January 2018 Reading Wrap Up + Currently Reading

Hey, guys!

     This month has been a crazy productive reading month.. but not really. I've been working on reading Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo for the longest time, but I've also managed to procrastinate everything with graphic novels! Hooray! I've also managed to finish 2 books for my classes and read too much boring textbook stuff. Today I'm going to share with you what I'm reading and listening to and about the books I read this month!

1. Quests For Glory (The School For Good & Evil: The Camelot Years #1) by Soman Chainani
• 4.5 stars
• Review coming soon!
2. Rebel With A Cupcake by Anna Mainwaring
• 3 stars
• Review coming soon!
3. A Good Cry by Nikki Giovanni
• 3 stars
• This was an ok poetry and prose anthology, but there were only 3 poems that I actually liked enough to be excited about them.
4. Turn of the Screw by Henry James 
• I HATE THIS BOOK
• I will not review this book. It would be a giant bash fest + uneducated psychological assumptions. 
5. Friendship to the Max (Lumberjanes #2) by Noelle Stevenson
• 4.5 stars
6. Lumberjanes/Gotham Academy Volume 1 by Chyna Clungston Flores
• 4.5 stars
7. The Faust Act (The Wicked & The Divine #1) by Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie (Illustrations), Matt Wilson (Colorist), Clayton Cowles
• 5 stars
8. Fandemonium (The Wicked & The Divine #2) by Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie (Illustrations), Matt Wilson (Colorist), Clayton Cowles
• 5 stars
9. Commercial Suicide (The Wicked & The Divine #3) by Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie (Illustrations), Matt Wilson (Colorist), Clayton Cowles
• 4 stars
10. Rising Action (The Wicked & The Divine #4) by Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie (Illustrations), Matt Wilson (Colorist), Clayton Cowles
• 4 stars
11. Imperial Phase Part 1 (The Wicked & The Divine #5) by  Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie (Illustrations), Matt Wilson (Colorist), Clayton Cowles
• 5 stars
12. Imperial Phase Part 2 (The Wicked & The Divine #6) by  Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie (Illustrations), Matt Wilson (Colorist), Clayton Cowles
• 5 stars
13. One Weird Trick (Sex Criminals Volume 1) by Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarsky 
• 4 stars
14. A Terrible Plan (Lumberjanes #3) by Noelle Stevenson
• 4 stars
15. Two Worlds, One Cop (Sex Criminals Volume 2) by Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarksy
• 3 stars
16. Don Quixote Book 1 by Cervantes
• I DON'T LIKE THIS BOOK EITHER! This was for class.
• I will not review this book. 

      I'm really behind on reviews, but I'm working hard to get some churned out. School takes up all of my time and I barely have any time to read at all. The only reason I could read this much was because I took a 5-hour break to binge the graphic novels. I really should have done my homework that day... Oops...

Currently Reading:

I also really wanted to show you guys the books I'm currently reading. There are quite a few and most are for classes, but whatever. Here they are!

1. Girl Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen
• CR // 91/169
• I've already read half of this book for my second literature class and I actually really enjoy it. This book instigates a great discussion on mental health and mental health in the 1960s. 
2. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
• CR// 246/546
• I've been reading this since the beginning of January, but school has stopped me from fully allowing myself to be immersed in it. I really want to continue, but every time I continue, I get irresponsible and want to just sit down and read instead of doing homework. I looove it though. I can't wait for a break to finish it. 
3. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
• CR// 0/329
• I'm starting this book this weekend for one of my literature classes, so hopefully, it was better than Don Quixote... 
4. Sass & Sorcery (Rat Queens Volume 1) by Kurtis J. Wiebe & Roc Upchurch
• CR// 46/128
• I started this today to pass the time before my hair appointment and I'm intrigued to say the least. 
5. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
• CR// 305/374
• Reread + first time listening buddy read with my boyfriend

These don't include the books that are on my currently reading shelf that I've put on hold. I'll get to them, but I'm still waiting.

I'm really excited to finish these books. 

What did you read in January? What are you going to read next?

Happy reading!

Olivia

~LivTheBookNerd~
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Bad Luck by Pseudonymous Bosch

Page Count: 288

Expected Published: February 9, 2016

Published by: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Genre(s):  Fantasy, Middle Grade, Humor, Mystery, Adventure
Source: Netgalley-ebook

Age Rating: PG-11

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

Twitter: @isthisPBosch

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

The plot thickens in the brilliant sequel to Bad Magic! 

