Oddly specific and very curious reading cravings I’ve had as of late | Reading Slump Diaries

Greetings readers!

How has your reading been as of late? Because if you ask me…it’s not been so great. It’s sort of an odd reading slump where I still have some amazing reads, but my desire to pick up a book comes and goes in the blink of an eye. Real-life Rendz has been quite busy and this summer has been different for me, so while I miss reading I find myself having trouble to get into the groove of it.

However, this doesn’t mean that I never think about reading. In actuality, I’ve been doing lots of day dreaming about what kind of books I want to read and it has led to the discovery of some odd but intriguing book concepts. These reading cravings aren’t books that necessarily exist, but if you have a recommendation that you think fits the vibe, hit me up!

Middle school drama with a hint of summer adventure

Yes, it specifically has to be middle school drama because I feel nostalgic for the grade school life. I also feel like the tween years are the prime age to have summer adventures that completely change lives. I want trials of friendship, tests of courage and family hijinks. In terms of genre, I’m good with either something contemporary or fantastical, though I would have to say I’m leaning towards the former. For reference I want to feel that nostalgia for my middle school years when I read The Penderwicks, the Accidentally series and other Candy Apple books

A magical forest setting that is both chilly and cozy

Let me tell you now that I’m craving a magical forest setting because I am nostalgic for Narnia vibes and For The Wolf left a bad taste in my mouth with its lackluster setting. But more than anything I want a new special twist to this kind of setting, I don’t know exactly what but something that makes this trope fantastical in a new light. I want goosebumps and thrills but also whimsy and wonder! It can be any age range, but I was really hoping for a middle grade book maybe. I don’t know how well adult or young adult might fit this! Or maybe I’m just hoping for any kind of news on the sequel of The Barren Grounds. Hmmm….

A sports rom-com with an emphasis on the COM – I want to laugh, first and foremost.

For some reason I want to read about the athlete life but in a comedic setting with love and laughter! I know a lot of sports romance books out there are a lot more smexy, but I really want the laughs. Like can it be both ridiculously hilarious and swoony? Does such a book exist? If it does, I wants it. I’m currently reading Isn’t It Bromantic which has a bit of this vibe, but still not as humourous as I’m craving you know? I want love yes, but more than anything I want the laughs!

An urban fantasy (but like a non-cheesy one please)

Believe it or not, I want something sassy and fantastical but make it *modern* If I had to confess my one problematic bookish trait, it’s that I don’t love and often put down urban fantasy books without giving them much of a chance. (Just look at the judgmental title of this section *shame on me*) This is very wrong of me, I admit. And I need to be more open to reading these stories, which is why I’m kind of loving that I’m having a bit of a craving for a story like this! I never thought the day would come, but here it is. I have ZERO knowledge of UF books, so please bestow me with your expertise!

Let me know what you think! Do you ever get oddly, specific reading cravings during reading slumps? Do you have any recommendations to match any of these moods? How do you find your way back to reading?

Happy reading!

~ Rendz

New Year, New Look, Still all about the Books

Greetings readers!

Well it has been a while, hasn’t it? I didn’t mean to push my blogging duties aside so abruptly, but I will be honest I didn’t feel like blogging for several weeks. It was a mix of many going-ons in my life from burnouts that led to zero motivation to limited time to even think about blogging, I just felt like I needed a break from the blogsphere and I took it unannounced.

That being said, I wanted to enter the new year with a fresh perspective, that meant changing up my look and getting creative. So forgive me that it took a while trying to put all this together, but I wanted to be sure I got it right before I showed it off to my corner of the internet!

So what exactly have I been up to this past month?

Well for one, I finished another semester of online schooling, as is the case with many people I presume. I had a very heavy workload towards the end and I just could not find the right time or the energy to muster up any ideas for what to write. I read faster than I could even pump our mini reviews for Goodreads!

via giphy.com

I have also been reading a lot and yet not a lot. I was trying very hard to catch up on my Netgalley percentage, but I didn’t quite make it before I went on another request binge. Oops. However, I did do one thing that brought me much joy. I reread the entire AN EMBER IN THE ASHES series from start to finish! I am emotionally destroyed, but it was so so so worth it!

I have been much more active on my Instagram! I have been trying to build up that platform as much as I could although finding the right lighting in the winter can be quite difficult! But I do enjoy that platform quite a bit! I also ended up taking a Twitter hiatus which I have come to enjoy. Twitter can be fun, but it is also chaotic and taking breaks from it is necessary.

And last but not least, I redesigned my blog! I changed up the theme, colour scheme and my logo! Say hello to the new green bean me!

~Reading Goals!~

Every year I try to make reading goals, and every year I don’t quite achieve them. So this year I am trying to remind myself that the only goal that really matters is that I enjoy my reading and my blogging! That being said, I still want to put up some checkpoints for myself. Give myself some ground lines that will help me from trying to achieve it all and instead simply achieve what I can!

