Behind the Screen: A Book Blogger Tag

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I’m here with another book tag! Thank you so much to Adrianna at For the Love of Books for tagging me in this! I loved reading her answers and I hope you all enjoy mine!

This tag was created by Amber @ Du Liver. 

When did you start blogging and what was your first review?

My very first post was in May of 2016 and it was a review of Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare. I wanted to start my blog off with a bang (ha, see what I did there!) and review a book I had recently finished and loved! 

Who/what inspired you to start blogging?

A bunch of the people I interact with the most on Goodreads had blogs and their posts always looked so fun. I decided I wanted to give it a go!

What is a blog-related goal that you have?

My short term blog goal is to get to 500 followers. I know this number is nothing to a lot of people but for me that’s a big deal!

What is one thing you wish someone told you about blogging?

It’s a lot of work. Seriously, on the days I’m not working, I spend most of my time writing reviews and other posts (when I’m not reading). 

What was your biggest blog-related accomplishment?

I think the first time I was contacted and asked to host a stop for a book tour! I was so humbled and thankful that they thought to reach out to me. It was for a book from a series I enjoyed which made it even more special!

What types of posts do you enjoy writing?

I love doing list posts like Top Ten Tuesday and Top 5 Wednesdays! They’re always so much fun and I feel like I get the most interaction with my followers with those posts. 

Where do you usually blog? What does your setup look like?

I blog either on when I’m sitting on my couch upstairs, or in the comfy chair in the living room.  

What was your last 5-star read?

Sadie by Courtney Summers. It’s a gripping read!

What was your last 1-star read?

I usually don’t rate books I DNF, but the last 1-star I gave a book was Roar by Cora Carmack. I didn’t make it very far into the book and knew I had to stop. Definitely not for me. 

What are three words that make you pick up a book?

Fantasy, Adventure, Enemies-to-Lovers

What is your Hogwarts House?

My heart says Slytherin, but my head says Ravenclaw.

What is your favorite reading environment?

I love reading on my couch in the library, especially in the evenings and getting cozy with a warm blanket. I also love reading in bed – there’s nothing better than that! 

What advice would you give to new bloggers?

Be patient. It takes awhile to really get your feet under you when you first start blogging, but once you get in a rhythm it becomes much easier.

Be social. Don’t be afraid to comment and interact with other bloggers, twitter peeps, and bookstagrammers! That’s the easiest way to grow a following, plus it’s the best way to have fun and make friends!

Be you. Don’t feel like you have to do something or read something just because it’s popular or you feel like all the other blogs are doing it. Read what you like, write what you like. 

REVIEW: Sadie – Courtney Summers (ARC)

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34810320Title: Sadie
Author: Courtney Summers
Rating: ★★★★★

ARC provided by the publisher. 

But She’s dead is the reason I’m still alive. She’s dead is the reason I’m going to kill a man.

This book was damned good. Sadie is a brilliant, gripping YA thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time you’re reading.

Sadie is told in two separate parts: the story alternates between Sadie’s POV following the murder of her sister and in the form of podcast episodes as the host attempts to find Sadie, who has since gone missing. I really liked the format. I think it worked well for the story being told and that Courtney Summers executed it perfectly. The ending feels like a sucker punch: it’s completely ambiguous and yet it fit the tone of the novel exquisitely. 

Sadie pulled me in from the first chapter and I couldn’t seem to stop turning the pages. I highly recommend this book, especially those who enjoy listening to podcasts like Up and Vanished or Serial. 

REVIEW: The Lantern’s Ember – Colleen Houck (ARC)

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38188583Title: The Lantern’s Ember
Author: Colleen Houck
Rating: ★★

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Disappointed would the be the best word to describe my reading experience. I wanted to love The Lantern’s Ember so much. Not only is that cover is absolutely stunning, but the synopsis was intriguing and promised all sorts of paranormal goodness. Sadly, the story and characters were lacking.

I went into The Lantern’s Ember expecting a cool, spooky story similar to urban legends like Sleepy Hallow, full of paranormal creatures and magic. Instead, I got a strange steampunk version of Halloweentown. I actually would have been okay with that, but the writing was mediocre and the story seemed a bit juvenile for my tastes. Ember was the super special heroine that acted naively and never bothered to follow common sense, much less warnings given to her by other people. And yet despite her shortcomings, all three of the male characters happen to be in love with her. None of the characters felt fleshed out or had any kind of character growth as the story went on. The book is written in third person omniscient, which I think heavily contributed to the fact that the characters didn’t have much depth. The plot itself didn’t have much substance to it either; it was predictable, boring at times, and many of the conflicts were resolved a little too conveniently. 

I really wish I had enjoyed The Lantern’s Ember so much more than I had. The first couple of chapters had me falsely excited for an eerie story full of supernatural creatures. The combination of the characters, writing, and plot ultimately caused the story to fall flat for me. 

WWW Wednesday #10

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WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words in which the three W’s stand for:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you’ll read next?

38188583WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

The Lantern’s Ember by Colleen Houck

 

 

37825410WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

That’s Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger

 

 

35750273WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

One Small Thing by Erin Watt

#ARCstravaganza: Girls of Paper and Fire – Natasha Ngan

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Happy Monday! #ARCstravangaza is a weekly meme now hosted by Flavia the Bibliophile where readers can show off their wonderful ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) and spread the word about upcoming releases. For more information about this meme and its origins check out this post.

Girls of Paper and Fire – Natasha Ngan

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About the Book

34433755Title: Girls of Paper and Fire
Author: Natasha Ngan
Release: November 6, 2018

Each year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. It’s the highest honor they could hope for…and the most cruel. But this year, there’s a ninth girl. And instead of paper, she’s made of fire.

In this lush fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most oppressed class in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards still haunts her. Now, the guards are back, and this time it’s Lei they’re after – the girl whose golden eyes have piqued the king’s interest.

Over weeks of training in the opulent but stifling palace, Lei and eight other girls learn the skills and charm that befit being a king’s consort. But Lei isn’t content to watch her fate consume her. Instead, she does the unthinkable – she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens the very foundation of Ikhara, and Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide just how far she’s willing to go for justice and revenge.