At Earth Ranch, things can get a little magical (some might say strange). Intrepid readers will discover a runaway boy, fishy cruise ship, strange cave paintings, dragon-like footprints, and other mysteries that Clay and his friends need to solve. Danger, adventure, mischief, mystery, llamas, and a delightfully irreverent and hilarious narrator make bestselling author Pseudonymous Bosch's anticipated new novel irresistible. 

~~~

Hey guys!

      I managed to get a copy of Bad Luck off of NetGalley, and I was sooo excited to get my hands on this book. I've been a huge fan of Bosch for maybe 6 years. I adored his Secret series when I was in middle school, and when I found out about his newest series, the Bad series, I was so excited! The Bad series follows Clay. One day the words "Magic Sucks" appear on the wall of his school. Clay is accused of putting the graffiti-ing his school and is sent to Earth Ranch. Earth Ranch is full of surprises, and Clay never knows what to expect. The first book, Bad Magic, is really funny, really well written, and so original. I adore P. Bosch's books and I know I will read anything he writes.

      Bad Luck is the sequel to Bad Magic, and it was just as good as the first. I read this book on my kindle, and if you have read any of Bosch's books before you know that he includes these hilarious footnotes randomly throughout his book to expand on a joke that he included, to explain a character's actions, or explain a historical reference, etc.; I just love those footnotes...they're just very nostalgic for me, and they remind me of when I first read his books. They were also very fun, and just a great addition to the book. Bosch's books are very addicting and very easy to read. His characters are very gripping, and I want to get closer to them every time I pick up one of his books. His plots are always really original and intriguing and I can't get enough of them. I cannot wait for the third book.

     There are only a couple of things that I didn't like about the series overall. Now, honestly I think the only reason that I've made this decision is because I'm comparing the books to the Secret series. Honestly I like the characters from the Secret series better, I don't think I'm as connected to the characters as I was to Cass and Max-Ernest in the Secret series. I don't think I can love this series as much as I loved the Secret series. But it was fantastic, so y'all should read it because it's so great. 

      Ok guys. There are a couple things that I love um..visually? The cover is STUNNING! Oh my goodness. The covers for this series are soooo beautiful, and probably better than the Secret series' covers...I mean check them out! They're gorgeous! 

      I cannot wait to read the rest of the series, and I hope I am able to get my hands on the sequels when they're sent to NetGalley...Ok have a lovely day guys and I will see you on my BookTube channel and during my next review or T5W! 

Happy Reading!
Olivia
~livthebooknerd~
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Seeing Redd (The Looking Glass Wars #2) by Frank Beddors

Page Count: 371
Published on: October 16, 2008

Published by: Dial Books

Genre(s):  YA, Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling, Adventure
Source: Print: Hardback

Age Rating: PG-15

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

Twitter: @frankbeddor

My Rating: 4 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

Wonderland finally seems as if it’'s getting back to normal. Queen Alyss is back on the throne, and reunited with her childhood sweetheart, Dodge. But the fight for Wonderland is far from over. King Arch, in nearby Boarderland, is conniving to overthrow everything for which Alyss and her friends have fought so hard. Even worse, King Arch has found an ally in the recently returned Redd, who has been biding her time and gathering new and evil assassins in the Catacombs of Paris. With enemies circling and danger looming, someone close to Alyss lets her down —and threatens the future of Wonderland forever.

~~~

Hey guys!

     Seeing Redd is the sequel to The Looking Glass Wars, and to be honest I didn't like this book as much as I liked TLGW. 

My Little Random Thoughts:

• This book follows about 3 months after the proceedings in at the end of TLGW, and it focuses mainly on Redd and King Arch's schemes.
• I didn't enjoy the book as much as I did the first.
• I feel like the problems from TLGW weren't fixed, they just got worse. 
• I really like Frank Beddor's writing, and I love the world that he has created. 
• I just wish that he would actually describe the bizarre creatures that he created. 
• I also wish that I had gotten more information about Alyss, and more development in Alyss's and Dodge's relationship. 
• Overall, I felt like there were some holes in the plot. I really wish that the books were more in depth and descriptive. I feel like that would add some great things to the story.

I gave this book an overall rating of 4 stars; and I plan on reading the third book in the trilogy, but I hope it gets better. 

I hope you enjoyed this little review. I actually talk about this book in my January Wrap Up on my YouTube channel!

Happy reading everyone!