So here we go..

1. Read 100 Books.

Considering that this pandemic doesn’t look to me ending any time soon, I figured this is the perfect year to try and make this goal that I have been working towards over the past 4 years. Last year I read a total of 109 books, which is a good sign. I originally aimed for 80, so let’s see if I can take this big leap!

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2. Track my reading with Story Graph and lean away from Goodreads

2020 was the year we talked about changing our habits, so 2021 has to be the year where we actually do the actions of change. Goodreads, despite being a staple in the book community, isn’t the only option. Story Graph is a newer and very user friendly book tracker that has lots of perks like half stars and mood settings! I’m still learning to use it which is why I haven’t deleted my Goodreads just yet. My goal is to use SG as my main platform and only post reviews on GR. I understand how important that platform is for lesser known authors, so I can’t completely do away with it, but the fun of tracking I know I can achieve elsewhere.

Have you made a Story Graph account? Follow me “rendz” and I’d be happy to follow back!

3. Read the Books I Own

This has been a goal for every year and every year I feel like I don’t even try to achieve it, so it is going on here again. But this time I want to get serious. I aim to read at least one book I own every single month. At least one. (Please Rendz!) I have so many books on my shelves that have been calling out to me as of late and it is time I give in!

I think I’ll let you all be part of the process and help me choose one book from my shelf each month!

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4. Plan my Book Buying

Money is just something I have to be conscious of these days when it comes to book buying and that means picking and choosing a limited amount. No more big hauls etc etc. And well since Silvia Moreno-Garcia has 4 books coming out in 2021 we all know where my wallet is leaning towards.

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5. Review my ARCs on time.

This is another goal I’ve noted before, and I’m doing it again because I believe in 2nd, 3rd, 4th chances! Also this is one goal that I just have to get better at. If I want the trust from authors and publishers that means I have to deliver!! Yeah, I’m calling myself out a bit, but it is because I want to do better!

via giphy.com

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That’s it from me friends! I hope you are all having a good start to the year and if not then I hope it gets better ❤

I would love to know what you are reading this month and any bookish plans you have for the year! Did you set reading goals? Are you planning any big changes this year? Whatever you will be embarking on this month, I wish you success!

Happy reading!

~ Rendz

I’m Back, I’m Behind and Better than Ever | Sharing a little about my trip!

Greetings readers!

It has been a very hot minute since I last posted and if you’ve read through my last post you’ll know it is because I was on vacation!

I spent the last two weeks in El Salvador, which is where my family hails from before my parents immigrated to Canada. I haven’t been back to ES in about 6 years. The last time I went I stayed there for about 6 weeks so the 2 weeks that I spent there this year felt supremely short! Still I had a fabulous time there!

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What can I say about going back?

It’s been a while. I forgot how mountainous the country is so getting from one place to another means going up and down a lot of hills and there are lots of curves in the roads. It is actually a very difficult place to drive in I would not want to get a license there. Car sickness there would not be fun.

But going back to my family’s town and seeing how its look hasn’t changed one bit was so nostalgic. I mean the house my family lives in has changed, but the streets are the same, the colours are the same if a little faded, the smells are the same and the people, the people. The people may be different, but the same too.

Now we have to talk about the sounds because Oh My Lord Jesus Christ. Everyone there is a morning person.

The roosters start cocking at 3:00 AM. The bread vendors are yelling on the streets at 4:00 AM. The vegetable vendors follow the bread vendors. Then come the ringing of the bells of the school calling all the students to class. The students themselves are noisy af. There are cars and car alarms going off every couple of minutes, motorcycles zipping by. It’s crazy.

NOT TO MENTION! When we first arrived the town was in the middle of a week long celebration of its Patron Saint (because the Catholics over there like to party) so at around 4:30 AM on the first two nights there were parades. Yes, parades. And fireworks. Lots and lots of fireworks. In the early, early morning.

But I cherished every sound however annoying it was. Even the kisses that the geckos on the walls of the house sent my way.

Now we must talk about the relentless heat. Geez, you guys it was HOT. Every single day. A suffocating heat alongside a killer sun that beat down. My Abuelita’s house doesn’t have AC so the fan was my best friend. There were days I could stand it, when I ate lots of cold treats (my Abuelita has a famous Popsicle recipe) and remembered to drink water. But there were other days when I got desperate and might have thrown a tantrum about the heat. Maybe. But after six months of cold weather the heat was a welcome change.

I won’t say much about the mosquitoes other than that they ate me alive. I applied as much repellent as I could but they still found spots of get at me.

We celebrated my Abuelita’s birthday and had a huge family reunion since most of the family was visiting! It was so much fun and all my cousins are crazy so you know we had a party! Then later in the week we celebrated my birthday which was fun, they even had a piñata at my party!

