Uncategorized – Page 12 – Dee’s Reading Tree

Reading can become an expensive hobby. There are a few tricks that I use in order to save myself some money, and I thought I would share them with you guys. Many of these you might already be doing. But who knows, maybe I can actually help some of you?

Disclaimer: None of these websites or apps paid me in any way to advertise for them. I won’t benefit if you actually end up using any of my tips.

This Savage song audio book on Libby app — Picture form my Libby App

Overdrive and Libby

If you live somewhere with a public Library system, and have access to a smart phone or tablet in which you can download applications, these two applications have been great when it comes to saving me money. You simply download the app, connect to it with your library card, and voila you have access to all the Library books, but on your phone. They also have audio books as well. Granted, the more popular books and the new releases you have to put a “hold” on while other people are reading them. There is also a 14 day limit that the book can be checked out to you, after that it gets automatically returned whether you’re done with it or not. I read most of my e-books from here, and I’ve enjoying many of my audio books here as well.

Netgalley

If you don’t mind taking some time to leave a review after you’re done with a book, I would suggest signing up on the Netgalley site. You can read thousands of e-books for free, many of them are available before the release date. You have to wish for them, or request to read them, and your request doesn’t always get granted but it’s worth a try. When I started out I asked for five books, and I got approved for three out of the five.

Amazon sales

If you don’t have an Amazon account you need to make one. Once you connect it to your kindle app, or you purchase a few books and follow a few authors, Amazon will start sending you email suggestions for sales they have on books you might be interested in. Just this past month I got three books from my TBR list for only $1.99 on Amazon.

Barnes and Noble newsletter

If you absolutely must have a real book in your hands, and I totally understand if you do, then I would suggest singing up for the Barnes and Noble newsletter. Almost every week I get a 10%, 15% or even 20% off coupon from them. They also have new release sales every week, as well as buy 2 get one free sales, which are great.

Ebay

I myself have sold a few of my most expensive books on Ebay. These were books that I either did not want, or were part of an incomplete series. I sold them for a margin of the original price and they were in great condition. Sometimes you can get lucky on Ebay and find great books in amazing condition for a good price. I would suggest checking there the next time you really want to buy a real book.

Any other money saving tips I did not mention?

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Harry Potter Booktag

June 20, 2019February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

I came across this tag in a blog called Right Writing Words and it looked like a lot of fun, so I decided to give it a try. I personally love the Harry Potter series, they were the books which sparked my love for reading. I even wrote about them on this post.

Harry potter and the sorcerer’s stone book — My bookstagram

What house are you in?

“Their daring, nerve and chivalry set Gryffindors apart.” I was surprised when I took the test on Pottermore and I got Gryffindor, I always thought I would be a Ravenclaw because I’m a big nerd. Gryffindor values courage and bravery, and our mascot is the lion.

What is your patronus?

So I really wish my patronus was a panther or a tiger, but it’s a stout *rolls eyes.* I actually had to google what a stout was, it turns out it’s a type of weasel/ferret. I had a ferret once, they’re really annoying.

My wand specifications from pottermore — Picture from Pottermore.com

What is your wand?

Fir wood with dragon core, 12 3/4″ and reasonably supple flexibility. Dragon core, now that sounds more like it. According to Ollivander, wands of fir wood come from the most resilient of trees, which produce wands that demand staying power and strength of purpose in their true owners, and that they are poor tools in the hands of the changeable and indecisive. Fir wands are particularly suited to Transfiguration, and favor owners of focused, strong minded and, occasionally, intimidating demeanor. (from Pottermore.com)

What would your bogart be?

Probably a swarm of very small insects, doesn’t matter what type, only thing that matters is that they might crawl all over me at once. I can take any insect if it’s alone, I cannot handle them in a group. *shudders*

What would your position in Quidditch be?

I’m not sporty at all, but I’m observant and patient which are good attributes for a seeker, so seeker it is.

Would you be pure blood, half-blood or muggle-born?

I spent my whole eleventh year of my life wishing I was muggle-born and my owl would arrive with my letter to take me to Hogwarts, but it never happened.

My daughter holding the order of the phoenix book — My daughter when she was 7 months

What job would you want after graduating Hogwarts?

I would love to write bizarre relevant stories for the Quibbler.

Which of the Deathly Hollows would you choose?

I know the good choice is the invisibility cloak, but could I break into a bank with it? Because I’m really broke right this minute. If not, then the elder wand just for a bit and then I swear I would destroy it.