Olivia
~livthebooknerd~
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The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddors

Page Count: 364
Published on:  September 26, 2006

Published by: Dial Books

Genre(s):  YA, Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling, Adventure
Source: Print: Paperback

Age Rating: PG-15

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

Twitter: @frankbeddor

My Rating: 4.75 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

Alyss of Wonderland?
When Alyss Heart, newly orphaned heir to the Wonderland throne, flees through the Pool of Tears to escape her murderous Aunt Redd, she finds herself lost and alone in Victorian London. Befriended by an aspiring author named Lewis Carrol, Alyss tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life. Alyss trusts this author to tell the truth so that someone, somewhere will find her and bring her home. But he gets the story all wrong. He even spells her name incorrectly!

Fortunately, Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan knows all too well the awful truth of Alyss' story - and he's searching every corner of our world to find the lost princess and return her to Wonderland, to battle Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts.

The Looking Glass Wars unabashedly challenges our Wonderland assumptions of mad tea parties, grinning Cheshire cats, and a curious little blond girl to reveal an epic battle in the endless war for Imagination. 

~~~

Hey guys!

     So...My awesome mom bought this book for me back in October for my birthday...and I didn't read it until January...how 'bout that? I mean, that's not too bad...some of my books have been on my shelf since May...that's a problem. Anyway, I have finally read it and I found it to be really interesting and fun to read. There were a few things that I didn't really like about the book, but I still liked the book.

Things I Loved:

• The characters were very interesting and well written. 
• The plot is so cool, and the fantasy world was really imaginative. 
• This book was really really entertaining, and nicely written.
• Overall, this book was a really satisfyingly written fairy-tale retelling, and I plan on reading the rest of the series.
• I love Hatter Mattigan. I'm glad that he has a graphic novel series. I'm definitely going to check them out.

Things I Felt Like Could Use Improvement:

(There may seem to be some big problems, but they're pretty minor to me.)

• I wish I had known more about the time Alyss spent Earth. It's like a hole in the plot, but not a legit hole in the plot, but like a hole in my satisfaction. 
• I was also kind of skeptical about how easily Alyss transitioned from her Earth life back to her life in Wonderland. I mean I get that it's her true home, and she had been longing for her previous life, but the transition seemed to be too easy. I just thought there would be more inner turmoil, I felt like the characters could have been fleshed out a little more.
• I also wish that the world was describe more. Some of the creatures and

When I first finished the book, I was so excited and I really loved the book, but as I think about it, I feel like it wasn't as good as I thought. At first I gave it 5 stars, but after about a week to ponder over it, I consider it to a 4.5 star book. 

If You Like ____ Then You'll Love The Looking Glass Wars!

1. Splintered by A.G. Howard
2. The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman
3. Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

I hope you enjoyed this review! Happy reading and happy Tuesday!
Olivia
~livthebooknerd~
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Cruel Crown (Red Queen 0.1 & 0.2) by Victoria Aveyard

Page Count: 208

Published on: January 5, 2016

Published by: Harper Teen

Genre(s):  YA, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Short Stories, Novellas
Source: Print: Paperback

Age Rating: PG-13

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

Twitter: @VictoriaAveyard

My Rating: 3.75 stars

Day Started: January 12
Day Finished: January 16






Goodreads synopsis: 

Two women on either side of the Silver-Red divide tell the stories no one else knows.

Discover the truth of Norta's bloody past in these two revealing prequels to #1 New York Times bestseller Red Queen.

Also includes an exclusive excerpt of the hotly anticipated second book in the Red Queen series! Glass Sword transports readers to the world of Silver tyranny, a Red dawn rising, and one girl's resolve to break down the system that will hold her back no longer.

Queen Song
Queen Coriane, first wife of King Tiberias, keeps a secret diary—how else can she ensure that no one at the palace will use her thoughts against her? Coriane recounts her heady courtship with the crown prince, the birth of a new prince, Cal, and the potentially deadly challenges that lay ahead for her in royal life.

Steel Scars
Diana Farley was raised to be strong, but being tasked with planting the seeds of rebellion in Norta is a tougher job than expected. As she travels the land recruiting black market traders, smugglers, and extremists for her first attempt at an attack on the capital, she stumbles upon a connection that may prove to be the key to the entire operation—Mare Barrow.

~~~

Hey guys!

       My friend Julia bought me this amazing book for a late Christmas present after I told her about how our local Books-A-Million had put out copies of Cruel Crown. When I saw them, I didn't get a copy automatically, because I had other bookish wants at the moment. Julia, bless her, bought me my own copy of this lovely book, and I really liked it.

