Here we are half way through the year and ahh the days are getting gorgeous outside. I love summer and everything that has to do with vacation vibes (even thought there will be no vacation this year) so I am *smiles* taking it day by day.
May was a pretty good month. It was a great reading month even though I didn’t read many books. Then again, quality over quantity!
What Rendz Read!
Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart (3/5 🌟) Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean (4/5 🌟) The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng by K.S. Villoso (5/5 🌟) Descendant of the Crane by Joan He (3/5 🌟) Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo (3.5/5 🌟) Jade City by Fonda Lee (4.5/5 🌟)
Highlight Book(s): So definitely The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng and Jade City by Fonda Lee. Two books that ahh blew me away for so many reasons. The first the end of a beloved series and the second the start of a new one. I am living.
Lowliest Book(s): While these aren’t low ratings I was not quite happy with Witches Steeped in Gold and Descendantofthe Crane. I just felt like they both lacked some luster for me.
The Haul:
Let’s just say I have been very, very lucky with the publisher love.
For the Wolf by Hannah F. Whitten TheJasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
Jay’s Gay Agenda by Jason June The Unpopular Vote by Jasper Sanchez Don’t Breathe a Word by Jordyn Taylor
On the Hook by Francisco X. Stork
Tigers, Not Daughters by Samantha Mabry Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun by Jonny Garza Villa Song of the Forever Rains by E.J. Millow
Other Going Ons
~ Shadow and Bone Meet & Greet ~
I lived my best life on May 8th 2021. I was in the same Zoom room as the Shadow & Bone cast. I WAS IN THE SAME ZOOM ROOM AS BEN BARNES. I can honestly tell you that I do not remember a single thing from my session. I was so focused on getting screenshots and staring lovingly at the actors that I do not remember a single thing that was actually spoken about during the 20 minute interview period. 🙂
Luckily someone uploaded my session to YouTube so it is there forever.
~ Speaking of which…I Binged Shadow and Bone Again ~
You know I had to. You just know that I had to. 🙂 I thoroughly enjoyed myself a second time around and ahh I am eagerly awaiting any news on season 2!
~ So I watched my first K-Drama ~
I really needed something to watch and my cousin, who recently started watching K-Dramas herself, recommended that I start “Crash Landing On You.” And all I have to say is this: I AM OBSESSED. This drama delivered everything that I could possibly want from a TV show. The tropes, the romance, the plot…I–I loved, I loved it. I loved it. If you have any recommendations for me I AM TAKING THEM.
Boy do I have so many books to read this month! I already know that I won’t get to all of them, but I am going to try my best!! I really want to prioritize Indigenous and Pride reads this month because June is commemorative of both communities.
Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun by Jonny Garza Villa The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri Skraelings: Clashes in the Old Arctic by Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley & Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley Sisters of the Snake by Sarena and Sasha Nanua Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury For the Wolf by Hannah F. Whitten
Let me know what you think! What have you read this month? What books did you get? What books are you looking forward to reading!
So it has been a while since I’ve come at you with a wrap-up, hasn’t it? Let’s blame it on the fact that the end of the school semester was quite an end. I won’t go into much detail, but it is the reason I’ve been feeling a little unmotivated and uninspired with some of my blog posts. I hope to come with new material soon. Perhaps a fun tag or two!
In terms of reading though…I have had an incredible time with my reads. No lies detected. I’m at that point where I am reading faster than I can review, but it just means that I’ll have lots of great reviews coming your way soon.
What Rendz Read
~ March ~
Truly, Madly, Royally by Debbie Rigaud 3.5/5 🌟 Once Upon a Quinceañera by Monica Gomez-Hira 3/5 🌟 Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweetby Laeken Zea Kemp 5/5 🌟 The Beautiful Onesby Silvia Moreno-Garcia (re-read) 5/5 🌟 Act Your Age, Eve Brownby Talia Hibbert 4/5 🌟 Fireborneby Rosaria Munda (re-read) 5/5 🌟 Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Bouley 4.5/5 🌟 Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau 3/5 🌟
Grishaverse Re-Read! Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo Siege and Stormby Leigh Bardugo Ruin and Risingby Leigh Bardugo
~ April ~
The Light of the Midnight Stars by Rena Rossner 3.5/5 🌟 Flamefall by Rosaria Munda 5/5 🌟 Make a Sceneby Mimi Grace 5/5 🌟 Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls by Kaela Rivera 4.5/5 🌟 The Ikessar Flaconby K.S. Villoso (re-read) 5/5 🌟 Anchored Hearts by Priscilla Oliveras 3/5 🌟
Grishaverse re-read! Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
Highlight book(s): Apart from my phenomenal rereads of The Ikessar Falcon, The Beautiful Ones and The Grishaverse reads, the top spots goes to Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet, Firekeeper’s Daughter, and Flamefall!
