiers hunt the two fugitives as they flee the city of Serra and undertake a perilous journey through the heart of the Empire.
Laia is determined to break into Kauf – the Empire’s most secure and dangerous prison – to save her brother, who is the key to the Scholars’ survival. And Elias is determined to help Laia succeed, even if it means giving up his last chance at freedom.
But dark forces, human and otherworldly, work against Laia and Elias. The pair must fight every step of the way to outsmart their enemies: the bloodthirsty Emperor Marcus, the merciless Commandant, the sadistic Warden of Kauf, and, most heartbreaking of all, Helene – Elias’s former friend and the Empire’s newest Blood Shrike.
Bound to Marcus’s will, Helene faces a torturous mission of her own – one that might destroy her: find the traitor Elias Veturius and the Scholar slave who helped him escape… and kill them both.
YAS FOR THIS SEQUEL! After the glorious thing that was An Ember in the Ashes, I can’t wait to finally continue with Elias’s and Laia’s story.
Yellow – Megan Jacobson
If fourteen-year-old Kirra is having a mid-life crisis now, then it doesn’t bode well for her life expectancy. Her so-called friends bully her, whatever semblance of a mother she had has been drowned at the bottom of a gin bottle ever since her dad left them for another woman, and now a teenage ghost is speaking to her through a broken phone booth.
Kirra and the ghost make a pact. She’ll prove who murdered him almost twenty years ago if he does three things for her. He makes her popular, he gets her parents back together, and he doesn’t haunt her. Things aren’t so simple however, and Kirra realises that people can be haunted in more ways than one.
I’ll be buddy-reading this with the lovely Sara @ Freadom Library this month and I’M SUPER EXCITED! That cover is utterly gorgeous, and this is a #LoveOzYA book.
Three Dark Crowns – Kendare Blake
Every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.
But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins. The last queen standing gets the crown.
This sounds like The Hunger Games but between siblings, and I can only hope it’ll be even darker and more brutal because that’s right up my alley! 😈
How did August go for you? Let me know in the comments or leave me a link to your wrap-up!
I always love reading your wrap-ups! How was meeting David L. and Rainbow R.? Did you talk to them? 🙂 I don’t know if you are writing a post on that, so I have to ask haha
Also, thank you so much for sharing my post ❤
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Thanks! Haha, I would if I have more things to say but I really don’t. BUT meeting them was really awesome – I was especially impressed with RR just because she’s so bubbly and such a great speaker. I attended one of her sessions with Lev Grossman (author of The Magician) and she is SO charming. I could listen to her speak forever! DL was very, very sweet too and signed my books with longer messages, but he was looking really tired and he was a bit more quiet than RR. 🙂
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I totally figured she would be bubbly because of her writing. It shows! haha that’s so nice. And I can understand David L., those events must be so tiresome :O But the important thing is that they were all nice and you had fun!
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It does, doesn’t it? After seeing her I definitely want to re-read all of her books – I actually went a little bit crazy and bought two on the spot even though I already have (e-) copies at home, haha. Oops. Totally got starstruck! 😂
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I’m still so happy you got to meet Rainbow Rowell, and it seems like you had such a fabulous time, I’m so happy for you! ❤ And congratulations again on the blogoversary! ❤
I have been seeing Yellow around, but haven't added it to my TBR just yet. I think I'll wait for your review to see if it's worth a read! 🙂
Happy September, Reg! ❤
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I did! I still sometimes think about that festival and smile to myself because OMG SUCH WONDERFUL TIMES. And thank you (again)! 😊
Alrighty! I’m at your service. 😘
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Wow I’m so jealous you got to meet Rainbow Rowell and David Levithan! Great post. 🙂
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Thank you! I couldn’t believe my luck either. 😂
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I’m always so excited for your wrap-up posts. I love the links to posts on other blogs–there are always things I’ve missed and they’re always interesting reads.
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Haha, thank you so much! Mission accomplished. 💖
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Wow, what a month for you! Amazing!
And some good books in there, too! That book Yellow…I’m in cover love with it.
Excellent wrap-up of a productive month!
