The Ultimate Game of Thrones Book Tag

May 21, 2019May 20, 20194 Comments

Wow, it has been a long time since I’ve done a book tag. Thank you so much to Alexandra @ Whimsy Pages for tagging me! As I’m sure most of you have figured out, I’m a huge fan of Game of Thrones. And while there were a few things I really enjoyed about the season finale (and final season in general), I was mostly left feeling disappointed and lost. I have a lot of unanswered questions and I’m hoping the ending GRRM has is a little more fleshed out and fully explained (or totally different, let’s be honest here). Anyway, since I love all things GoT, I’m super excited to be doing this book tag!

This tag was created by orang-utan librarian!

PART I

“WE DO NOT SOW” – A BOOK YOU WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO INVEST IN

Crescent City by Sarah J. Maas. But really any upcoming book written by her. I have a lot of issues with her writing and the recurring themes she uses in all of her stories.

“FAMILY. DUTY. HONOUR.” – A BOOK ABOUT STRONG FAMILY TIES

I recently finished Finale (Caraval #3) and I absolutely adore the loving relationship between sisters, Tella and Scarlett.

“WINTER IS COMING” – YOUR FAVORITE WINTER READ

Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyers and The Bear and the Nightingale series by Katherine Arden. Both have snowy settings, atmospheric writing, are inspired by fairytales, and have a dreamy quality to them when reading!

“OURS IS THE FURY” – A BOOK THAT MADE YOU FURIOUS.

Hmm, there are a few different books throughout the years that have truly angered me. I’ll never forget accidently ripping a page out of Reached (Matched #3) by Allie Condie as I turned the page furiously. Also, The Crown (The Selection #5) by Kiera Cass and Dawn of Legends (Blood of Gods and Royals #4) by Eleanor Herman were both t e r r i b l e conclusions to their respective series and had so many moments of WTF that I end up quitting both of them midway through.

“FIRE AND BLOOD” – A BOOK THAT PRODUCED STRONG EMOTIONS IN YOU.

I’ve come to the conclusion that I am an emotional reader. However, I will never get over the feelings I felt after reading The Bird and the Blade by Megan Bannen. I even knew going into the book what to expect and was still wrecked by the ending. I’m getting emotional just thinking about it. You can read a review of this amazing book here.

“A LANNISTER ALWAYS PAYS HIS DEBTS” – A BOOK YOU FEEL INDEBTED TO.

There are a lot of books from my youth that helped me become the reader I am today, but The Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne have a particular spot in my heart and really cemented my love of adventure/fantasy and nurtured my imagination.

PART II

WOULD YOU WIN OR DIE?

I’ll be the optimist and say I’d win.

WHAT HOUSE ARE YOU IN?

House Stark 🐺

I’m not even going to take the quiz because there’s literally no other house I would ever feel like I belonged to.

TAGGING: Nikki | Flavia | Tasya | & anyone else who wants to join!

Halloween Creatures Tag

October 23, 2018October 22, 20184 Comments

It’s been a while since I’ve done a book tag, and since it’s October I wanted to do a fun Halloween themed one!

Rules:

Answer all prompts.
Answer honestly.
Tag 1-13 people.
Link back to this post.
Remember to credit the creator. (Anthony @ Keep Reading Forward)
Have fun!

Witch: A Magical Character or Book.

As completely unoriginal as this answer is going to be, I have to say Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. I don’t think there’s another series out there with quite as much magic and witches/wizards!

Werewolf: The Perfect Book to Read at Night.

I do a lot of my reading at night before bed, so I don’t have a particular book in mind.

Frankenstein: A Book that Truly Shocked You.

I’m gonna say A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin, because I truly, honestly did not think I was going to enjoy reading it, and went into the book not even expecting to finish it.

The Devil: A Dark, Evil Character.

Dolores Umbridge from the Harry Potter series is the absolute worst.

Grim Reaper: A Character that Should Never Have Died.

There’s a reason I could never quite bring myself to finish Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo, and that reason has everything to do with a certain favorite character’s death.