I did lots of touristy things while I was there. We visited the local water attractions. We went to this cool maze that was actually pretty tricky to navigate. We even had the privilege to go to a resort there. But mostly I spent time with my family. Uncles, aunts and cousins who have grown so much! I adore them, they know I do. I’m lucky my parents basically grew up across the street from each other so seeing both sides of the family was easy!

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The Question You Might Have…

Now I know some of you may be thinking about the whole situation of El Salvador. Lots of you have probably heard of the refugees fleeing to the US, being detained and put in cages. And you’ve heard about the violence and poverty that has overrun the country. And it’s all true. I’m lucky that I can still visit. I’m lucky that the town where my family lives is still far enough from the gang violence. But it’s still risky, it always is. The gangs might not be as visible, but they are there. There is an unspoken curfew in the town, but by 9 PM the streets are empty, not a soul in sight. There are streets you can’t walk alone, if you have a purse you have to watch it and hold on tight. There is immense poverty. My family gets by but that doesn’t mean its easy for them all especially with my grandma’s health. They only get running water every other day, sometimes they have to wait longer. The water isn’t even drinkable. It’s not pure and really can only be used for showering and washing. Most people have to buy clean water. It’s a hard life and I only lived two weeks of it. Can you possibly imagine how hard it could be for someone poorer, being extorted that has their whole life there?

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What Reading I got Done?

None. Literally read 6 chapters of Sky in the Deep. I just didn’t have the time to sit down reading while I was there. My time was short and I had to spend as much as I could living in the real world.

Before I left I meant to do a lot of blogging but that didn’t happen either so I have a lot of catching up to do believe me.

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Let me know what you think! What have you been up to so far? What books have you read? Where have you travelled?

Happy reading!

~ Rendz

March Wrap Up & April TBR

Greetings readers!

Yet another month has come and gone. Why time, do you fly so fast? What happened to slow and steady? Dear Rendz can’t keep up. She is falling behind. SLOW DOWN, WILL YA!

Anyways, March was March. Ummmm…what can I say? It was a typical Rendz March, I got a ton of books and read like three. I am really struggling to keep up with my reading schedule, mostly because of some great shows I’ve been watching. Darn TV for being such an entertaining distraction!

Was it a spectacular month…? Not really, it was just a March.

What I Read:

Immortal Reign by Morgan Rhodes
The final installment of the Falling Kingdoms series. I was quite satisfied, but also a tad disappointed. My Full Review!

Lost Crow Conspiracy by Rosalyn Eves
Historical fantasy!!!! Not something I read often, but I enjoyed it! My Full Review!

Captain Guinevere by Clara Bennet
A quick, fun and fast read! My mini-review!

I started two other books, but I guess they don’t count since I finished them in April, so you’ll hear more about those later on!

What I Hauled

Dark of the West by Joanna Hathaway (ARC)
A Prom to Remember by Sandy Hall (ARC)
The Price Guide to the Occult by Leslye Walton
The Story Girl by L. M. Montgomery
The Golden Road by L. M Montgomery

These books were all sent by publishers, so my dear wallet is actually feeling pretty good this month!

Posts from the Month of March!

Bookish M.A.S.H. Tag

Lunar Chronicles Character Art Reveal: Cinder

A Possibility of Whales Blog Tour

Secret Life of a Book Blogger Tag

Latest T.V. Binges

(I actually just finished watching Violet Evergarden, one of the shows I talk about in this post and you guys…I AM AN EMOTIONAL WRECK! I’m deciding whether I want to do an appreciation post for it because I AM AN ABSOLUTE MESS! Read more in my post to see why!)

The Mulan Book Tag

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April TBR

I have a lot of things to get out of the way this month…like A LOT.

Sleight by Jennifer Sommersby (Finished!)

The Story Girl by L. M. Montgomery (Nearly finished…)

The Golden Road by L. M. Montgomery

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

A Prom to Remember by Sandy Hall

The Price Guide to the Occult by Leslye Walton

Song of Blood and Stone by L. Penelope

And a couple other books I’m pretty sure that I am forgetting. That is a lot of reading to get done…and I’m probably gonna struggle for sure. Wish me luck.

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Let me know what you think! What was your favourite book of March? What release were you anticipating the most? Did you buy any books this past month? What read are you most looking forward to?

Happy reading!

~ Rendz

Books I Need to Reread in the Near Future

Greetings readers!

Lately I have been thinking a lot about rereading. Mostly because I have absolutely no time to reread anything. My ARC/request pile is literally tipping over the edge and I need to really bring that number down. So in times like these, I like to reflect upon old books I have read that I want to jump back into sometime in the future. And trust me there are A LOT. Some more pertinent than others, so I really want to try and get them in.

That being said, with the spring and far away (yet approaching) summer seasons, I wanted to list all the series that I NEED to reread in the coming months.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

~ Because it has been a while and I am lacking.