Lowliest book(s): Nothing was truly lowly. I enjoyed all of my 3 stars they just needed more pizzazz.
The Haul
March
Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp
April
Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo Velvet was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng by K.S. Villoso Tigers, Not Daughters by Samantha Mabry
Other Going Ons
New Cover for CERTAIN DARK THINGS
As always, I try to be Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s #1 hype-person and this past March the cover for her re-release of the Mexican vampire novel she wrote was revealed and it is stunning! There is so much symbolism and colour to behold! I loved the original cover, but this one…this one has the pizzazz and spark that I’m sure will intrigue many a reader to pick it up!
via Goodreads
My Grishaverse Re-read Extravaganza!
In preparation for the show, which I talk about below, I decided to do a grand Grisha Reread and it was the best decision. I know, I know, I shouldn’t have. I really need to get focused on those ARCs that I have, but I am pleased to say that I did in fact read the majority of my e-ARCs in time (getting reviews up is another matter entirely) but all will be updated soon hopefully. But anyways. I indulged myself with this reread and I can’t complain. I enjoyed myself immensely. It hasn’t been that long since my last reread of Shadow and Bone, Six of Crows on the other hand…that is a duology I haven’t picked up since I read it the first time around when this blog was just beginning. To be concise. I loved it. I loved everything about reading these books again because 14 year old Rendz was living her best life and I want that girl to have her best!
I Attended to Bookish Events with Publishers!
Let’s just say that there are plenty of books to look forward to! Both HCC Frenzy and Penguin Teen CA had some amazing teen book previews at the end of April and I was lucky enough to attend (virtually, of course!). Wow, friends. We YA Lovers have lots to look forward to in the coming months! Here are some titles I am excited for:
I binged Shadow and Bone & lived my BEST life.
Yes, I really did spend roughly 9 hours in my room Friday, April 23rd 2021 to watch the entire series in one go. Lunch and bathroom breaks were really the only moments of not-watching that I had for most of the day. And I regret ABSOLUTELY NONE OF IT. I have waited how long for this show? Ages. Big question: Did I enjoy it? HELLS YES. MY goodness. I was screeching alongside my cousin as we shared thoughts, predictions and critiques over a series of audio and video messages on Snap Chat XD. This adaptation was definitely not perfect, but it had heart in it. I think it did a great job of melding these two different series together and bringing these beloved characters to life! 10/10 recommend you watch it (mainly because I need high ratings for a season 2! but also because it is really good!!)
As for me…I’m stalking the actors and watching cast interviews like its my job.
I’ve been feeling a little creatively dry with blog content as of late. I’m trying to find some interesting tags or discussion topics to tackle so it you have any suggestions, I would love to know about them!
This was a really fun tag to take part of! Even as a serial fantasy reader I know I am always lacking or missing out on some sort of amazing story so please direct all your recommendations to me!
I mean the title says it all. 🙂 This is one of my top SMG books, I ~need~ you all to read it. And if you love it, I need you to come yell at me about it.
A quick review for the summer romance readers! The sunny days are coming and I anticipate some romcom bingeing in my future.
TBR
Well as always, I’m going to be slightly ambitious with my TBR 🙂 I will always try my hardest to get to as many books as possible I just need some good luck and good vibes from you all!
I also happen to start my summer semester this month so…le sigh. I need to take that into account as well.
Since it is Asian Heritage Month in Canada and in solidarity with my American friends celebrating AAPI Heritage Month, I plan on reading books by API authors as much as I can 🙂 I’m excited because there are some good ones of my shelf calling out to me! And it should go without saying, but a friendly reminder that we should be supporting API voices 24/7/365 and not only in May!
The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng by K.S. Villoso Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri Rising Like a Storm by Tanaz Bhathena
Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo Indivisible by Daniel Aleman
And that’s all I have planned for now. I feel like I’m in need of some more romance-y reads especially considering I have some heavy fantasies that will leave me emotional distraught. Any recommendations by API romance authors are welcome!