Zombie: A Book that Made You “Hungry” for More.

When I had finished Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor I immediately wanted the sequel. There was so many things I wanted to learn and needed to know – such as Azareen and Eril-Fane’s backstory (which Laini blessed me us with in Muse of Nightmares.)

Gargoyle: A Character that You Would Protect at All Cost.

May I direct you attention, please, to this post. Honestly, I’m not even going to pick just one because all three – Sansa Stark, Chaol Westfall, and Malyen Oretsev – are all equally hated upon by their respective fandoms ~~for no good reason~~ and therefore deserve my equal support.

Vampire: A Book that Sucked the Life Out of You.

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James. I will never understand this book’s appeal or popularity. It drained the life (and brain cells) out of my body and I ended up basically skimming the thing.

Ghost: A Book that Still Haunts You.

Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaardner. I had to read this my sophomore year of high school and hated it with the burning passion of a thousand suns. It was a very unpopular choice of reading amongst my classmates. To this day, I still have no idea what the f**k is even happening in that book.

Demon: A Book that Really Scared You.

I read a lot of thrillers, but I don’t think I’ve ever read one that’s really scared me. And I tend to avoid horror books: they’re not my thing.

Skeleton: A Character You Have a Bone to Pick With.

Recently, I had a bone to pick with Audrey Rose as I was reading Escaping From Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco. Girlfriend. What are you doing?!

Mummy: A Book You Would Preserve Throughout Time.

I have quite a few favorite books, but The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is such a treasure.

Creepy Doll: A Cover too Scary to Look At.

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff. I remember buying this book on a whim years ago but then never actually reading it. That cover is extremely eerie.

The Monster Mash: It’s Fun to Be with Friends on Halloween!

This was really fun and I hope you all enjoyed my answers! Since I wasn’t actually tagged to do this, I’m not going to tag anyone specifically and invite you all to do it!

Secret Life of a Book Blogger

July 26, 2018July 18, 20188 Comments

I’m back with another book tag! These are so much fun. I’ve been seeing this one around a lot and I’m so thankful Flavia tagged me to do it!

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BLOGGING?

I’ve had this blog since May of 2016, but I started consistently blogging in November/ December of 2017.

AT WHAT POINT DO YOU THINK YOU’LL STOP BLOGGING?

I guess I would stop when I don’t find it to be fun or rewarding anymore. So I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon!

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BLOGGING?

The community! I don’t have know many people in real life that read, so I love talk to everyone in the bookish community and the friends I’ve made. I also love all the books I hear about through other bloggers. I’m continuously adding new books to my TBR!

WHAT IS THE WORST THING? WHAT DO YOU DO TO MAKE IT OKAY?

The worst thing is comparing yourself to other bloggers (or bookstagrammers). Sometimes I get down on myself when I see how popular and how many followers other blogs have. I also get really frustrated with my Instagram account because I feel like it’s impossible for me to grow any followers, especially with the algorithm. I just remember that I’m not doing this for anyone else; I’m doing it for myself because I love it.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO MAKE/FIND PICTURES TO USE?

When I take pictures for Instagram, it usually takes about 15-20 minutes to set everything up, take a bunch of different shots, and then go through them to make sure there are a few I like before cleaning up.

WHO IS YOUR BOOK CRUSH?

Oh man, what a question 😂 Off the top of my head:

Cardan from The Cruel Prince, Carswell Throne from The Lunar Chronicles, Chaol Westfall from Throne of Glass, Elias Veturius from An Ember in the Ashes, Jon Snow from A Song of Ice and Fire, Josh Mitchell from I’ll Meet You There, Julian Blackthorne from The Dark Artifices, Luka Lowe from Wolf by Wolf, Malyen Oretsev from The Grisha Trilogy, Matthias Helvar from Six of Crows, Morozko from The Bear and the Nightingale, Peter Kavinksy from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Vikram from A Crown of Wishes, and Will Herondale from The Infernal Devices

I mean, just to name a few 😉 I’m sure there’s many more that I can’t think of right now haha.