Seriously, it has been faaarrr too long since my last Narnia reread. Trust me I’ve watched the movies plenty of times since then, but the books I haven’t revisited in a while. I really want to jump back into my favourite fantasy world, so hopefully I can do that this summer.

Grishaverse books Leigh Bardugo

~ In preparation for King of Scars!!!!

Soooooo some of you may know that my Witch Queen, Leigh Bardugo is coming out with a series based on her Grisha character Nikolai Lanstov and I couldn’t be more excited!!! But it has been years since I read the Grisha trilogy and honestly, I don’t remember much about it! I was conversing the other day with a friend who had just recently read the books and let me tell you, I had almost no clue what she was talking about.

So in prepping for this new book, I am going to host a BARDUGO BONANZA: ALL THINGS GRISHA! in the late summer/early autumn season! I will be reading all the books in the Grishaverse and while I don’t have the exact details planned yet, I was wondering if some of you would be willing to join me?!

An Ember in the Ashes & A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

~ Reaper is coming!!!!!!!

This is actually going to happen very, very, very soon. With A Reaper at the Gates releasing mid-June, I wanted to get in an AEITA and ATATN reread in…because some details are starting to fuzz…and avoiding spoilers for this series is not going to be easy! So I am hoping to get in a reread sometime May or early June!

Legend series by Marie Lu

~ Because apparently I like to torture myself?

Yeah. I recently got the graphic novel Legend and After Legend (which was the pre-order gift for Warcross, the epilogue of Champion in Day’s POV). AND I WANT TO REREAD THE SERIES, BUT I AM IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM PREPARED FOR THAT HEARTBREAK AGAIN.

BUT I WANT TO EXPERIENCE IT AGAIN.

WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF?!!!

The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall

~ Because THE PENDERWICKS AT LAST is coming!!!!!!

If you are new to my blog (Hi!), you have to know how much I adore, ADORE, The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall. They are utterly amazing, emotional, hilarious and adventurous. I am so, so, so, so in love with these books and with this last book coming in May, I am ready to be broken.

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

~ Self-explanatory

DO I REALLY HAVE TO EXPLAIN!???!?!?!?!

I did a reread of the main series last summer, but this summer I AM GONNA READ THEM ALL!!!! The main series, the prequels, the novellas, the graphic novels and I’m gonna colour my darn colouring book!

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Let me know what you think! What series are you looking to reread soon? Have you read all of these series or just some? Do you like rereading?

Happy (re)reading!

~ Rendz

Immortal Reign | Review

Greetings Readers!

Oh so long ago, I picked up this book called Falling Kingdoms. Back then (and now) I was really into swords and magical kingdoms and princesses and princes, so in picking up Falling Kingdoms I had high expectations. But I didn’t expect to be completely sucked in. Just immersed in the world and it’s twists and turns.

I was addicted.

Today, marks the end of my journey. The publication of my review for the final book. Six books I have spent with these characters. Six books with new adventures, but the same journey. Six books of death. Six books of love. So today I reminisce on this, the sixth book.

Let’s begin.

Immortal Reign by Morgan Rhodes

via Goodreads

Publisher: Razorbill
Page count: 391
ISBN: 1595148248

Synopsis: As two lethal elemental gods set out to destroy Mytica, sworn enemies must become allies in the final fight to save the kingdoms.

Jonas continues to willfully defy his destiny, but the consequences of plotting his own course are drastic. As the fight for Mytica rages on, he must decide just how much more he’s willing to sacrifice.

Lucia knows there’s something special about her daughter and she’ll do anything to protect her, even if that means facing Kyan alone.

Amara is called back home to Kraeshia. Grandma Cortas has her own plans for Mytica’s future. She promises Amara power, revenge, and dominance if she agrees to be part of her scheme.

Magnus and Cleo‘s love will be put to the ultimate test. Dark magic is causing widespread destruction throughout the kingdom. Enemies across the sea are advancing. And unrest is stirring throughout the land. Is their love strong enough to withstand the outside forces tearing them apart?

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Buy It!

Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Book Depository

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I read this book fast. This is what I love about Morgan’s books. Everything happens, boom, boom, boom. It’s a cut-to-the-chase kind of series. Not to mention, the ending of book 5 was absolutely monstrous so I was DYING to pick this up. Things happened and I honestly was not sure how our characters were going to get out of that mess. Going in, I was prepared for an ending that would destroy me and it turned out to be quite unexpected.

