Top 5 Wednesday: Books I Need to Reread

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Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Thoughts on Tomes. If you want to join or find out more information about the weekly themes check out the Goodreads page! Today’s theme was a freebie, so I decided to pick five books that I’ve been meaning to reread.

25203675STAR-TOUCHED QUEEN – Ever since I read Star-Touched Stories, I’ve wanted to revisit the first book in the duology. I absolutely loved A Crown of Wishes, and Roshani Chokshi’s storytelling is completely mesmerizing. I don’t remember much of Star-Touched Queen, but there’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll enjoy it alot better the second time around, and I can’t wait to dive back into this world. 


8694389DEATHLESS – I finished this feeling like I read an entirely different book than everyone else. Most of the reviews rave about it, and it seems to be a favorite for a lot of people. I’m not sure if my initial dislike is a “it’s me, not you” kind of situation, or if it stems from the fact that this was my beach read while I was on vacation. Regardless, this has always been a book that I’ve felt I needed to reread. 


9780451477538_RebelOfTheSands_JK.inddREBEL OF THE SANDS – This is one of those series that I really need to get to one of these days. I read Rebel of the Sands when it was first released, and then never seemed to have time or the interest to pick up the second when it came around. I have all three of theses books sitting prettily on my bookshelf, waiting for the day when I’ll finally make time to read them. However, since I don’t remember much from the first book, I definitely will have to reread it before continuing on with the series. 

23688792THESE VICIOUS MASKS – Again, I read this book when it first came out, but I never continued the series. I don’t think I enjoyed this as much because I had read it immediately after reading Lady Helen and the Dark Days Club, and both books have very similar plots and settings. I really want to reread this before continuing the series, and I’m convinced I’ll like it a lot better the second time.


25614492SALT TO THE SEA – I actually DNF’d this, so it’s not that I want to reread this but rather that I want to restart it. I usually devour historical fiction books, especially if they’re based in WWII, but for some reason I just could not get into this at all. Everyone I know that’s read it has really enjoyed it, so I’m hoping the second time I will too. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Bookish Merch

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Today’s theme was a focus on our favorite bookish blogs/websites, but I tweaked it a bit and decided to do my favorite places to buy bookish merchandise (read: candles). I am absolutely obsessed with buying bookish candles: they smell great, they looking amazing on my bookshelves, and I love adding them to pictures for Instagram. 

1. WICK AND FABLE
These are probably my favorite candles. Most of the candles I’ve bought are from this website, and there are so many more I’d love to purchase! They have a huge selection to choose from, the labels are always pleasing to the eye, and the scents are wonderful. They also sell bookish teas and have monthly themed boxes. [x]

2. ICEY DESIGNS
Even though full-size candles are awesome, they’re not so awesome for my wallet. I’ve bought the three-piece 2oz tins from this shop and they are marvelously. In addition to candles, they also sell a bunch of other bookish items including journals, pencils, pillow covers, and enamel pins – which are my newest bookish obsession. Monthly theme boxes are available as well (I got the Ember in Ashes one and it everything in it was amazing). And in case you haven’t hear, Hafsah’s (the shop owner) debut We Hunt the Flame comes out in the spring and it’s one of my most anticipated books for 2019! [x]

3. SPIDEY SCENTS
I actually just got my first few candles from them and I was very impressed. They smell great, the labels are atheistically pleasing, and the tops of the candle have glitter! They came wrapped in pretty tissue paper that was held together by superhero stickers, which I was ecstatic about. I will definitely be purchasing more from them in the near future! [x]

4. FLICK THE WICK
I’ve only purchased two candles from this shop so far, but there are so many more items that I would love to buy from them. There’s such a large variety of bookish candles to choose from, and they also have monthly themed boxes for purchase. [x]

5. MCL
This shop has been on vacation for the longest time thanks to being feature in Buzzfeed for their now-famous Hogwarts sorting candle. Since their items just came back, I haven’t yet bought anything from their store, but everything looks so amazing! They have create-your-own adventure candle story that I would love try out. In addition to candles, they also have bookish body products such as epsom salts, sugar scrubs, and bath bombs. [x]

6. ALCHEMY & INK
Another shop that has been on a vacation for a time, but I’ve been eying these candles for such a long time. The just had a restock last week, but unfortunately due to a technical glitch, I missed out on all the candles I really wanted. They also sell enamel pins and I can’t wait to add some of them to my collection. [x]

7. TOTALLY WICKED CANDLES
I love this shop, if only because it’s one of the only sites that sells a Sansa Stark candle, which is one of my favorite candles on my shelf. But besides my King and Queen of the North candles, they have a lovely selection of other bookish candles. I hope to eventually add more of their merchandise to my shelves. [x]

8. CANTERBURY ROAD CO
I have quite a few of these candles, and while they smell nice and look great on my bookshelf, I’m not the biggest fan of their labels. They have a new Uprooted candle that I absolutely need! [x]

9. NOVELLY YOURS
Another shop that I haven’t yet bought anything from, but my mom somehow got a free sample candle at BookCon (seriously, where did she find these things?!) and it smells so good. They also have themed monthly boxes available for purchase. I’ve casually browsed the website and one day I’m sure I’ll end up buying something! [x] 