Let me know what you think! What have you read this month? What books did you get? What books are you looking forward to reading!
Well another month of 2021 down for the books. And I have to say it was both quite hectic and wonderful at the same time. There were so many wonderful stories to tell you about!
What Rendz Read!
Infinite Country by Patricia Engel – 5/5 Stars Review The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna – 4/5 Stars Review Love in English by Maria E. Andreu – 4/5 Stars Review Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo – 5/5 Stars Like Home by Louisa Onome – 4/5 Stars Review Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory – 3/5 Stars Some Other Now by Sarah Everett – 5/5 Stars Review King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo – 4/5 Stars Review
Highlight Book(s): Oh I have a pretty incredible reading month, but picking a favourite is not too hard because Infinite Country and Some Other Now were simply SPECTACULAR! Absolutely amazing! Both of these reads swept me off my feet.
Lowliest Book(s): I don’t think I have a book that truly fit this category from this month. Even if I had some mid level reads, I don’t think they can be considered lowly!
The Haul:
Oh…my. No physical book mail to report, but…my oh my has my Netgalley been bursting! Seriously *sobs* I have so many e-ARCs to get to…but more on that later.
Other Going-Ons:
A new, powerful Silvia Moreno-Garcia cover – Velvet was the Night:
Oh the power. The power. The power. I cannot wait to read this book *Yes, I have an ARC! Eh!* Just feast your eyes on this! The fashion, the style, the entire vibes! ugh I love it so much!
Shadow and Bone Netflix Teaser Trailer #1
When I tell you I am obsessed, I mean it. I AM OBSESSED. To say it has been on repeat since it came out is exactly what is going on these days. From the looks of it, I think the show is going to be really good! I know that 25% of me will be enjoying the show, another 25% will be comparing it to the books and a full 50% will be obsessing over Ben Barnes. I speak my truth.
This was so much fun to write! Even though I relived every painful emotion that I endured while reading the book, this post is probably one of my favourites ever!
TBR
Two factors have affected my TBR this month:
1. The great Netgalley binge! 2. Yup, the Shadow & Bone trailer
So here is what I have lined up for March:
Truly, Madly, Royally by Debbie Rigaud (Read) Once Upon a Quinceañera by Monica Gomez-Hira (Read) Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laeken Zea Kemp (Read) The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Flamefall by Rosaria Munda Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Bouley Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau
And also a very slowly paced re-read of the Shadow and Bone trilogy and Six of Crows duology!
Let me know what you think! What have you read this month? What books did you get? What books are you looking forward to reading!
What’s new for you? How have you been holding up? I can’t say anything new has been happening in my corner of the internet. I know my blogging has been slow this past month and well…it will probably continue to be slow because if you can tell from the title of today’s post, my school work is really trying to end me!
But my dear friends, this has only made me realize how wonderful it is to be a reader! Books have been a major escape for me as I fumble with my school and I am so blessed to have had such an incredible reading month to start off 2021!
So let’s get onto it, shall we!
What Rendz Read
A Thief Among the Trees by Sabaa Tahir – 4.5/5 stars The Ikessar Falcon by K.S. Villoso – 5/5 stars Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado – 5/5 stars The Degenerates by J. Albert Mann – 4/5 stars Charming as a Verb by Ben Phillipe – 4.5/5 stars I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You: A Letter to My Daughter by David Chariandy – 5/5 stars Infinite Country by Patricia Engel – 5/5 stars
Highlight Books: Well as you can see they are all pretty much highlight books! I can’t believe how blessed I am to have had such a wonderful January reads! If I had to pick a top book it would be a three-way tie between The Ikessar Falcon, Fat Chance, Charlie Vega and Infinite Country.
The Haul
I haven’t been buying much as of late because well…hehe…money is really something I can spend too much on on books right now. I want to lol but it is not in my best interests. That being said I did get Skyhunter by Marie Lu came in the mail the other day! And I was lucky enough to be sent a copy of Infinite Country by Patricia Engel by the publisher which is very awesome!
Other Going-Ons
Geez if I could remember I would tell you….
Oh wait, one thing!
Shadow and Bone Netflix News
So we now have a teaser trailer, a release date and promo posters!!! I was screaming for the entire day when I saw these beauties!! I just couldn’t stop staring at them. *sobs for an eternity* I would love to hear what you all thought! What was your first reaction? How many times have you stared at them since? Because I am telling you that I have been looking at these beauties ever since that day!