What I Liked:

Characters:

Cleo: My girl. I have hated every character in this series for a little while, except one. Cleo. I have rooted for her from the very beginning of the book. Yeah, I agree she was a pampered, pompous princess at the start, but boy did she have to grow, adapt and manipulate to survive this giant fiasco. In short, I absolutely adore her and her wit. Her growth from this puppet princess to this comeback queen was epic.

via giphy.com

Magnus: My boy. We have come a long way, have we not? Let me tell you all. I hated this man for the first 2 books, tolerated him in the third one and have been head over heels for him for the fourth, fifth and sixth books. Is that an evolution or what?! Magnus goes through quite a few changes, from striving to be like his tyrant father to trying to be a more merciful ruler. He is still pretty mean to most people, but I’d say he is much more thoughtful now than in book one. His evolution is one I enjoyed very much, plus after his final scene in final Crystal Storm….umm….reading this book was necessary! In this sixth book, he is still a snarky prince, and I cannot help but love him.

Jonas: Oh Jonas. No offense, my friend, but you were really irrelevant for like most of the books. 🙂 Jonas had to learn how to make decisions. He made a lot of poor ones and then made some poorer ones, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel! He makes some good decisions in this book and for that I applaud him. His scenes are a lot more action-y so they make up for the more intense political or magical scenes the others get. But who am I to say that Jonas doesn’t get a little magic himself? 😉

Lucia: Oh girl, I’m gonna be honest. I liked you in the first book and that’s about it. I get it, you have been used all your life and now that you have power and people fear you, it is best to use it at your advantage. Not going to lie, you took it to an extreme and I know you tried very hard to be redeemable…but yeah you still aren’t a fave-fave. You have cool magic though! And I appreciate the way in which you honoured Lysandra.

Everyone Else: People, there are six different perspectives in this book, plus a million side characters some of which I adore (Felix ❤ ). Just know that they add all the more drama, heartbreak and humor to the story. And one in particular just brings a lot more trouble *cough* Amara *cough* Needless to stay, they make the story richer despite it being a little tricky to keep track of them all.

Story & World: This is a big series, with many subplots and of course the big main plot. There is magic, war, politics and romances that come with their own twists and turns. It is addictive. I just wanted to keep being invested in how these characters could possibly resolve all these problems they have caused throughout six books! And while you may be turned off by the multiple POVs, I ask you to fear not because it is actually not that hard to follow. Every character has their own voice, their own distinct goals and faults.  I also love that Morgan made the lands in this novel very different. You know where everyone is because of the distinct landscapes. There is even a stunning map to help you along if you get lost!

Writing: Morgan doesn’t do the heavy, whimsical fantasy writing that one would normally expect from these kinds of books. It’s easy, it’s light, perhaps a little juvenile, but it is simple and clear to understand. It is the best kind of writing for this story considering there are so many characters to follow and one has no time to get caught up on figuring out what this prophetic, metaphorical sentence is trying to tell you! It also makes the reading faster and for six books, I’m telling you, you will FLY through them!

Romance: This series is home to one of my most epic ships. Just look at that cover. Look at it. Tell me you are not intrigued by those reaching out hands. By that smirk on his face. BECAUSE WHEN I SAW THIS COVER I FLIPPED. AT SCHOOL. IN THE CAFETERIA. IN PUBLIC. I FLIPPED. I want to give a shout out to all the other ships in this book too! BUT I MEAN MAGNEO IS AN ADDICTION. One of the BEST enemies-to-lovers romances I have read because I friggin experienced it too! I hated Magnus and then I loved him. I have never been THAT invested in a romance (Save Cresswell)! Suffice to say, that I loved it. A lot.

via giphy.com

The Hint of A Possible Spin-Off Series: Morgan did THAT. She left us with a prophecy. One does not leave readers with a prophecy and not commit to telling it! Dear Morgan, I am ready for more. Please and thank you.

What I Disliked:

I Missed the Final Wow Factor: I just…needed more. A bigger BANG! More PIZZAZZ. I don’t mean to say that there were not any jaw-dropping moments because there are, but I felt like everything was cleaned up neatly and swiftly. Wrapped in a bow and ta-da. I wanted a tad more drama, more risk. *More than the whole world Rendz, which was already at risk?* Yes.

No One Died: Okay, this is wrong of me to say. People did die…just not the people I wanted to die. Am I a bad person for saying this??

via giphy.com

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Overall,  I had a blast. I flew through the first 60% of this book and savoured the last 40 because I realized that this truly was the end. Am I happy with the ending? Yes. Did I think the characters got what they deserved? Most did. Will I forever fangirl about Magneo? Absolutely!! Honestly friends, if you want a magical, political and adventurous fantasy series to binge, I HIGHLY recommend this series! (Plus you have to support Canadian YA!)

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Recommend: Yeeeees! A fun, fantastical, and fabulous read!

Let me know what you think! What are your thoughts on this series? Who is your favourite character? Who is your favourite ship? Did you enjoy the final installment? 

Happy reading!

~ Rendz

One Lovely Blogger Award

Greetings readers!