Harry potter and the order of the phoenix book — Picture taken by me

Favorite book?

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, because I feel it’s the book where Harry really grows and comes into his own, and it’s where things start to get darker. Also, Umbridge totally gets what she deserves.

Least favorite book?

Nope, I love all the books.

Favorite film?

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, because of the Yule Ball, the tournament, the other different schools, and a million other reasons that made this movie so action packed… also dragons.

Least favorite film

Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince, because they really messed up the ending. It’s one of the only films that was not very consistent with the book, they made up a few things and really changed others.

My blue bookshelf full of my favorite books — Picture taken by me

Favorite character

This is so hard, but I really loved Snape, both in the books and on the films. I loved his snarky comments and dark humor. Always.

Least favorite character

Lavender Brown, to me she was super annoying both in the books and the films.

Favorite teacher at Hogwarts

I’m split between Professor Lupin and Professor Slughorn. I thought both of them had really good hands on teaching methods, and interesting approaches to teaching.

Least favorite teacher at Hogwarts

Umbridge, enough said.

Do you have any unpopular opinions about the series?

I get a little annoyed when people who have never read the books call themselves Harry Potter fans. Read the books people!

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Soul of the Sword

June 19, 2019February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis:

Yumeko is a kitsune shapeshifter who has been entrusted with a sacred scroll. Her mission is to take this scroll to the Steel Feather temple in order to prevent the great Kami Dragon from being summoned. The dragon is the Harbinger of change, and it will grant one wish to whomever summons it. Hakaimono is a demon that has just been released from a sword called Kamigoroshi after being trapped in it for hundreds of years. He is still wearing the human body of Tatsumi, the Kage demon slayer who had been escorting Yumeko to the temple before the demon broke free. Hakaimono wants to destroy the sword so he can never be put back in it. He has teamed up with he Master of Demons and has promised to get him the scrolls in exchange for destroying the sword. The story ensues as the paths of Yumeko and Hakaimono cross once again, and the fate of the empire hangs in the balance.

True beauty is rare, hidden and often overlooked by others. And it can appear at the strangest times.”
Daisuke

Soul of the Sword by Julie Kagawa transported me to a warm campfire under a starry night, while a bearded old man told this mythical tale in between puffs of smoke from his old wooden pipe. Suddenly, I was in a world in which emotions like grief and despair had smells, and everything from the scenery to the food was described in poetic detail. I particularly found the Forest of a Thousand Eyes terrifying, even when described from Hakaimono’s demon perspective, who tried to make everything sound amusing.

Around them, the shadowy forest stood frozen, tall shaggy pines drooping under the weight of snow and ice. It was an oppressive weight…cold and domineering, as if the snow was a cruel master, demanding silence and respect from everything it touched.”
SUKI

I liked the different points of views in each Chapter, and the fact we had a glimpse into the mind of the demon Hakaimono. We got to see what the human condition is like from a demon’s perspective, and how living inside humans for hundreds of years has changed him. The demon catches himself missing his “home” in Jigoku (a version of the underworld or hell), and wondering if his fellow demons have missed him as well.

I had spent too much time in the heads of these weak-willed humans.”
Hakaimono

I really enjoyed Yumeko’s humor and wit, but I especially loved her determination to complete her quest and to offer a helping hand to all who needed it along the way. As always, Yumeko’s point of view was full of mischief, true to her fox or “kitsune” nature. The dialogue between Yumeko and the band of misfits she has acquired in her journey was very entertaining. One of my favorite side characters continues to be Okame, who despite being a ronin, or disgraced samurai, has shown to be a very honest and loyal companion to Yumeko on her journey.

A small group who stand against insurmountable odds, who give their lives for the glory of the empire? It is what Bushido is built on.”
Daisuke

The story had a nice feeling of adventure, as our group of unlikely heroes, each with their own special skills, are taken from one predicament into the next. The plot was action packed, and the characters were all spurred into action by a single unifying quest to save the empire from certain doom. I adored the first book in this series, Shadow of the Fox, and this second installment was no exception. I recommend this story to all YA/Fantasy fans, and to all those who enjoy adventure and quest driven tales.

‪Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Teen for the opportunity to review this title in exchange for my honest opinion‬

Have you guys read Soul of the Sword? What did you think?

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WWW Wednesday

June 18, 2019February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

This is a meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where you answer three questions: What are you reading now? What did you just read? What will you be reading next?

