Category: Uncategorized

Favorite Romance Tropes

15 Comments

We all have those tropes that make picking up a certain book a no-brainer. In the honor of Valentine’s Day, I decided to talk about all the romance tropes that I absolutely love in a book. If I detect a hint of any of these in a synopsis, you can bet I’ll be adding that book to my TBR. I’m also really mad because as I was writing this post, I was drawing some serious blanks and could not recall any books that featured a lot of these tropes. I need to go back and reread every book I’ve ever had and take notes.

ENEMIES TO LOVERS

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: hate-to-love romances are my bread and butter. There are so many great aspects to this trope: the heated arguments, the palpable angst, the sexual tension, the mixed feelings. Honestly, just give me two characters that hate each other and hint at an attraction and I’ll be good to go.

Favorite Examples: Cardan + Jude from The Cruel Prince, Eelyn + Fiske from Sky in the Deep, Magnus + Cleo from Falling Kingdoms, Matthias + Nina from Six of Crows, Anthony + Kate from The Viscount Who Loved Me

CHILDHOOD FRIENDS TO LOVERS

The next best thing to hate-to-lovers, is having two people who have know each other for forever and then eventually develop feelings – or better yet, discover the feelings have been there all along. I love everything about it: the history between them, the inside jokes, the established friendship, the moments of jealousy before they realize their feelings. 

Favorite Examples: Malyen + Alina from Shadow and Bone, Eril-Fane + Azareen from Strange the Dreamer, Elliot + Macy from Love and Other Words, Jay + Violet from The Body Finder

THERE’S ONLY ONE BED

You know this trope. The protagonist and love interest encounter a situation where they need to stay in a room with only one bed which – to my great delight – they end up sharing. Every time this happens in a book, I turn into giddy, squealing schoolgirl. I don’t know how this trope originated, but I would like to personally thank each and every author that’s ever utilized it. Bonus points if they hate each other. Extra bonus points if they end up cuddling by morning or the male love interest wakes up with a bit of a situation, ya know what I’m saying 😉

Favorite Examples: All of them. (but no seriously, I’m drawing a huge blank and cannot think of a single book with this trope even though I’ve read it so many times. If anyone can think of any specific YA books in which this happens, please comment below and put me out of my misery 😭)

FAKE RELATIONSHIP

I love me a good fake relationship, especially when the characters need to make it believable and act in love: hold hands, snuggling up, kissing. I know it’s probably redundant at this point, but the trope is even better when they don’t even really like each other at the beginning.

Favorite Examples: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, The Rogue Not Taken, Roomies

KISSING TO HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT

Ah, the infamous “the bad guys are looking for us, let’s kiss so they look the other way!” Or when two characters are in disguise and have to kiss to keep up the ruse. Classic. I love this trope, particularly because it always happens before either of the characters admit to any feelings. And also because kissing, duh.

Favorite Examples: Angelfall, Lady Helen and the Dark Days Pact, The Devil’s Thief, Rebel of the Sands

HUDDLING TOGETHER FOR SURVIVAL

This is such a good trope, and one that sometimes allows for our beloved characters to strip down in a totally nonsexual way and then cuddle for warmth (or survival). I think I like it so much, because usually they end up falling asleep in each other’s arms, and then it becomes very reminiscent to the whole “there’s only bed” trope which we have all learned by now is one of my favorites.

Favorite Examples: Grave Mercy, The Hunger Games, The White Stag, 

SHARING A HORSE

I’m total and complete trash for this trope. Like, in every fantasy story where there is some kind of horse riding going on, I always pray that some kind of situation arises in which the main character and the love interest have to share a horse for the duration of the rest of the journey. Whether they end up riding in front or in back, doesn’t matter it makes me swoon so hard. 

Favorite Examples: Each and every time it happens.

Are any of these tropes you enjoy reading? What are some of your favorite romance tropes? Or what are some tropes in romance you cannot stand to read? Let me know in the comments and let’s chat!

Underhyped Books of 2018

14 Comments

It’s that time of year: the time for the Best of 2018 lists. And while I love shouting about all my favorite reads to anyone and everyone as much as the next reader, there are also a whole bunch of great releases this year that haven’t seen as much hype and totally deserve praise. So I’ve decided to shine a spotlight on some of the most underrated releases of 2018!