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Thank you! Yeah, the cover for Yellow is SO gorgeous – it went straight into the TBR even though I didn’t know what it was all about. 😂
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I do the same thing sometimes…so far I’ve been pretty lucky! One day, though, I’m bound to wind up with a dud. 😂
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I know! I’ve been burned before so I really should be careful, but some things are just too pretty to NOT have. 😂
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Well, we know from others that Stealing Snow is a dud, and that cover is beautiful. So I guess there’s an example right there! 😄
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I haven’t read that book! Probably not planning to given the reviews, haha. I guess no matter how pretty the packaging is, what matters most is still the content.
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I’m so excited for our buddy read! Honestly I’m a little scared that we won’t like it haha but it will be okay!
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I’m excited too! I’ve heard good things about it so I think we’ll be fine, and the plot sounds intriguing enough. Are you OK with starting next Monday?
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The 12th? Sure no problem! I can’t wait 😀
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Yup! There are 34 chapters, so I’m thinking maybe 7 chapters every day over five days? 🙂
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I will do my best to make sure that happens haha
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We can also do less a day – I’m going to be busyish next week. I just thought given how fast you went through The Scorpio Races last time you’d want to do more. 😂😂
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It might depend on how I feel like week. Right now I’m on a Fanfiction binge because I’m bored of the real books I’m reading 😂 hopefully I can get out of that by next week
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OMG. What fanfiction are you reading??? 😂
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I’m binge reading one author in particular but it’s basically all Twilight 😂😂
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Who’s your pairing of choice? 👀
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Honestly, most of them are Bella and Edward because that’s what everyone does. But I’ve read some LGBTQ+ as well 😀 hahaha
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As always your month of reading and blogging looks amazingly productive!!! Your buddy read book seems pretty brutal! Sisters fighting….phew!!! Have fun!!!!
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Thank you! The book I’m buddy-reading isn’t the sisters fighting book but I am SO EXCITED for both of them – hopefully they’re good (but in different ways). 😂
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Lol oh wow thats what I get for reading in the middle of the night on my phone 😂 totally jumbled info 🙈
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That’s okay! Happens to me all the time. 😂
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I’m also really excited for Three Dark Crowns – it sounds like a common trope brutally twisted to involve something much more exhilarating – I hope we both enjoy it. Happy reading, Reg!❤
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I know! I love the whole “fight to the death” trope and when it’s sisters with magic you just know it’s going to be amazing (well, I hope). Thanks, Niraja. 😊
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Oh, I somehow missed hearing about Yellow. That’s strange…
I have a feeling Three Dark Crowns is not a book for me – I tend to avoid plots with siblings having to kill each other. I heard great things about Crown’s Game which has similar plot (if I’m not mistaken) but somehow siblings’ fight turnes me off.
I read Blake’s Anna Dressed In Blood, I love that book to bits, but still…
As for A Torch Against the Night I still have to read book 1 in the series and then I’ll decide, but I have a feeling this one I’ll like.
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It’s a LoveOzYA book and might not be widely published elsewhere! I have high hopes though. 🙂
Eep, I WISH it’s not like The Crown’s Game! I actually didn’t like that book (I gave it two stars) – I was expecting brutality but it was all very meh and not so exciting, haha. I’ll let you be the judge of it yourself, though… do you think you’re going to pick it up?
Hope you like An Ember in the Ashes! I actually prefer that to the sequel, unfortunately.
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Well, I will wait to see reviews from my GR friends who have similar taste to mine so if they end up liking it I’ll pick it up, but if they dislike it then I won’t bother.
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Sounds like a plan! I sometimes do that too, although with some books I just can’t help myself. 😊
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Every month I also say “I CAN’T BELIEVE HOW TIME IS FLYING” and I mean it too! XD I can’t believe it’s September already! Ah, it looks like you had an amazing time at the Writers Festival! 🙂 I really want to read A Torch Against the Night and Three Dark Crowns – they sound amazing! 🙂
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I knooow. A part of me still feels like it’s March or April or something – time flies SO fast. 🙂
I did have an amazing time, thank you! Hope you like A Torch Against the Night and Three Dark Crowns. ❤
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Great recap for this month Reg! It looks like you had a lot of fun at the Melbourne Writers Festival, I am so jealous you got to meet Rainbow Rowell, that must have been amazing!
You got through some great books this month as well. I am so glad you enjoyed both The Winner’s Crime and Nevernight, also there are a few you reviewed that I need to get my hands on soon!