WHAT AUTHOR WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE AS A GUEST ON YOUR BLOG?

There are so many authors I would love to have as a guest. I would be ecstatic for an opportunity to have Leigh Bardugo, Roshani Chokshi, Kate Quinn, Tessa Dare, or Laini Taylor!

WHAT DO YOU WEAR WHEN YOU WRITE YOUR BLOG POSTS?

Whatever I have on haha. Unless I’m in nicer clothes, then I’ll change into something more comfortable.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO PREPARE?

It depends on the post. If it’s a review, it can take a couple hours – even with the notes I have – to put everything together and make sure it sounds coherent. If it’s another bookish post, like a weekly meme, it takes a lot less time because I already have the template and I just need to add to it.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE BOOK BLOGGING COMMUNITY?

I love the book blogging community! Everyone is always so friendly and I love interacting with other bloggers and gushing about books!

WHAT DO YOU THINK ONE SHOULD DO TO GET A SUCCESSFUL BLOG?

I think two of the biggest things to gain follows would be to interact with other book bloggers and to be consistent with posting. I always reply back to comments I receive and visit other blogs to like/comment on their posts as well. I also try to consistently post 2-3 times a week, and I’ll occasionally look for new and unique blog post ideas!

Behind the Screen: A Book Blogger Tag

July 19, 2018July 18, 20189 Comments

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.

The Cookie Book Tag

May 21, 2018October 18, 201811 Comments

Happy Monday! I worked all weekend so I plan to spend my day off today catching up on some reading. Kelly @ Another Book in the Wall tagged me to do The Cookie Book Tag and the questions looked so fun! Check out Kelly’s blog; she’s amazing and I love her posts!

CHOCOLATE CHIP: A CLASSIC BOOK THAT YOU LOVE OR REALLY ENJOYED

The Iliad by Homer. I’ve actually read this twice – both for school – and I loved it both times! As a huge Greek mythology nerd this has everything I love about those ancient stories; meddling gods and goddesses, war and action, and a whole crew of famous Greek heroes.

THIN MINTS: A FANDOM THAT YOU WANT TO JOIN AND/OR A HYPED BOOK YOU WANT TO READ

I mentioned this is one of my last posts, but I really want to read the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown. I’ve heard and read so many great things about this series and I hope I get around to reading them soon!

SHORTBREAD: AN AUTHOR YOU CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF

Leigh Bardugo. I’ve called her the Boss-Ass Queen of Writing before and I stand by that statement. Her writing is amazing, her stories are engaging and captivating, and her characters are dynamic and lovable.

SAMOAS: AN EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER

A Short History of the Girl Next Door by Jared Reck. This book absolutely wrecked my heart (ha. see what I did there?) It was very easy to feel connected with the protagonist, and therefore I felt all of his emotions while reading: anger, embarrassment, heartache, grief. I both laughed and ugly-cried while reading this.

OREOS: A BOOK WHOSE COVER WAS BETTER THAN THE STORY OR VICE VERSA

Lady Helen and the Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman. These books are amazing and I can’t wait for the last book to come out in the fall! There are a few different editions of these covers but good lord, none of them are pretty to look at. I actually bought my copies from Dymocks because the Australian editions are not as bad.

TAGALONGS: A BOOK THAT WASN’T WHAT YOU EXPECTED

The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron. As part of the plot, there’s a few reveals about the story that show that not everything is what it seems. There’s one twist that I was definitely not expecting that changes the reader’s perception of the setting and the story quite a bit.

SNICKERDOODLES: A BOOK YOU MAY NEVER STOP LOVING

I’m going to go with A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. I simply cannot get enough of those books or the characters or all of the side stories and histories. Similar to the Harry Potter series, these books are going to stay with me forever.

This was really fun and I hope you all enjoyed my answers! I’m tagging the following lovely bloggers:

Lilly @ Lair of Books | Katie @ Pages and Pugs | Ashley @ Book Tales |
Regina @ Bookish in Bed| Flavia @ Flavia the Bibliophile