DEBUT AUTHORS

30975382BLOOD AND SAND by C.V. Wyk
This historical fiction book set in Ancient rome features gladiators and is (very) loosely based on the legend of Spartacus! It’s fast-paced, well-written, and contains wonderful characters and a heart-warming enemies-to-loves romance. I’ve very picky when it comes to reading historical fiction due to my tendency to latch onto any inaccuracies or unbelievable scenarios (nerd alert), but I absolutely loved this and really recommend it.
Goodreads | Amazon

33413958YOUR ONE AND ONLY by Adrienne Finlay
If you’re looking for a unique YA Dystopian story with excellent execution, skillful writing, and great characters, look no further than this. The synopsis hints towards a book rife with tropes and romance-heavy, but it actually focuses on plot and character growth, with the romance riding shotgun. I highly recommend this book and I think other readers will become as enraptured by the story and characters as I was.
Goodreads | Amazon

31179006SWEET BLACK WAVES by Kristina Pérez
This is such an emotional, wonderful retelling of the legend Tristan and Iseult, set in ancient Ireland and full of Celtic mythology. The stunning worldbuilding and fantasy aspects are combined perfectly with historical elements. Branwen is a wonderful and selfless heroine with whom you can help feeling for, especially with that tumultuous and heartbreaking ending. My stomach is a knot of angst just thinking about it.
Goodreads | Amazon 

32702487THE BIRD AND THE BLADE by Megan Bannen
This was a fascinating, compelling, stunning story that captured my heart and attention from the very beginning. The story was both unique and intriguing in that it blended historical elements of the Mongol Empire with the Italian opera, Turandot, and it did so seamlessly. The story ends in a way that is both heart-warming and heart-wrenching. An unforgettable, breathtaking, impressive book and one of my favorites of the year.
Goodreads | Amazon

34842042THE LIGHT BETWEEN WORLDS by Laura E. Weymouth
This is an extremely different sort of book than Narnia, so if you’re expecting a whimsical story full of magic and mythical creatures, this is not that book. This a very character driven book, that deals with important issues and heavy subjects such as familial bonds, war, grief and guilt, depression, and mental illness. The writing is poetic and really quite lovely, and if you give this slower paced book a chance, I think you will find it very enjoyable.
Goodreads | Amazon 

NEW RELEASES

30339493ISLE OF BLOOD AND STONE by Makiia Lucier
This is the only book on the list that I haven’t actually read, however I’ve heard such good things about this and it has a decently high rating. And for a YA Fantasy with an intriguing synopsis, I found it really surprising that there was hardly any hype for the book at all I have an arc of the companion novel, Song of the Abyss (which doesn’t seem to have as much hype either), so I look forward to reading this in the near future!
Goodreads | Amazon

36134048WHISPER OF THE TIDE by Sarah Tolscer
This is a the sequel to Song of the Current, and it makes me so mad that these books aren’t more popular. These books are action-packed, fast-paced, well-written, and have excellent worldbuilding. They feature an amazing kick-ass heroine, a spoiled yet charming prince, pirates, assassins, sea adventures, and of course – a swoon-worthy romance. This duology is really fun and entertaining, and it’s such a shame how underrated it is!
Goodreads | Amazon

34640572STATE OF SORROW by Melinda Salisbury
This book was so underhyped, that I had never even heard of it until it arrived in my March FairyLoot box. This is an absolutely spectacular book; the storytelling and the worldbuilding were stunning, and it’s full of political intrigue, breathtaking descriptions, and dynamic characters. The protagonists doesn’t fall under the typical “strong, female heroine” expected of YA fantasy books, but instead is clever, passionate, and possesses a quieter kind of strength.
Goodreads | Amazon 

36099148ALL THE WANDERING LIGHT by Heather Fawcett
This is the sequel to Even the Darkest Stars, and the worldbuilding was just as unique and gorgeous as the first book. The best part about these books is honestly the setting: it’s so different from any other fantasy world and it really made such a difference when reading. The book is set in snowy, mountainous area inspired by the Himalayas. It also features mountain climbing, explorations, dragons, witches, fire demons, and all kinds of other fun stuff!
Goodreads | Amazon

Five Spooky Podcasts to Listen to this October 🎃

22 Comments

Podcasts are my new obsession. One of my best friends had been listening to them for a while and eventually convinced to me to try them. It took a while to find one that really captured my attention, but once I did, I was hooked. I commute an hour to and from work, and the radio can become annoying after awhile, play the same songs over and over. There are podcasts for every genre and subject, and I’ve included some of the more eerie and thrilling series I’ve listened to that are perfect for October!