I know we’re already half way through the month, but I’m really playing this month by ear. So far I’ve read:
Love in English by Maria E. Andreu The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
For the rest of the month, I plan on getting through some upcoming ARCs! I went on a Netgalley binge…and let’s just say I have lots of reading to do. As for my other reads, I will be prioritizing books by Black authors as it is Black History Month. This doesn’t mean that February is the *only* month we celebrate Black excellence and stories, but it is the month where we can be extra supportive! As for me, some reads I have planned are:
Like Home by Louisa Onomé Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson Make a Scene by Mimi Grace Truly Madly Royally by Debbie Rigaud
Let me know what you think! What have you read this month? What books did you get? What books are you looking forward to reading!
It has been a while since I’ve wrapped anything up! September and October were incredibly busy months for me! I had lots going on, in terms of reading and school which really brought down the hammer on me. And while another hammer is coming soon…I am very excited to see what books I can get to this month!
So let’s get started!
What Rendz Read!
September (1st-15th) Wrap-Up
The Barren Grounds by David A. Robertson (5/5) Review Ciel by Sophie Labelle [ARC] (4/5) Review The Wedding Date Disaster by Avery Flynn (DNF) Review Fable by Adrienne Young [e-ARC] (5/5) Review Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz [ARC] (4.5/5) Review + Fan Art!
Latinx Heritage Month Wrap-Up
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (5/5) Review Furia by Yamile Saied Mendez (5/5) Review You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria (5/5) Review Each of Us a Desert by Mark Oshiro (4/5) Review Signal to Noise by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (5/5) Review Never Look Back by Lilliam Rivera (4/5) Review Lush Money by Angelina M. Lopez (DNF) Review Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno (5/5) Review
October (16th-31st) Wrap-Up
The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi (4.5/5) RTC A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey (4/5) Review + Fan Art Holiday Home Run by Priscilla Oliveras (3/5) Review Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade (4/5) Review The Sky Weaver by Kristin Ciccarelli Rating and Review to come
Highlight Book(s): Wow I read so many books these past weeks it’s so hard to choose!!! But if I must: The Barren Grounds, Furia and Don’t Date Rosa Santos are the top top top!
Lowliest Book(s): Two DNFs really disappointed me: The Wedding Date Disaster and Lush Money were just not good. I wish I could get that time back….oop, I said what I said!
The Haul
Let me tell you all lovely people. THE BOOK MAIL HAS BEEN STRONG THESE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND I AM VERY HAPPY!
Publisher Sent
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir A Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir
The Ikessar Falcon by K.S. Villoso Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
Charming as a Verb by Ben Phillipe The Other Side of the Sky by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Fat Chance Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado
Giveaway Wins
Tender is the Flesh by Augustina Bazterrica Like Home by Luoisa Onomé
Other Going-Ons
Recreating Silvia Moreno-Garcia Covers with my Sisters
Oh the things I do for my love of books and oh the things my sisters do to please me! But anyways, please enjoy the following images!
Certain Dark Things ft. The Eldest Sister, M (yup that’s her face in there 😂) The Beautiful Ones ft. The Middle Sister, K (fun fact: she donned her quinceañera dress for this silhouette) Mexican Gothic ft. The Youngest Sister, aka Rendz (I’m wearing the only red dress I own!)
An Amazing Latinx Heritage Month
Oh my wonderful friends, I had so much fun during LHM this year! Not only did I read a ton of amazing books (though not all the ones I had originally planned), I had so much fun participating in the LHM BookFest prompts on blog and on Instagram! I had to be really brave for some of these posts XD, but it was so worth it!
It was an incredible 30 days, and I cannot wait for next year! Here are some special posts I made!
I had already written a blog post on my love for SMG, but I decided to take it to Instagram too and it was a hit! I love getting people onto my band wagon!
The Beautiful Ones & Untamed Shore Paperback Cover Reveal
This came as a total surprise to me and both were only a week apart! I must say that I love both of them so much! I plan on doing a full comparison soon because I do love them BUT I STILL HAVE THOUGHTS. For now I will leave you with these stunning covers and remind you to pick them up in the new year!
People I really have no idea what I’m doing this month! Seriously, it’s already halfway through. I took a rather unannounced hiatus from blog because school got intense and it is getting even more intense as we near the end of the semester!
That being said I still have to get some reading done so here is what I propose to you all!