What I’m reading now:

I’m currently reading an e-ARC of Soul of the Sword by Julie Kagawa which is the second book to Shadow of the Fox. I couldn’t believe it when I first got approved for this on Netgalley, and I’m loving it just like I thought I would. I had to put Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo on hold, so that I could finish Soul of the Sword and post my review before release day on June 27th.

I’ve also been listening to Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman, and so far I really like the humor they use. The audio book has a full cast of characters and it’s almost like listening to a movie, it’s amazing.

What I just read:

My only accomplishment this past week was finishing This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab. It was a four star read for me. You can see my review here.

What I will read next:

My plan is to finish Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, which I actually own a physical copy of. I also received an e-book called Radioactive Evolution by Richard Hummel which I also plan to read.

What are is your current read?

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This Savage Song

June 17, 2019February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Author: V.E. Schwab

Published: July 5, 2016

Series: Monsters of Verity, #1

Synopsis:

There’s no such thing as safe in a city at war, a city overrun with monsters. In this dark urban fantasy from author Victoria Schwab, a young woman and a young man must choose whether to become heroes or villains—and friends or enemies—with the future of their home at stake. The first of two books.

Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters. One who can steal a soul with a simple strain of music. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate, who’s just been kicked out of her sixth boarding school and returned home, August jumps at it. But Kate discovers August’s secret, and after a failed assassination attempt the pair must flee for their lives.

That’s life…it doesn’t matter if you’re monster or human, living hurts.”
August

This was a very unique world in which music played a big part. Monsters called Sunai could steal a person’s soul by singing or playing music. Music was also used as an escape by both the main characters; though I found myself identifying more with August’s taste in classical music, rather than Kate’s loud rock music.

The characters were very well fleshed out. I thought Kate was a strong female character who was willing to do anything to seek her father’s approval. August was sweet and likeable, but also did not let Kate push him around. I also liked the fact that there was no “instalove” in this story, and that their relationship did not take over the whole plot.

The plot was very action packed from the beginning. The characters were plunged from one predicament to the other with barely any breathing room in between. The only reason I took one star was because the ending was too perfect for me, and there was very little explanation as to what happened. But you will just have to read for yourself.

Overall, I would recommend this book to all fans of YA/Fantasy, and to anyone interested in dystopian novels and how people react at the end of the world.

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Monday Cleaning Day

June 16, 2019February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

Lately, I’ve been adding every pretty cover I see on Bookstagram to my TBR, I really need to stop. Thank goodness for Mondays where I get to clean this mess up. I ordered my Goodreads TBR in reverse chronological order as usual, and this time I took a look at the first ten books and decided to keep or delete them.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Senz

I don’t know why I love this cover so much. There’s something about the open field, and maybe the fact that I have a thing for beat up old trucks? This book has awesome reviews from everyone on my Goodreads, it’s actually a rare 4.35/ 5, and it has 188,441 ratings.

Keep

A Shifting of Stars by Kathy Kimbray

This one was a fairly recent release, it was published May 28, 2019. It has good reviews for now. It says it’s perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes, Red Queen, and Shadow and Bone. I loved An Ember in the Ashes, did not care for Red Queen, and Shadow and Bone is on my physical TBR, so I think this one is a keeper for now.

Keep 🙂

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

This seems a lot like Throne of Glass, and a lot of the reviews are saying the same thing. Girl loses kingdom, then wants to regain it with the help of a boy, and there’s of course a love triangle involved somewhere in there. Not interested. Pretty cover though. I must stop adding books for their covers! *smashes head against table*

Delete 😦

Air Awakens by Elise Kova

It definitely was not the cover that made me add this book to my TBR. I think it was a glowing review on Bookstagram, I’m not sure. Upon further investigation, it has mixed reviews on Goodreads, with some people calling it a bit cliché. I think maybe this is not for me.

Delete 😦

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

You had me at magical library. This looks like a very unique story. It has great reviews on Goodreads even though it’s a fairly new release. I just hope this is just not an overly hyped book.

Keep 🙂

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan

This cover is amazing! The book has a few mixed reviews from Goodreads, but I think I will risk it and keep it.

Keep 🙂

The Diviners by Libba Bray

I thought this would be a good murder/mystery book when I first added it, sometimes I’m in the mood for those. But according to some of the reviews on Goodreads this seems to turn into something unexpected, and religion and spirituality end up playing a very big role. This is going to be no for me.