AGES UPON AGES AGO…I was nominated for the One Lovely Blogger Award by two amazing bloggers! Well at least I think there were only two…I have a feeling someone else may have nominated me for this award too and I forgot to jot down their name….or it could be my ego wanting to be flattered more! 🙃

If you did tag me and for some reason I didn’t get the pingback or I missed your name…I’m so sorry! I still really appreciate you…whoever you are! 🙃🙃

 

The Rules:

• Thank the person who nominated you and link their blog
• Add the One Lovely Blog Award to your post
• Share 7 things about yourself
• Pass this on to as many people as you like (max 15)
• Include this set of rules
• Inform your nominees

HUGE THANKS GO OUT TO ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BLOGGERS AND BEST BLOGGER FRIENDS (BBF) Mandy @ Book Princess Reviews. Mandy has such an amazing blog, with amazing reviews, funny tags and other bookishly fantastic posts you should all go explore! ALSO A HUGE THANKS TO Bella @ Bella Blogs Because Books! Bella also has such an amazing blog, I love her reviews and you must all go check her out!!

7 THINGS ABOUT RENDZ…

1.) I started this blog in August of 2016 and honestly did not think I would make it past September. I tend to start things that I know I will not finish BUT working with books. Reading them. Writing about them. TALKING about them with other people is the best thing that I have ever done. I love it, so why stop?

2.) None of my close friends or family know about this blog. I have only told my two older sisters and one friend (who never asked me about it afterwards…so I guess she was not that interested). I don’t really think it would interest them if I talked about it! Plus…my parents would freak about my safety over the internet! Which I do sometimes because this world is honestly crazy.

3.) I don’t book shop online too much because I try to keep my book purchases to a minimum in the eyes of my parents. Having the book arrive at my door or my parents catching the bill would equal ☠☠☠ Meaning, I miss out on a lot of good deals and pre-order stuff never happens here! *cries*

4.) You should all know by now that I am terrible at keeping up with my TBR. I set the bar so high and I miss it every month! It gets so frustrating, but I’m getting better in at squeezing in some more time! (In other words I’m losing sleep!)

5.) My bookshelf has no real system of organization and it bothers me, but I’m too lazy to change it. I have my Marissa Meyer/Narnia shelf at the top and the rest of it is just a mess!

6.) I watch a lot of BookTube! My favourite is Regan from PeruseProject! We are literally best friends…she just does not know it. *not to sound creepy* I mean we like all the same books and I get all my recommendations from her! 🙃

7.) I am dedicating July as my re-read month! More news to come about this event in the coming weeks or so…😉

I Tag…

I feel like everyone has already been nominated for this! I mean you are all such amazing and lovely bloggers! I tag you all! Please do it on my behalf if you have not been nominated yet! Consider yourself a nominee as of now, by me!

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Hope you enjoyed these 7 odd facts about me…that are not all that interesting but fun to share!

~ Rendz

Sunshine Blogger Award Pt 2

Greetings readers!

The saga of catching up on tags and awards continues…

A while back, I was tagged by Kester from LiLbooKlovers for the Sunshine Blogger Award. I have been awarded this before, but to have been nominated twice is the ultimate honour! So thank you LiLbooKlovers, I really appreciate it! You all should definitely go check out their blog. These bloggers create such beautiful posts and always have excellent reviews on all kinds of book!

Rules

1. Thank the person who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog.

2. Answer the 11 questions sent by the person who nominated you.

3. Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write then 11 new questions.

4. List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog.

Thank you again Kester for nominating me and I hope you all enjoy my answers!

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1. What is one book that made you cry?

The Penderwicks (1-4) by Jeanne Birdsall

All of these books made me cry for some reason. They are middle-grade but have some truly heart-breaking scenes. The books deal a lot with the themes of loss, death and renewal in the eyes of children so they make me teary sometimes.

2. If you could travel one place in the entire world and all your expenses were paid, where would you go?

Can I cheat and say Europe? It’s been a dream of mine to travel all of Europe and see the historical landmarks and take in the sites. France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Sweden, England… everywhere, I want to see it all! Perhaps some day!

3. Where is your favourite place to read? Like in front of fireplace, outside on the grass, on your bed in a blanket… what?

On the couch in my sitting room, with the sunlight pouring through the open curtains and some comfy pillows. If it is winter a nice blanket covering me, if it is summer the window must be open! It’s the perfect setting to keep me concentrated on my reading!

4. Which TV show would you choose to binge watch?

I tried to binge watch Gilmore Girls but got side tracked. I really want to watch Jane the Virgin and I need to catch up on Once Upon a Time!

5. Would you rather meet your favourite author but you cannot say a single word, or would you have a signed copy of your favourite book made personally to you but every 10th page is missing?

Meet my favourite author and not say a word. WHY?

A. I would  be in their presence.

B. I would get to see them physically sign my book.

C. I would save myself the embarrassment of saying something dumb (as I have before)

I would not be able to deal with missing pages!