Pine Island Home by Penny Horvath Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo The Crow Rider by Kalyn Josephson Historically Inaccurate by Shay Bravo
Joining in on Indig-a-thon late, but maybe enough to get a bingo! Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse Pemmican Wars: A Girl Called Echo by Katherena Vernetto Surviving the City: Vol 1. Tasha Spillett Those Who Run in the Sky by Aviaq Johnston Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
Will I be getting to all of this with only half a month left? No. I just feel like giving myself some choices for these next two weeks. I feel a slump coming on, but that is not an option so I hope to find something to love this month!
Let me know what you think! What have you read this month? What books did you get? What books are you looking forward to reading!
*Please Share and/or Donate = Link to a master list of how you can help/educate yourself on Black Lives Matter and other humanitarian movements across the globe*
And we are closing off another month of 2020. It’s been another month, friends. Wow. Time flies and yet this year has been an entire decade. We’re still fighting though and we will keep fighting. A reminder to keep unlearning and relearning. BLM is a marathon not a moment, as so many have put it. And when you catch yourself slipping, to pick yourself back up again.
My August was pretty chill, but I didn’t get as much reading done as I had hoped. My summer semester came to an end and then I was just burnt out from studying. I found that I felt more crafty than bookish, so I spent some time drawing and painting. But other than that I really did not do much this month and yet I don’t feel rested. Ugh, but I’m just ranting now.
Let’s move on to the stats.
What Rendz Read
Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope e-📘 (4/5) *Reread* You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle e-📘 (5/5) Review The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi 📘(4/5) Review
Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From by Jennifer De Leon (5/5) Review The Wolf of Oren-Yaro by K.S. Villoso 📘 (5/5) *Reread* A Touch of Death by Rebecca Crunden e-📘 (4/5) RTC
Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles [e-ARC] (3.5/5) Review The Faithless Hawk by Margaret Owen 📘 [ARC] (4.5/5) RTC Check Please!: Sticks & Scones by Ngozi Ukazu e-📘 (5/5)
Highlight Book(s):You Deserve Each Other lived up to hype I had for it and I really enjoyed it! But #1 from this month is definitely Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From! It was such a powerful and emotional read for me!
Lowliest Book(s): I didn’t have any low read this month. Everything was pretty awesome!
The Haul
I’m telling you all my family is worried for me! XD There was one week where I got book bookmail 4 days consecutively! I was living whereas they were seriously questioning me. I should note that I didn’t buy any of these books and all were gifted XD
Giveaway Wins!
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown The Daughters of Nri by Reni K. Amayo Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez-Gilliland
ARCs
Furia by Yamile Saied Mendez The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi Historically Inaccurate by Shay Bravo Lightbringer by Claire LeGrand Ciel by Sophie LaBelle The Year Shakespeare Ruined My Life by Dani Jansen
Finished Copies The Barren Grounds by David A. Robertson Pine Island Home by Polly Horvath
Yeah…this has been a really good month for bookmail in this household. 🙂
Other Going-Ons
Celebrating 4 Years of Blogging!
On August 31st, WordPress notified me that I have been doing this blogging gig for four years now. WHAT!? I know. It has been quite an adventure and I want to thank you all for sticking around these past years. It has been an up and down slope with this site, but I am so proud for sticking to this. I love books and I love sharing my love for books and this has been one of my best passion projects! Life can get busy, but I love this baby of mine too much to let it go! So thank you for following and reading and just letting me ramble on this corner of the internet!
You Had Met At Hola Challenge
Andrea @ Page Cactus on Instagram created this amazing challenge where you recreate a candid celebrity photo to celebrate the release of Alexis Daria’s You Had Me At Hola! I participated by recreating that viral photo of Chris Pine strutting his stuff with a paper bag full of books! I had so much fun that day and I cannot wait to read the book later this month!
Mexican Gothic is Getting a Limited TV Series
This announcement came as a surprise and you bet that I freaked out!!! Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos came to deliver to the SMG hive and I am living for it! No news on when it’s going to happen, but I would fly to wherever the sit will be to be an extra in this movie!
Bitch Read-a-thon – Rereading The Wolf of Oren-Yaro
I had no plans on reading this again but when two twitter fans decided to collab and host a read-a-long I just had to join!!!!!! And let me tell you it was one of the greatest decisions I made this summer! Being emotionally crushed by this book again and discussing it with other readers was the most wonderful experience. The questions made me think critically and reading through peoples answers made me realize how insightful others are.
New Rena Rossner Book!