Season2-Icon_FINAL_NoBrandingSPOOKED – I just started listening to this podcast, and I can’t get enough. This is the perfect podcast for the Halloween season. Each episode features stories about paranormal encounters, or just bizarre and unexplained experiences, told first-hand buy the people it happened to. The stories are always interesting and some of them really make you think. And I love that while these stories are spooky and creepy, they’re not scary enough that I end up turning it off while I’m driving home at night like some other podcasts. 

227305DR. DEATH – As someone who works in healthcare, this podcast is equal parts fascinating and downright horrifying. It’s all anyone on my unit is talking about. Dr. Death is a true-crime podcast about Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a neurosurgeon that severely botched 33 spinal surgeries, severely injuring most of them, and killing two. It’s not scary in the traditional sense, but it’s absolutely bone-chilling listening to just how horribly he performed these surgeries, his terrible behavior in and out of the operating room, and how long it took for someone to finally stop him. 

96197UP AND VANISHED – This is the podcast that really got me into listening to them. It’s an investigative journalism podcast following the disappearance of Tara Grinstead. One of the coolest things about this podcast is that while the host, Lindsay Payne, was in the middle of creating his weekly episodes and investigating, her case that had been cold for over ten years was finally solved. The entire production is so well-organized and put together, and some of the details and leads surrounding her mystery are really eerie. 

NoSleep.Podcast.S4.Logo_1400THE NO SLEEP PODCAST – The title says it all. This podcasts takes stories for the NoSleep reddit forum, where people write fictional horror stories. The stories range from severely creepy to completely terrifying. Some are too scary for me, especially at night, and I have to skip them. But if you enjoy horror stories, this is definitely the podcast to check out this October. 

a0b61862cf0ad1e537e571d8ceda97d0161a35f5054288f81429db4182741c91a230e2e16df341a6f1bd7fc059f4551a1bf21c045bff9d72e79e62fa0f7f9fe4HAUNTED PLACES – I like this well enough, but it’s not my favorite. A podcast dedicated to exploring and talking about real haunted places around the world is totally up my alley, but I’m just not a huge fan of the way it’s produced. There’s a lot more fictional storytelling than factual discussion. If the stories were based off of actual encounters instead of made up, I think it would be more enjoyable. The podcast is still pretty cool to listen to, however, and it’s neat learning all about these haunted places and their historical backstories. 

Do you like listening to podcasts? Which are you favorites? Let me know in the comments!

Sunshine Blogger Award

7 Comments

Thank you so much to Literary Huntress for tagging me for the Sunshine Blogger Award! 💕 These questions were so unique and I had a lot of fun answering them!

Rules

  • Thank and link to the blog that nominated you
  • Answer the questions that were set for you to answer
  • Nominate eleven blogs and give them eleven questions to answer

1. What is your favorite folk tales or mythology? Growing up I was always big into Greek mythology (and still am), but in recent years I’ve become very interested in learning more about my ancestry and so I’m really into reading all about Celtic mythology and Irish folk tales. They’re so much fun to read about and I enjoy feeling that connection to my family’s past. 

02. Would you rather be an older or younger sibling? As I am the older sibling, I would prefer to be the youngest considering everything my young brother got away with – and continues to get away with – that I never did. Although I’m sure if you asked him, he would say he’d rather be in my shoes as the oldest 😂

03. What is your most anticipated release for 2019? The book I’m most excited for is The Kingdom of Copper (The City of Brass #2) by S. A. Chakraborty, but at the same time she keeps dropping hints on twitter about it that are making me nervous! 