6. What is your top reading strategy to maximize how many books you will read in a year?

Monthly goals, at least two books each month. On Fridays, Saturdays and Holidays I stay up really late. Like very, very late. In the summer I have a goal of 20 books in two months.

7. What is the talent or achievement that you are most proud of?

I can draw. I know some technique and craft. I’m no Picasso or DaVinci but I can make something look realistic or not…depending on the project.

8. What is your favourite movie adaptation of a book, and why?

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

This movie made me fall in love with Narnia. It made me want to go on adventures and be a queen. Be fearless. Be hopeful. Be magical. Just imagine a 6 year-old Rendz, sitting in a theatre with wide eyes taking in all the beauty and wonder that is Narnia. Hoping and dreaming that one day she would find her magical calling and be whisked off on adventures. Rendz is still waiting for that day, but her hope has not been deterred. Not to mention that the soundtrack is A M A Z I N G and it is literally the theme song of my life.

 

9. If you were going to recommend me one book, which one would it be, and why?

Cinder by Marissa Meyer…followed by the rest of the Lunar Chronicles. It has classic tales mixed with scifi, suspense, action and great twists. You will devour it!

10. Which fictional character would you go out on a date with, and do you think it would work out?

THE LIST. THIS IS A LIST. A HUGE LIST!

Ok..ok…I’ll do one for now. Just know that there is a long list.

Elias Veturius, you and me, dinner, pick me up at seven. Elias is so sweet and caring, I would love to go out with him. I think he would funny and charming and his eyes…oh his eyes! I wouldn’t be able to stop staring at them.

I would like to think that all my fictional dates would turn out successful, thank you very much.

11. What kind of book swag (e.g. buttons, bookmarks, postcards, bookplates, wristbands, etc.) is your favourite?

I like post cards! I love that they come with beautiful illustrations and detail. I actually won An Ember in the Ashes postcards in the newsletter giveaway by Sabaa Tahir and they are absolutely gorgeous!

My nominees!

Painfully Fictional

The Book Cover Girls

Kyera’ Library

Blame the Chocolate

*Don’t feel the need to do it again if you already have!*

 

My Questions:

1. What is your current read? Are you enjoying it?
2. What was your last read? What did you think of it?
3. Which author are you *dying* to meet?
4. How do you organize you shelves?
5. Do you own any special book swag?
6. Was there a time when you liked the movie more than the book?
7. Would you rather be able to breathe under-water or fly?
8. What is your favourite genre of books/movies?
9. What is your guilty pleasure read?
10. Do you have any unpopular opinions on books?
11. What is your favourite past-time other than reading?

Thank you once again to LiLbooKlovers for nominating me, especially you, Kester! I hope you all enjoyed this post and follow my nominator and nominees because they are also super cool!

Happy reading!

~ Rendz

Mystery Blogger Award Pt 2

Greetings readers!
I was nominated once before for this award, but I was nominated again by two lovely bloggers. My thanks goes out to Princess @ Royal Reader. She has an amazing blog and I always enjoy reading her discussion posts and reviews. You should definitely go check her out and interact with her. Another big thank you to is Melting Pots and Other Calamities who writes great reviews and discussion posts as well! She has an amazing thread about analyzing different strengths in women in fiction that you should go check out!

“Mystery Blogger Award” is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging; and they do it with so much love and passion.”

This award was created by Okoto Enigma @ Okoto Enigma. You should check the blog out!

Rules

1. Put the award logo/image on your blog

2. List the rules

3. Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.

4. Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well

5. Tell your readers 3 things about yourself

6. You nominate 10 – 20 people

7. Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog

8. Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question (specify)

9. Share a link to your best post(s)

Three things about Rendz

1. I tried embroidery for the first time and it is suffice to say that I would make a terrible lady in the middle ages. I cannot embroider to save my life.
2. I have 18 signed books on my shelf (maybe one day I will do a post about it)
3. I’ve never read Harry Potter…don’t hate me.

My Best Posts

I like to write funny reviews.  I try to write funny yet professional reviews. Let me know what you think!

1. Crooked Kingdom Review
2. Wires & Nerve Review
3. Blood Rose Rebellion ARC Review

Royal Reader’s Questions

1.) What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?

I’m not a spontaneous kind of person, I tend to overthink everything I do and each decision I make. It’s not the best quality to have and I tend to bury myself in doubt, but there was this one time I sent in a piece of writing to an author because she was doing a special program with my local library. I never share my creative writing with anyone but her response to my story made me happy and pushed me to keep going. Although now when I read what I sent her I realize it needs major fixing!

2.) If you could suddenly be an expert in any field at all, what would it be and why?

An astronaut. I would definitely be interested in going to space and seeing the world from the outside. I think their work is so cool and I would love to be in their shoes for a day!

via giphy.com

3.) Where is your favourite place to write your blog posts?