EEEEH I found out about this new book by surprise and it made my entire day! Last year, I read The Sisters of the Winter Wood and was totally blown away. This book was everything and now we are getting new material and y’all I am sooooo excited!! If you are missing Jewish Fantasy authors on your shelves, I highly recommend adding Rena Rossner to your lists!
via Goodreads
An evocative combination of fantasy, history, and Jewish folklore, The Light of the Midnight Stars is fairytale-inspired novel from the author of The Sisters of the Winter Wood.
Deep in the Hungarian woods, the sacred magic of King Solomon lives on in his descendants. Gathering under the midnight stars, they pray, sing and perform small miracles – and none are more gifted than the great Rabbi Isaac and his three daughters. Each one is blessed with a unique talent – whether it be coaxing plants to grow, or predicting the future by reading the path of the stars.
When a fateful decision to help an outsider ends in an accusation of witchcraft, fire blazes through their village. Rabbi Isaac and his family are forced to flee, to abandon their magic and settle into a new way of life. But a dark fog is making its way across Europe and will, in the end, reach even those who thought they could run from it. Each of the sisters will have to make a choice – and change the future of their family forever.
For more from Rena Rossner, check out The Sisters of the Winter Wood.
Let me tell you: I am being far, far, far too ambitious this September. I’m going to attempt to complete two TBRs this month.
From Sept 1st-14th, I plan on reading:
Never Look Back by Lilliam Rivera Fable by Adrienne Young Ciel by Sophie Labelle The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz The Barren Grounds by David A. Robertson
From Sept 15th-Oct 15th, I have prepared to focus on all books Latinx. You can read more about those plans in this post:
Lord knows I won’t be completing all of this, but I am going to try my absolute best! Please send good vibes!
Let me know what you think! What have you read this month? What books did you get? What books are you looking forward to reading!
*Please Share and/or Donate = Link to a master list of how you can help/educate yourself on Black Lives Matter and other humanitarian movements across the globe*
How have my wonderful book lovers been on this our day to celebrate us? To be honest I didn’t know today was a thing, but I’m into it!
I’m coming at you a little late with this monthly wrap-up and haul, but better late than ever am I right? July was a month, in that I had school and not much else going on.
I wouldn’t say I’m suffering from cabin fever, but being in the house studying is getting quite boring, and yet the thought of going to other places is not so attractive either ugh. It’s a tricky situation but I’m managing.
So I’ve set myself up with quite the ambitious TBR this month even though we’re a third of the way in and I am failing so so so hard rn.
What Rendz Read
Heartstopper: Volume One by Alice Oseman e-📘 (4/5) Review Unravel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim (4/5) My Review
LabyrinthLost by Zoraida Cordova 🎧 (3/5) Review Awk-Weird by Avery Flynn e-📘 (5/5) Review The Penderwicks at Last by Jeanne Birdsall 🎧 (3/5) Review A Songs of Wrath and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown e-📘 (5/5) My Review
The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory 🎧 (4/5) Review Lobizona by Romina Garber e-📘 [ARC] (4/5) Review
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo e-📘 (4.5/5) Review Check, Please! Book 1: #Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu e-📘 (5/5) Review Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia (5/5) My Review
11 books in total! Not too shabby might I add. I really enjoyed my reads this month as you can see there aren’t really any low ratings!
Highlight Book(s):A Songs of Wrath and Ruin, Awk-Weird and Check, Please! were definitely at the top. But Mexican Gothic….y’all MEXICANGOTHIC…I—I—
via giphy.com
Lowliest Book(s):LabyrinthLost wasn’t a very low book, but it was a 3 stars for me. I was hoping for a lot more, but I just did not find myself liking the characters much.
The Haul
Giveaway Wins!
The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow Cryof Metal and Bone by L. Penelope
Purchases
MexicanGothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
ARCs
BlazewrathGames by Amparo Ortiz (I’m part of the Caffeine Book Tour!)
Other Going-Ons
I celebrated Mexican Gothic Week / I waited 27 Days for this book
I went on an Instagram hype spree and posted a bunch of pictures in honour of Mexican Gothic’s release. I basically featured different books Silvia Moreno-Garcia has published up to date! I even featured the special announcement that Certain Dark Things and The Beautiful Ones are going to be reprinted in 2021! Then after waiting very patiently, although complaining on social media every week, I finally got my copy in the mail! I made use of IG musics feature to really show how I was feeling that day!