      The biggest problem that I had with this novella bind up, was that it didn't add much to the Red Queen story. Now, I liked Red Queen when I read it in May of 2015, and I was really hoping to get some more information to add to my "Red Queen" memory bank. I had my qualms about this book, because there were some bits of the book that I felt weren't very original, but I loved the characters, the plot, the world, and the magic/science fiction aspect to it. 



I felt like Queen Song was probably my favorite of the two novellas in this bind-up. Queen Coriane was a really intriguing character, but towards the end, I felt like she totally gave up on her passions, her dreams, and her basic personality. I also felt like the characters should have been fleshed out a tiny bit more. I mean, I know it's a novella, but I feel like the characters should have been better, since  it is a novella. I also didn't like that the story kept skipping parts of Coraine's life. I wish that I could known Coraine more. She was such a cool character.

My Rating: 3 stars








Steel Cars...I didn't really enjoy it... I was actually kind of confused about who Farley was just because it's been so long since I read Red Queen. I thought the characters were interesting, and the plot was cool. I felt like Farley was really one dimensional, but I really hope she makes up for it in Glass Sword. I think I'm going reread Red Queen before I read Glass Sword. 

My Rating: 3 stars








Overall, this book added to the world building and explained the history of the world a bit. I really hope there's more character growth, more explanations of the world building, and some more progress with the plot. I cannot wait for Glass Sword! 2 weeks! ASDFGHJKL!!!

I hope you enjoyed this review! Happy reading and happy Tuesday!
Olivia
~livthebooknerd~
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Newt's Emerald by Garth Nix

Page Count: 304
Published on: October 13, 2015

Published by: Katherine Tegen Books

Genre(s):  YA, Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction
Source: Print: Hardback

Age Rating: PG-13

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

Twitter: @garthnix

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

     On her eighteenth birthday, Lady Truthful, nicknamed “Newt,” will inherit her family’s treasure: the Newington Emerald. A dazzling heart-shaped gem, the Emerald also bestows its wearer with magical powers.

     When the Emerald disappears one stormy night, Newt sets off to recover it. Her plan entails dressing up as a man, mustache included, as no well-bred young lady should be seen out and about on her own. While in disguise, Newt encounters the handsome but shrewd Major Harnett, who volunteers to help find the missing Emerald under the assumption that she is a man. Once she and her unsuspecting ally are caught up in a dangerous adventure that includes an evil sorceress, Newt realizes that something else is afoot: the beating of her heart.

      In Newt’s Emerald, the bestselling author of Sabriel, Garth Nix, takes a waggish approach to the forever popular Regency romance and presents a charmed world where everyone has something to hide.

~~~

Hey guys!

      I was given this book by my lovely grandmother for Christmas. At first I thought this book was actually called "Newt's Mermaid." I was really looking forward to a bad-ass search for a magical gem mermaid story, but the story was actually about a young lady named Lady Truthful (or Newt) who is to inherit her family's treasure, the Newington Emerald. One stormy night, the precious Emerald was stolen from the Newington Estate. Newt goes off to London in search of her family's precious jewel, and in the process dresses as a man, and meets a man named Major Harnett. Harnett volunteers to help Newt find the Emerald. 

     It took me a few chapters to get into this book, and it took me a while to understand the type of fantasy novel it was. This book was very entertaining, but it wasn't until the about 2/3 of the way through that I started to love it. There is very little character development, there are so many cliches throughout, and the characters weren't very likeable. I was hoping to connect more with Newt, not to mention that Newt was rarely ever called Newt. The people that she met usually called her Lady Truthful which got really redundant and kind of annoying.

      Major Harnett actually reminded me of Mr. Darcy from Pride and Predjudice by Jane Austen. His over all attitude was a lot like Darcy's, but maybe a bit more inviting. The romance throughout this book was really cute, but it was executed very awkwardly. There weren't enough details throughout the book to keep it going smoothly, but the story was still enjoyable and cute. I really liked the magical aspects to this book, and I liked the glamour that the characters used, and I think it would be a really cool thing to read about. I usually only read about glamour in fairy/faerie novels, and to read about it in another type of fantasy novel.
Overall this was an adequate fantasy stand-alone, but I feel like the massive amount of hype that is around Garth Nix's books lead me to believe that it would be much better.

My Favorite Character: Major Charles Harnett
My Least Favorite Character: Newt's father

Enjoy! Happy Reading!

Olivia 

~livthebooknerd~

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The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Page Count: 464

Published on: April 14, 2015

Published by: Harper

Genre(s):  YA, Fantasy, Dystopia, High Fantasy
Source: Print: Paperback

Age Rating: PG-15

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

My Rating: 5 stars

Erika Johansen's Facebook Page: 
{click here}








Goodreads synopsis:

An untested young princess must claim her throne, learn to become a queen, and combat a malevolent sorceress in an epic battle between light and darkness in this spectacular debut—the first novel in a trilogy.

Young Kelsea Raleigh was raised in hiding after the death of her mother, Queen Elyssa, far from the intrigues of the royal Keep and in the care of two devoted servants who pledged their lives to protect her. Growing up in a cottage deep in the woods, Kelsea knows little of her kingdom's haunted past . . . or that its fate will soon rest in her hands.

Long ago, Kelsea's forefathers sailed away from a decaying world to establish a new land free of modern technology. Three hundred years later, this feudal society has divided into three fearful nations who pay duties to a fourth: the powerful Mortmesne, ruled by the cunning Red Queen. Now, on Kelsea's nineteenth birthday, the tattered remnants of the Queen's Guard—loyal soldiers who protect the throne—have appeared to escort the princess on a perilous journey to the capital to ascend to her rightful place as the new Queen of the Tearling.

Though born of royal blood and in possession of the Tear sapphire, a jewel of immense power and magic, Kelsea has never felt more uncertain of her ability to rule. But the shocking evil she discovers in the heart of her realm will precipitate an act of immense daring, throwing the entire kingdom into turmoil—and unleashing the Red Queen's vengeance. A cabal of enemies with an array of deadly weapons, from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic, plots to destroy her. But Kelsea is growing in strength and stealth, her steely resolve earning her loyal allies, including the Queen's Guard, led by the enigmatic Lazarus, and the intriguing outlaw known simply as "the Fetch."

Kelsea's quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun. Riddled with mysteries, betrayals, and treacherous battles, Kelsea's journey is a trial by fire that will either forge a legend . . . or destroy her. 