04. What is your favorite season? 🍁 Fall 🍂

05. Would you rather drop your book in a body of water or left your book somewhere you could never go back to? I don’t know, this is such a Sophie’s choice 😩 I guess if I had to choose, I would leave it somewhere I could never go back to. Then at least it wouldn’t be ruined and if someone found it they could enjoy it (or attempt to find the owner!). 

06. What is your favorite thing to waste time? I spend more time than I care to admit on Goodreads lol. 

07. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Night owl, definitely! 

08. What is your first language? English

09. Do you like deckled pages or not? Why? Ugh no, deckled edges are THE WORST. I hate both the look and feel of them. 

10. What is your favorite comfort food? A delicious, hot pepperoni pizza. 

11. Which book will you give for your children/niece/nephews/next generation? I plan to pass on my Harry Potter books, my The Magic Tree House series, and my collection of Dr. Seuss books to my children. 

I tag the following blogs for always brightening up my feed! Don’t feel pressured that you have to do this – especially if you’ve already done one – it’s all for fun! 

Rants and Raves of a Bibliophile | The Bibliophile Girl | Another Book in the Wall | Thrifty Bibliophile | A Book. A Thought. | The Book Cover Girl | Synopses by Sarge | That Bookshelf Bitch | The Bibliophagist | Bionic Book Worm | Jenna Bookish 

 

1. What’s your favorite thing about the fall?

2. Which author graces your bookshelf the most?

3. Do you have a favorite animal?

4. What is one country you would love to visit?

5. Do you subscribe to any monthly book boxes?

6. Would you rather meet your favorite author or favorite character?

7. What’s your favorite TV show to binge watch?

8. What’s the best book you’ve read so far this year?

9. Which fall release are you most looking forward to reading?

10. What is your favorite post you’ve written?

11. When you’re not reading or blogging, what are you doing?

 

Five Fall TV Shows I Can’t Wait to Binge Watch

13 Comments

For some reason, I don’t watch that much TV in the warmer seasons, but I love to spend a day off in the fall/winter getting lost in a new show. There’s nothing better than curling up on the couch in your comfiest clothes, with some snacks and your favorite fall-scented candle burning in the background. There are quite a few new shows premiering this fall that I’m really looking forward to. In the next few months if I’m not at home reading, you can bet I’ll probably be binging one of these new shows!

CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA
(Netflix – October 26)

Ever since I first read the rumor of a Sabrina reboot, I have been not-so-patiently waiting for this show. I’m so excited for Netflix’s darker adaptation of the comic and the fact that it release right around Halloween is perfect. The trailer is totally spooky and does an excellent job of giving the viewers a preview to the creep-level to expect in the upcoming episodes. October cannot come fast enough. (In the meantime, you can stream all the episodes of Sabrina the Teenage Witch from Amazon Prime to your ’90s heart content.)

The-Chilling-Adventures-of-Sabrina

YOU
(Lifetime – Sundays @ 9pm CST)

I actually just found out You was going to be adapted into a TV series not too long ago. The book has been sitting on my TBR for a while and I’ve seen so many good reviews for it. Once I saw that bone-chilling trailer, I knew I had to read the book immediately so I could binge-watch the episodes. Also, how perfect is Penn Badgley as Joe?

Untitled

SHARP OBJECTS
(HBO)

First Big, Little Lies and now Sharp Objects: I really hope HBO continues with this trend of adapting books into tv shows. It’s been a while since I read Sharp Objects, so I don’t really remember much of the plot, but I’m a little excited to be going into the show with a blank slate and without any expectations. And if HBO needs any help with future book-to-tv adaptations, I’m more than willing to offer a few suggestions…

Untitled1

THE MINIATURIST
(PBS Masterpiece – Sundays @ 8pm CST)

Yet another book that has been adapted into a tv show, although this is one that I haven’t read before, and prior to seeing promos for the show had never heard of. The trailer paints the show as a compelling period drama with a hint of secrets and an eerie mystery. 

Untitled4

MANIFEST
(NBC – Mondays @ 9pm CST)

The premise of this show seems really interesting! The best descriptions I’ve seen are that it’s Lost meets the mysterious tragedy of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. The first trailer piqued my interest and I’m curious to see how the show is going to play out.

Untitled3

Are you planning to watch any of these shows? What are you most excited to binge watch this fall? Let me know!