More Silvia Moreno-Garcia Books are on the way!
I had been celebrating SMG books practically the entire month and then 2 days after I get my copy of MexicanGothic, it is announced that SMG has sold three more books! I just keep winning these days with all this amazing news! Check out the announcement below!
I have nothing else exciting to report. Other than I celebrated my birthday (teehee) and I finished another chunk of summer school. All that’s left is one exam and while the semester took a bit of a down turn, I’ll be accepting any and all good vibes my way!
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi The Sky Weaver by Kristin Ciccarelli
ARC AUGUST CHALLENGE!
The Wolf of Oren-Yaro by K.S. Villoso (a reread for @Bitchreadathon) Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz Category Five by Ann Davila Cardinal Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From by Jennifer De Leon The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson The Faithless Hawk by Margaret Owen Song of the Crimson Flower by Julie C. Dao A River of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy
Plus like a ton of digital library books that I keep borrowing!!!
I already know that I won’t be able to complete everything since I’m still working my way through TGW. But I did up my reading to three books at once, so I’m hoping to blast through much of these reads once I get out of school. It might not happen but a girl has got to tryyyy!
Let me know what you think! What have you read this month? What books did you get? What books are you looking forward to reading!
*Lebanon Needs You – Please Share and/or Donate + Link to a master list of how you can help Black Lives Matter and other humanitarian movements across the globe*
I hope you find yourselves doing well. June was quite a month and we are now half way through the year. I hope you’re taking some time to rest, but also keep up with the movements across the globe.
As you have read in the title, I am still waiting for my copy of MexicanGothic to arrive, which is very disappointing. I thought pre-ordering would get me my book on time but alas here we are. In the mean time, I’ll happily enjoy some of the other books awaiting to be read by me!
What Rendz Read
GhostSquad by Claribel A. Ortega e-📘 (4/5) Review Hunted by the Sky by Tanaz Bhathena 📘 (ARC) (5/5) How Long Til Black Future Month by N.K. Jemisin e-📘 (4/5) Review The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary 🎧 (4/5) Review If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann e-📘 (4/5) Review Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert e-📘 (4/5) Review PET by Akwaeke Emezi 🎧 (4/5) Review
7 books in total! A little less than initially desired and as usual I didn’t complete my planned TBR since my mood took over. But I’ll allow it since it was much needed change.
Highlight Book(s):Hunted by the Sky was just as incredible as I was hoping! I was also super in love with DaniBrown! So looking forward to the next book!
Lowliest Book(s): None this month! They were all pretty high ratings!
The Haul
WELL I CERTAINLY DIDN’T GET MY COPY OF MEXICAN GOTHIC!
ARCs
The Crow Rider by Kalyn Josephson The Faithless Hawk by Margaret Owen Lobizona by Romina Garber CategoryFive by Ann Davila Cardinal Each of Us a Desert by Mark Oshiro
Giveaway win! We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez
Other Going Ons
Keep up the momentum
News cycles move on, but it’s important to stay in the loop! Keep on signing, learning and donating what you can! ❤
Link to the master list of how you can help Black Lives Matter movements across the globe
Half-way through my summer course!
This also consequently means that I’m closer to the end of the summer and beginning of my next fall term, but we celebrate the small victories!
Well hello everyone. I hope that you are taking the necessary precautions to ensure your safety and keep in good health. Times are really tough right now and I hope that you are reaching out to your friends and loved ones.
In terms of reading and being bookish, y’all I’m actually keeping up with my blog schedule, what???? Well that’s a first for me and honestly I’m very proud of myself!
What Rendz Read
Fireborne by Rosaria Munda 📘 (ARC) (4.5/5) Review Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor by Ally Carter 📘 (ARC) (4/5) Review Winter by Marissa Meyer 🎧 (5/5) Wires and Nerve Vol. 1 by Marissa Meyer 📘 (5/5) Wires and Nerve Vol 2.: Gone Rogue by Marissa Meyer 📘 (4/5) The Penderwicks in Spring by Jeanne Birdsall 🎧 The Vine Witch by Luanne G. Smith 📘 (45) Review Well Met by Jen DeLuca 🎧 (2.5/5) Review Always Never Yours by Austin Sigmund-Brokka and Emily Wibberley 🎧 Review Curse of the Night Witch by Alex Aster 📘 (ARC) Review The Court of Miracles by Kester Grant 📘 (e-ARC) RTC Salty, Bitter, Sweet by Mayra Cuevas e-📘 Review Parental Guidance by Avery Flynn e-📘 Review
13 books! I beat my total from last month! I honestly could have done more but there was one point in the month where I got lazy. Also most of these were books I got from my digital library since all my holds came in at practically the same time!