~~~

Hey guys!

     I recieved The Queen of the Tearling from my awesome aunt and uncle for Christmas. This book was recommended to my uncle for me at Barnes & Noble, and I've been really interested in this book for the longest time. The book has been highly loved by some of my favorite BookTubers such as Regan from PeruseProject. I've wanted to read this book for the longest time. It reminds me of the Song of the Lioness quartet by Tamora Pierce, the Graceling trilogy by Kristin Cashore, and a bit like Red Queen. It has the apocolyptic/fantasy setting, the magic and kick butt heroine from the Song of the Lioness quartet and Graceling trilogy. 

      I felt like the beginning was kind of slow, and it was hard to get into fantasy world. That was the only thing I found wrong with it. I mean it's not like I was looking for something wrong, because I wasn't. That was the only problem I had with it when I was reading it. This book kept me on my toes, squealing like a little girl, and I really liked the backstory of the world, and the gradual history lesson that you received throughout the book. The history of the world, The Tearling, was really intriguing and I really wish I knew more about it. The characters were also really cool. I really loved Kelsea's character, she's an avid reader, a natural leader, and she's not afraid to get her hands dirty and stand up for what she believes in. There was also barely any kind romance which was an amazing change of pace. Lately, every YA book that I've read so far has at least a slight hint of a romantic subplot. That can get annoying and repetitive sometimes, so this book was a real treat. This book was full of action, assassins, political intrigue, magic, and an awesome world called the Tearling. 

      There were a couple things that I really really enjoyed in this book. I loved Kelsea's love of reading, and how highly she holds the power of literacy. She knows the power of knowledge, and she takes the lessons from what she reads to help her make decisions that would benefit her queendom. Another aspect that I loved about the book was her strong character. She was so badass. She had a personality that was so strong willed, so faithful to her queendom, and so understanding of the needs for others. She keeps her insecurities in check, and her personal feelings too in order to keep order and do what's best for her people. I could go on and on about this book, and the amazing qualities the characters and the plot has. Kelsea is such a fantastic character, and I highly recommend that if you love adult and YA high fantasy, then you should definitely pick this book up. 

If You Love ___#___, Then You Will Love The Queen of the Tearling!

1. Graceling by Kristin Cashore {gr}
2. Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce {gr}
3. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers {review}
4. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard {review}   

      These aren't adult fiction, but they have some of the qualities that The Queen of the Tearling has that made me fall in love with it even more. I hope you all enjoyed this review, and I hope you all go out and pick this book up. This is such a gem, and it's just a fantastic addition to the fantasy genre. Erika Johansen should get all of the awards for this book. Such a great book. A+ writing...OK I'll stop rambling! 

Enjoy!
Happy reading!
Olivia
~livthebooknerd~

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