Very interesting month, it was a  very different situation from last month. This time we were not able to complete the books included in the initial TBR. WHY? Hard to know, I lost the drive, I got into a slight slump, I was having a hard time making myself pick up the books, not because I was not enjoying them, I had a very good reading month, I had a lot of 4 stars actually. It was a very odd situation. The number of books read was ok, the problem was that I picked other books that I had intended! Let's get into it, I just love stats: Here I do not include the books I had in the TBR but didn't get to. In case, anyone is wondering, there are 8 books that I didn't manage to even start from the original list.  From that: It looks like I had very good luck by picking up books this month. On average we had 4.4 stars.  Also, I have been trying to keep in mind some aspects of the authors, just trying to make things a bit more diverse. It was a very average month reading-wise and

Author: Lemony Snicket  Series: A series of unfortunate events #1 Genre: Contemporary Original publication date: September 1999 Book description (in the very amusing format from the ebook):  Dear Reader, I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune. In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast. It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and readi

Author: Robert Kirkman Illustrators: Charlie Adlard and Cliff Rathburn Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror Original publication date: January 2010 Boo description from Good REads: No one is safe in the aftermath of the most shocking Walking Dead storyline yet! The remaining survivors continue the road to Washington DC, but not everyone will make it out alive! Collecting issues #61-66 Thoughts:  This is the eleventh volume in a series, so I feel it is pointless to try not to spoil anymore. Be aware, this will not shy away from giving spoilers! We continue to follow Rick and his companions, as they make their way towards Washington DC.  On the road things are a bit better between the group, not a smooth sail but the friction has lessen a bit and then BAM, something happens! They stop to rest and one of the twins, well goes crazy, the group doe snot know what to do about it, everyone has their own opinions about it. He is a small boy, might not know what he has done, he doesn't regret or even thin

Again time to give a shoutout to a specific author that I just discovered but want to dive more into and I think many other could enjoy their works. I have read a single book so far but I was thoroughly moved and loved it! Ann was born in the United States. You can find more information directly in her website: https://annburg.com/ You can take a look in her webpage for her books  https://annburg.com/my-books Her books are mainly for a young audience but they can be enjoyed by all ages! *Seraphina's Promise  Another lovely story told in verse. Set in Haiti you follow a little girl named Serafina whose dream is to become a doctor. *All the broken pieces A Ya historical fiction story  Two years after being airlifted out of war-torn Vietnam, Matt Pin is haunted: by bombs that fell like dead crows, by the family -- and the terrible secret -- he left behind. Now, inside a caring adoptive home in the United States, a series of profound events force him to choose between silence and can

Author: Ann E. Burg Genre: Fantasy, Magical Realism Original publication date:  September 26th, 2016 Book description: The day Grace is called from the slave cabins to work in the Big House, Mama makes her promise to keep her eyes down. Uncle Jim warns her to keep her thoughts tucked privately in her mind or they could bring a whole lot of trouble and pain. But the more Grace sees of the heartless Master and hateful Missus, the more a rightness voice clamors in her head-asking how come white folks can own slaves, sell them on the auction block, and separate families forever. When that voice escapes without warning, it sets off a terrible chain of events that prove Uncle Jim's words true. Suddenly, Grace and her family must flee deep into the woods, where they brave deadly animals, slave patrollers, and the uncertainty of ever finding freedom. Thoughts: This is a quick powerful story. You see the life of Grace and she is struggling to understand her life and the unfairness of it. Y

So I saw this book tag in Zoe's Channel  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzFHSMUg6Fo&pbjreload=101 Jay's Video (Original) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjb4w... And I obviously want to try it, so here we go! The Questions:  1. January (GARNET): Associated with warding off negative forces and dark energies - Name a book with the darkest/evilest character you can think of.  The farseer trilogy by Robin Hobb the most wicked man is Regal, he is the worst, conspiring to gain the crown, not caring about his family at all, he has no compassion or care for anyone but himself. He passes judgment on everyone thinking the worst and still, he has the audacity to believe himself to be acting on the defense and be provoked, it is angering to see how good he was fooling others to believing in his innocence and believing him to be a good decent person.  We follow Fitz, the bastard son of the King in waiting the oldest of three siblings, he abdicated and the second brother Verity