Highlight Book(s): Fireborne was really good, but it can’t top the emotions I went through while rereading TLC and The Penderwicks!
Lowliest Book(s): The Court of Miracles and Salty, Bitter, Sweet really lacked for me.
The Haul
NOTHING. NOTHING. NOTHINGGGGGG.
Nothing except for digital library books.
Other Going Ons
I only have one summer course and it is really out to get me
I had so many things planned to do while I was home and since I was only taking one course I thought that I could keep up with my art projects and reading schedules but no. Of course not. Here I am struggling to learn and have fun at the same time. While I can’t say the course is very stressful, it is heavy and I resent having to take it. But it is what it is and I hope I at least learn something!
Penguin Teen Virtual Events
Penguin Teen Canada has hosted some pretty cool virtual events this month and I was so grateful to be a part of them! My partner and I even won the Trivia Night they had one day and I was so excited! So many great authors joined in, including Marie Lu!!!! It was just a great way to spend Friday nights talking about books!
I hope you are all doing well. I know how tough it can be for a lot of people and I hope you are all taking care of yourselves out there.
April was an interesting month for me. I finished my winter semester at uni and have been on a real vacation for the past two weeks. That being said, my summer semester starts in a week so I have to be prepared to start working again.
In terms of my reading, I was pretty chill. I have been doing a lot of rereads instead of reading my ARCs which is a little naughty of me in terms of being a good blogger, but I am working on it!
Enough with the excuses, let’s get into it!
What Rendz Read!
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory 🎧 (4/5) This Train is Being Held by Ismée Williams 🎧 (5/5) The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall 🎧 (5/5) The Right Swipe by Alisha Rai 🎧 (2/5) Rogue Princess by B.R. Meyers 📘 (ARC) (2/5) Review The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory 🎧 (3/5) Finale by Stephanie Garber 📘 (3/5) My Full Review ThePenderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall 🎧 (5/5) Scarlet by Marissa Meyer 🎧 (5/5) IslandAffair 📘 (e-ARC) (3/5) Review Cress by Marissa Meyer 🎧 (5/5)
11 books in total! Only two are actual ARCs from my pile and one is a book from my shelf I’ve had for a while. I’d say it was a successful month in terms of rereads. I got through more of the Penderwicks and the Lunar Chronicles which was the highlight of my month! The audiobook love has also been really strong and I am digging it!
The Haul
Netgalley Never Look Back by Lilliam Rivera
Giveaway Win! Supernova by Marissa Meyer
Other Going-Ons
NARNIA MARATHON
Just before my final assignment was due to be handed in for the semester a local TV Network blessed my life by hosting a Narnia marathon. Lucky for me, my assignment was already done so I peacefully enjoyed my movies. I sat in front of the TV for 6 hours straight, much to the chagrin of my family, especially my father who couldn’t watch TV. Are the movies still excellent? Yes. Do I still have the whole first movie memorised? Also, yes.
via giphy.com
I JOINED THE CON SABOR READING CHALLENGE
It’s time to get serious with my Latinx reading y’all and I have pledged to follow along with this reading challenge in order to keep track of myself! I am very excited to be joining in because there are so many amazing Latinx reads out there to discover and I am totally ready to read them!
It came as a total shock! I usually enter big giveaways with very little hope of winning them because one of ten thousand entries really limits your chances. But when I saw I got a DM from THE Marissa Meyer my heart leaped and when I opened and read the message, I shrieked! While I may be a bigger fan of her Lunar Chronicles, I am still very excited to now own all this signed merch and swag for the Renegades trilogy.
Uh well I really am just going to play it by ear. I tried making a TBR for last month but it just didn’t work out that great. That being said there are some books I do hope to get to this month.
Finish my TLC audiobook reread
Read at least 2 *expired* ARCs
Read one forth coming ARC
Finish my Penderwicks audiobook reread
That’s it from me. I am looking forward to my reading this month even though I have nothing absolutely set other than my rereads! I hope you are all doing well during these tough times and that reading is keeping you comfort.
Let me know what you think! How was your April?What books did you read? What books did you buy? What books are you looking forward to?
Reading with Rendz 