I hope you really enjoy A Torch Against the Night, also I am really excited for Three Dark Crowns. I can’t believe it’s going to be released soon, it feels like I’ve been waiting for it for ages now! 😀
Congrats again on your one year blogiversary as well! ❤
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Thanks, Beth! It was so amazing – RR was just so sweet and it made me want to listen to her speak forever.
I know! I feel like I’ve been waiting for Three Dark Crowns ever since I heard about it at the beginning of the year… I guess that’s kind of forever, in a way. Hopefully it lives up to the wait, because if not I think I’m going to be devastated. 😛
Thank you! 💖
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God I can imagine, there are so many authors I want to meet but maybe one day I’ll be lucky enough to meet RR!
God same here. I tend to build up books a lot in my head and sometimes they just can’t live up to the hype I’ve created in my own mind. I really hope that isn’t the case with Three Dark Crowns!
That’s all right. ❤️
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I’ve never met an author before! Not even the local ones because I’ve never wanted before, but seeing everyone meeting their favorite authors seem so fun! 😛 I’m also reallllyyyy looking forward to A Torch Against the Night and Three Dark Crowns! Anyway, thanks for featuring one of my posts 😀
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I’ve never really wanted to before and that’s why I was like “eh, I don’t really care” but now I totally buy into the hype! These guys weren’t my favourites and I was already super excited – I can’t imagine how happy I’d be if it was actually my favourite authors. 🙂
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So cool that you met Rainbow Rowell and David Levithan! I really need to read some of Rainbow’s books. I’ve read some of the books David’s co-wrote and really enjoyed them 😊. I’ve never met an author and I like to think I would be chill but judging how I am when I meet band members I probably wouldn’t be 😅
I’m so excited for Three Dark Crowns!! I really want to read Yellow too.
And thank you so much for linking my post ♥♥♥
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I knooow, I was fangirling over them! I actually like David Levithan less when he’s collaborating with others, for some strange reason – my favourite of his has always been The Lover’s Dictionary, haha.
I would NOT be chill when I meet band members either. I mean, I’ve always thought I wasn’t one for authors but I WAS WRONG. DEAD WRONG. 😂
No worries! That was a really useful post and I could learn lots from it.
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Hi Reg!! That’s so cool that you met two big authors! The only author I’ve met was Sarah Maas when she was in NZ and she was SO NICE. I was the last person after 2 hours+ of signing and she was so nice to me (and she said my name was cute AHH). I, on the other hand, was completely completely awkward and I just stammered a little starstruck and I was like… “I-I LOVED YOUR BOOKS”. *facepalm*
You’ve had an amazing August!! So many books and posts, oh my gosh. When I grow up, I want to be just like you. :’)
AND THANK YOU for sharing my post!! *bigbighugs* It means a lot, and it is an honour.
I hope you have a splendid September, Reg. ❤
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Ahhh I’ve heard that about Sarah Maas! I’m not a big fan of her books but I think I’d go to a signing just to check her out and see what she’s like in real life. ALSO DON’T WORRY, I’m totally starstruck and awkward too. I really couldn’t help myself!
I rely waaay too much on drafted posts, CW. I think many of the posts I’ve done in August are posts I’ve drafted from way before, save for like.. four posts, so it’s just easy as at that point. 😂
I loved that post! You’re always so articulate and I have loads to learn about that. 😘
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Your wrap-ups are so organized and aesthetically scrumptious!! Also, I’m mildly freaking out because RAINBOW ROWELL!! Does she rock as much as her writing does??
CAN WE TALK ABOUT A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT OMGGGGG. I. Still. Haven’t. Read. It. I hate myself. But I’m bombarded with assigned reading for school so there is NO time. Ugh.
I love all the links you shared! You’re giving me so many more blogs to check out, I love it 🙂
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Thanks, Becca! SHE DOES. In fact I think she rocks moooore than her writing does – I can listen to her speak forever, she’s just super friendly and bubbly and comes across as very, very thoughtful and intelligent.
Oh noooo. I’ve finished it now and I’m sorry to say that I love the first book more, but I might be the odd one out. Hope you get the time soon. 😛
Yay! Mission accomplished. 😊
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