Hello Everyone! As it is the end of June, I thought I’d share what I managed to read this past month+, and what I’m hoping to read in the upcoming weeks!
From my Reading List from my previous post, I read/tackled 6 out of the 12 bullet points! Up first, I read almost all of the Shadowhunter’s expanded world books. That included:
- The Dark Artifices Trilogy
- The Infernal Devices Trilogy
- The Last Hours Trilogy
I didn’t get a chance to read all the other books, so those are on my list (below) for July! Overall, each of the series was great, though I think The Last Hours Trilogy was my favorite of the three!
While I was reading those, I read a book that was not on my previously published list; After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid! It had been recommended to me, and I thought it was a very interesting subject that I haven’t encountered much in realistic fiction/romance!
Up next was The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which had been on my list! I really enjoyed it, though I often forget just how dark The Hunger Games books are. And I found the ending very interesting, though it did leave me with a few questions. I hope the movie will answer them for me!
Then I read The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama, which had been on my list. While it was good, I liked Becoming better overall.
Next I read These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong. I liked the premise, but I wish more had been explained about the antagonist’s origins. However, upon finishing it, I realized there’s a sequel, which will be on my soon to read list!
The next book series I read which I am actually still reading is called the Kingdom of the Wicked series. This was/is a book I consistently see on Social Media, and though it’s usually been presented as darker than other fictitious fantasy books, I didn’t find it scary at all! As I am currently 20% through the final book, I will reserve judgement on whether it wraps up well! However, I will say that in terms of world building, it’s left me a bit confused. Not too much, but in a way that makes me enjoy the story less. I would be more keen to excuse it if things made more sense by the middle of the second book, but there are additions in the third book that keep me confused. However, I think it’s a very fun concept, and I think the first book was especially well done, with a great hook!
As I mentioned previously, I was going to reread Call Me by Your Name, and read the sequel, Find Me. The former struck me once again with how good it was. I simply love it, and would urge everyone to read it for so many different reasons!
When starting Find Me, I didn’t look up the summary or anything because I was afraid of spoilers. I will not be spoiling it, however I will say that the book has a few parts within it, where the points of view completely change, and dump you in another person’s world which is related, though not strongly, to the previous plot. As such, its more a mini collection than a full novel, but I loved the stories, and I was excited about how the author tackled the first one. I unfortunately still have a few questions, but I was so pleased with the book, and am hoping there is potential for a continuation of the story on film!
Finally, I lastly read a book called Captive Prince, which I ran into at Barnes and Noble. The summary worried me a bit because there are heavy themes, but I trust the buyers for B&N, so I decided to read it! While there were a few uncomfortable and violent moments, I really like the slow-burn of the plot, and how we still don’t know much about one of the main characters even one novel into the series. There are two more books which I am waiting on at the library, so those two will be on my list for July!
Now, that was what I read in May and June, so here’s what I am planning on reading in July, in the order of how I plan to read it!
1. Kingdom of the Feared
I have to finish the series!
2. The Bane Chronicles
One of 3 books I have left in the Shadowhunters Universe!
3. Prince’s Gambit and Kings Rising
The two other books in The Captive Prince Trilogy.
4. To Be a Machine
Over a month later, but now I only have 38 pages left! Like I said before, I have to be in a particular realistic mood.
5. Our Violent Ends
Hopefully some of my questions will be answered!
6. Why Not Me? and Is Everyone Hanging out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling
I love Mindy Kaling’s voice, and I find her story very inspiring, so I think these will be fabulous! I also hope there many be a few pieces of advice that I will find valuable, so I am really looking forward to these two!
7. The Red Scrolls of Magic and The Lost Book of the White
The final two books in the Shadowhunters world! I just read 15 of them in the last three months, so I’m excited to get back to two of my favorite characters to close out my experience with the world!
8. Ghosts of the Shadow Market
Just kidding, ANOTHER ONE in the Shadowhunters world. Jeepers.
9. Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy
Oops I guess there’s more!!! These seem fun and bite-sized like the Bane Chronicles, which is nice! However, none of my libraries seem to have a book copy, solely audiobooks. And audiobooks are really not my thing, so this one may take longer to read unless I buy it, which will all depend on whether or not it is available on Google Play, and if it costs less than what I have in my Google Play Account!
Now that’s probably all I’ll be able to get through in July, but just in case, my list also includes:
10. Normal People
This was on my previous list, but since then, one of my close friends has been reading it, so I should hop to it so we can chat about it!
11. Caraval
Caraval technically wasn’t on my last list, but I have been pushing off reading it for quite a few months. However, one of my close friends recently asked if I’d read it, and I told her no because I was afraid it would be too scary. She informed me that it wasn’t scary, so now I’m more excited to read it!
12. Mastery
Was on my previous list, but I’ll have to be in a particular mood to read it. However, I’m excited for when that time comes!
13. Fourth Wing
I saw so much hype about this online, so I put it on my list! However, it is scheduled to arrive on my library app in three weeks, so I don’t quite know when I’ll be able to start it!
That’s all for this post, but I hope it gave you some good book ideas, if you were looking! Let me know if you’ve read any of the novels I’m going to read, and whether or not you enjoyed them! Now, here’s my last reminder to go read Call Me by Your Name!!! Happy reading everybody!!!
Photo by Florencia Viadana on Unsplash
Leann I Am 