In my study. It’s where I do all my work and projects. I have a big desk with a comfy chair. Not to mention three shelves with some of my books (not all shelves have my books most of them a textbooks) It’s a small room but it’s my room and I can focus in here. (Most days anyways)

4.) If you could spend the day with your biggest inspiration, who would it be and what would you do? (Can be anyone at all, famous or not, living or passed on).

I have no idea. I don’t know if I have discovered my biggest inspiration apart from my family. They mean the world to meet but I get to spend everyday with them. There are so many people who do incredible things but I cannot think of one who has touched me personally! I guess I haven’t found anyone yet…perhaps in the near future.

5.) Weird: If you were to run away and join the circus (non-animal using circus only), would you either be a trapeze artist, a fire-eater, a tight-rope walker or a unicyclist?

Tight-rope walker. I would get to channel my inner Inej Ghafa.

via giphy.com

Melting Pots and Other Calamities Questions

1.) Have you ever checked out a hyped book/movie/TV show/other type of fiction, and did you enjoy it?

Many. Many! A lot of the books I read are the hyped ones and often times I enjoy them. For example The Hunger Games, Six of Crows, An Ember in the Ashes, The Lunar Chronicles, etc but there have been some I did not enjoy as much i.e. Queen of Shadows and Glass Sword.

2.) What is your favourite fandom? I don’t mean the show or book itself, but the group of people involved.

I love being a Lunartic! I’m not active in many groups but I do follow some blogs and Pinterest boards that always have great TLC memes and fan art. The fan art is amazing! It’s a community with no ship wars, great characters and a story that is always fun to revisit!

3.) Give two of your favourite quotes, one funny, and the other inspirational.

Funny:  

Inspirational: “You are never to old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis

4.) While writing your posts, do you have writer’s block, and if so, what kind is it? Like, do you have trouble coming up with ideas, or do you lack motivation?

My posts usually consist of reviews and tags/awards, I have yet to write a discussion or appreciation post. Sometimes I have trouble in my reviews coming up with the subheadings in my likes and dislikes. I struggle with finding the right things to say to express my true feelings for the book. Sometimes I think I sound really childish and I get stuck on my wording. To help I usually flip through the book to any random page and just think about the scenes before and after. That usually helps bring up ideas.

5.) (Funny question). Name something you loved as a kid. Do you still like it on occasion?

I used to watch Cinderella religiously and play “Cinderella” in my room wearing one of my mom’s dresses and pair of shoes. I had the movie practically memorized so I would reenact my favourite scenes or make up new story lines. After The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe came out in theatres I watched that religiously and made my friends play “Narnia” with me at recess. I think they got annoyed at some point of me always suggesting the same game over and over. Today, I don’t watch Cinderella as much anymore. She still holds a special place in my heart and whenever the movie is miraculously on TV I will watch it. As for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe I watch at least every two or three months. Whenever I am on holiday I pick a night to watch LWW and Prince Caspian. I don’t play dress up anymore or cosplay but I do try to make some fan art. Maybe one day I’ll share some with you!

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My nominees:

bookbonanzareviewsblog

This Mundane Teenage Life

Kyera’s Library

Payton’s Book Thoughts

If you have already been nominated you do not have to do it again!

My Questions:

1. What is one of your most cherished bookish memories?
2. Which character would you like to be best friends with?
3. Do you have a specific reading schedule? (A set time in a day, a certain place, or a list of upcoming books)
4. What super power would you love to have?
5. Would you name a child/pet after fictional characters? (Funny)

This was a long post! If you stuck around and read all of it, it means a lot to me! Thank you once again to my nominators and I hope you guys know how much I appreciate these awards!

Happy reading,

~Rendz

 

 

A Huge Thank You!

Greetings readers!

I woke up this morning to open a very important notification from WordPress:

Congratulations on getting 100 total follows on Reading with Rendz

Your current tally is 102.

I had been eyeing my follower count for the past couple weeks and watched it creep slowly, but steadily to 100. This sticker is very special to me because it shows that people actually know of Rendz’s existence and her passion for reading.

I am so grateful for all of my followers! Each and every one of you. Even those of you who I hardly interact with.

I am grateful for all your likes and comments! Your thoughts always put a smile on my face because I know you took the time to read/skim my post and took interest enough to reach out to me!

I cannot express how happy I am to have 100 followers, considering I started this blog just for fun and to express my dorky side. I never would have thought I’d make it this far, this fast!

This is blog is still a baby. My posts are not perfect, but they are a reflection of who I am and what I love to do. Read and write.

To those of you who have been with me since the beginning, I love you. From the bottom of my bookish soul.

To those of you who have just joined this adventure with me, I look forward to interacting with you!

This achievement is small, but at the same time monumental and I pray you all know that you are a big part of this blog and I appreciate you for it. I hope you continue to join me on my bookish journey of mine!

via giphy.com

As always,

HAPPY READING!

~ Rendz