Author: Lucy Foley Genre: Mystery/Thriller Original publication date: Book description: Set on a remote island off the Irish coast, this is one guest list no one would want to be on, just as no one would have wanted an invitation to the New Year's Eve party in Foley's previous novel, The Hunting Party. Lives unravel amid the revelry on an eerie and remote island as family and friends assemble for a glam wedding in an updated Murder on the Orient Express. Each of the principal characters has a reason to want one of their number dead, there are old secrets, and one of them is murdered. Thoughts: We follow a few different people, it is set up in two timelines one of them is the day of arriving at the island, some of the guests are invited to stay in the island since the day before the event takes place.  The main character is the bride, as in any wedding. She is a very self-centered and egotistical woman. She is very focused on her image and what the event is going to give her in

So Once more the only rule here is to not repeat books that were already mentioned in the previous weeks for recs. Let's begin! JUNE 15 BELLWETHER Definition: one that takes the lead or initiative: leader ; also: an indicator of trends. This word makes me think of Kelsier, he becomes the leader of the rebellion trying to overthrow the Lord Ruler. He tries to raise an army and get people to actually try to revolt, people after hundreds of years of oppression no longer even hope of a change. He manages to become the leader the rebellion had not to head before and he provides the hope that allows people to actually believe in their opportunity. Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson the first in the trilogy. JUNE 16 NULL Definition: 1: having no legal or binding force: invalid 2: amounting to nothing: nil 3: having no value: insignificant 4 a: having no elements b: having zero as a limit 5: of, being, or relating to zero The first one to come to mind id Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristo

Author: Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw Narrator: Maxwell Glick Genre: Contemporary Picturebook Original publication date: September 2011 Boo description: Elliot lives in America, and Kailash lives in India. They are pen pals. By exchanging letters and pictures, they learn that they both love to climb trees, have pets, and go to school. Their worlds might look different, but they are actually similar. Same, same. But different! Through an inviting point-of-view and colorful, vivid illustrations, this story shows how two boys living oceans apart can be the best of friends Thoughts: This is a very easy read and warm story. Two young boys share their likes and a few their lives they notice many things have a different way but they have both similar tastes and their worlds are not different after all. This is a great example of books young children should be reading and trying to understand that people in other countries are just like them. The only thing I did not enjoy greatly is that this book

Full title: Something happened in our town: a child's story about racial injustice  Author: Marianne Celano Illustrator: Jennifer Zivoin Narrator from Scribd audiobook: Leslie Green Genre: Contemporary, Social Movements, picture books Original publication date: March 2018 Book description: Following a police shooting, two families - one White and one Black - discuss the event, its aftermath, and what they can do to help. Includes an extensive Note to Parents and Caregivers with guidelines for discussing race and racism with children, child-friendly definitions, and sample dialogues. Free, downloadable educator materials (including discussion questions) are available at www.apa.org Thoughts: This is a very straight forward story touching a delicate matter, this is especially relevant at the moment with the Black lives matter , but this subject is not new. One of the most difficult things while raising children is how to try to make your children be accepting and not get clouded with

Author: Robin Hobb Series: Farseer Trilogy #3 Original publication date: March 1997 Book description: King Shrewd is dead at the hands of his son Regal. As is Fitz—or so his enemies and friends believe. But with the help of his allies and his beast magic, he emerges from the grave, deeply scarred in body and soul. The kingdom also teeters toward ruin: Regal has plundered and abandoned the capital, while the rightful heir, Prince Verity, is lost to his mad quest—perhaps to death. Only Verity’s return—or the heir his princess carries—can save the Six Duchies. But Fitz will not wait. Driven by loss and bitter memories, he undertakes a quest: to kill Regal. The journey casts him into deep waters, as he discovers wild currents of magic within him—currents that will either drown him or make him something more than he was. Thoughts: This is definitely not a fast read, it is a big page count about 800ish pages. But still, there are high stakes here so I had to constantly stop reading as I beca

So this is a book challenge I saw with Clau from Clau reads  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12M2Bjbo9ss . So let's give it a try: 1. Your favorite Fantasy book: So first question and the first time I will stretch the question. The final empire trilogy by Brandon Sanderson . It tells the story of Vin and a group of thieves as they try to overthrow a tyrant god ruler and yet that proved to be the start. They did not know that the real hardships that would come into their lives. 2. Least favorite fantasy book: Witch & Wizard by James Patterson a story that centers on a pair of siblings who are prophetized to save the world as usual. They discover their abilities when a dictator captures them and their family and try to execute them for witchcraft.  3. Bluebook you like the most So blue book let's see, my favorite is Gemina by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman sci-fi story telling us about a group of people who are trying to save their life while running from an organization th