10. IN THE WICK OF TIME
Yet another shop that doesn’t yet grace my shelves, but I’m sure that won’t last long. I’ve looked around their shop quite a bit and there’s a whole bunch of candles that I would love to purchase, especially that Direwolf one! [x]

Top 5 Wednesday: Love Triangles I Didn’t Hate

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Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Thoughts on Tomes. If you want to join or find out more information about the weekly themes check out the Goodreads page! The theme for this week was books we liked that contain tropes we typically hate. This was perfect timing since I had just thought of a blog idea with a similar theme! I decided to focus on the most dreaded trope in that YA genre: love triangles. I think we can all agree that the love triangle trope is overdone and usually unnecessary. Not only that, but they’re no fun if you know you’re on the losing side! However, I’ve always been adamant in saying that I actually don’t mind a love triangle, as long as it’s handled in a good way. Below are five books that featured love triangles that I didn’t hate.

16429619KISS OF DECEPTION – This is a YA fantasy full of some of the most redundant tropes, but I was surprised by how much I found myself intrigued by the love triangle in this. I think it’s because throughout the book, the identity of the two love interests/male protagonists remains a secret. As readers, we don’t actually know which one the heroine is falling for until the very end, nor do we ever know which disguise each of the male protagonists is supposed to be portraying. It creates a level of mystery that is unique and makes both the book and the love triangle pretty suspenseful.  

15749186TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE – The main character pretends to be in a relationship with a boy to make another boy jealous? We all know how this is going to play out. This not only has a super cute fake-relationship trope, but it also has a love triangle that I never minded, because it was easy to figure out how it would all end. By the way, this movie comes out next week and I LITERALLY CANNOT WAIT.

7171637THE INFERNAL DEVICES – This is a love triangle that ascends all other love triangles because the dynamic between all three characters is unlike any other. Unlike other books in which the love interests are usually are pitted against one another, Will and Jem love each other brotherly as possible, and they loved each other before Tessa was even in the picture. Both of they are completely wiling to give up their happiness for the other. And while I was also 100% here for Will and Tessa and wanted them to end up together, I never could hate Jem and Tessa as much as I wanted to.  

32505753ASH PRINCESS – A lot of people didn’t like the love triangle in this one, but I loved it. First of all, there is nothing subtle or vague about it. Second, both sides of the triangle contain two of my favorite tropes. There’s both a friends-to-lovers romance, as well as a enemies-to-lovers. The latter is one of my favorite tropes to read about, so that’s the side I’m rooting for, but I’m totally invested in how both the romances (and the plot twists!) are going to turn out in the sequel. 

18660669VAMPIRE ACADEMY – The love triangle in this didn’t show up until later in the series, and while it would usually annoy the heck out of me, I didn’t mind it that badly. I’m not ashamed to admit that the only reason I didn’t hate the love triangle was because I loved both the love interests. Yes, I totally ship Rose and Dimitri and want nothing to come between them, but I couldn’t help falling for Adrian’s charm. And let’s be honest, sometimes a little competition is healthy 😉

REVIEW: My Plain Jane – Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton & Jodi Meadows

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36301023Title: My Plain Jane
Author: Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton & Jodi Meadows
Rating: ★★★½

“It became clear from the moment she arrived; something was amiss at Thornfield Hall.”

Reader, I thought I would love this. Jane Eyre is one of my favorite classic novels, so I was expecting to absolutely adore this retelling. The book started out strong, but it kept loosing stars as I read on. Despite that, My Plain Jane was a witty, light-hearted, entertaining read from start until finish.

“He was everything she’d ever dreamed about. Tall. Dark. Brooding. But he also had a penchant for lying, and making Jane think she was crazy, and not telling her the full story.”

The humor and quips were along the same vein as My Lady Jane, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Even though Jane Eyre is one of my favorite classics, I appreciated all the jokes and small ways the author poked fun at the original text. My Plain Jane is one of those books where it remains best not to take it too seriously. Helen’s observations and comments while Jane was at Thornfield Hall were spot on, and she becomes the voice of reason that our love-struck heroine ignores. I also really loved having Charlotte Brontë as a secondary character and Jane’s best friend. It was fun following her along as she comes up with inspirations for her novel based on the story’s events. 

My biggest issue lies with the last quarter of the book, especially in regards to the romance. I understand why the authors went in the direction they did, but it still irked me. The plot also began to move a bit too fast towards the end, compared to the rest of the book which was even paced. Overall, I enjoyed the silliness and humor of My Plain Jane, but I didn’t end up liking it as much as I thought I would for a Jane Eyre retelling. 

 

WWW Wednesday #11

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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?

25446343WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor. The #booksfortrade tag on Twitter is the best thing to ever happen to me because I now in possession of a signed ARC. I’m reading this slowly so I can savor every magical word. 

 

37946456WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

Escaping From Houdini (Stalking Jack the Ripper #3) by Kerri Maniscalco

 

 

36426005WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL READ NEXT?

Heart of Thorns by Bree Barton