Delete 😦

Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly

I love fairy tale retellings, and this seems like a good twist on Snow White, where the Stepsister is the main character instead.

Keep 🙂

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

This isn’t the type of book I would normally read, but I feel like I need to branch out a bit. This is a historical fiction book, about a girl who gets put into a work camp along with her mother and brother in Russia. It has raving reviews on Goodreads. I will read it when I’m in one of those moods to have my heart ripped out of my chest by a book.

Keep 🙂

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

I’ve never read a book by this author, and I know I said I need to branch out, but maybe not that OUT. From the reviews I’ve read, it seems like this is not a good first book to read by her.

Delete 😦

My Goodreads TBR list is now down to 49 books. I feel so light and happy 🙂

Would you guys have done anything different?

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Identity Crisis Booktag

June 14, 2019February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

This tag was created by Loretta @Thelaughinglistener. Thanks so much for this idea. It was a lot of fun!

Make sure you follow her rules:

Take all the quizzes down below and record your answers.
No cheating. You take the quiz one time.
Give credit to Lorretta @Thelaughinglistener
Tag some friends to spread the fun

I skipped two of the quizzes, so I guess I broke rule number one. What can I say, I like to live life on the edge. But I had good reasons! The Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard I wasn’t a fan of so did not continue with the series after the first book. I also skipped The Raven Boys quiz because I recently read the first one and I didn’t want it to ruin the rest.

Shadowhunters

Who am I: Isabelle Lightwood and Diana Wrayburn

Isabelle is a badass and I love her, I also secretly wish I had her hair. I stopped reading The Dark Artifacts after book one, and I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion but I could not stand the whole forbidden love thing again, sorry. Therefore, I have no idea who Diana Wrayburn is.

Throne of Glass

Who am I: Dorian and Nesryn

I would love to have control of all elements like Dorian does, and I especially love ice, so I was very happy with this. I don’t know about Nesryn, she wasn’t one of my favorite characters, but thinking back her skill with a bow and arrow and her unflinching loyalty were admirable, so I’m happy with being her as well.

The Hunger Games

Who am I: Cinna

I guess I’m a lover and not a fighter. I loved Cinna’s character in all the Hunger Games books, so I am very happy with this outcome.

Harry Potter

Who am I: Fred Weasley

I was happy with this, because I love the Weasley twins, I really thought I would get Hermione or something. Guess I’m cooler than I thought!

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Who am I: Elaine Archeron

Elaine!! Really? Guess I’m nicer than I thought, I really thought I would be Nesta or something. Also, I wouldn’t want to be able to predict the future, and I definitely kill every plant I try to take care of…but okay.

Twilight

Who am I: Jessica Stanley

UGH really?! She was so annoying in the books, and I only liked her in the movies because she’s played by Anna Kendrick and I really love her. So I guess I forgive this quiz website *rolls eyes*

The Cruel Prince

Who am I: Locke

Okay, this quiz thing is just going downhill now. I seriously think I got this because I’m short on money and when it asked what I want the most right now I put: Endless riches. I hate Locke, but I guess it is what it is.

The Lunar Chronicles

Who am I: Jacin

I don’t know how I feel about this one. On the one hand Jacin was loyal, but sometimes to a fault. Also, he could be a sarcastic a-hole sometimes. I guess my opinion on this is, meh.

Conclusion:

There you have it. According to these quizzes I am loyal, independent, confident, sarcastic, responsible, creative, not a fighter, quiet, a natural charmer, curious, and “the embodiment of beauty and grace” to list a few 🙂

If you need a pick me up. I would definitely recommend taking these. Let me know how you did!

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WWW Wednesday

June 11, 2019February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

This is a meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words where you answer three questions: What are you reading now? What did you just read? What will you be reading next?

This past week I haven’t been very productive at all when it comes to reading. My birthday is coming up, and my husband surprised me with a Goldendoodle puppy ♥️ Puppies are a handful, it’s like having a third child 😅

What I’m reading now:

I can’t believe I got an ARC of Soul of the Sword by Julie Kagawa (the sequel to Shadow of the Fox). I love these characters and I can’t wait to see how the story ends.

I’m also listening to This Savage Song by V.E. Schwab during my work commute. This is one of my first Schwab books and I’m loving it. I had started reading Vicious, also by her, but I had to stop so I could read the Soul of the Sword ARC before release day.

What I just read:

I recently read The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. It was a nice read. I gave it three stars. You can read my review here.

What I will read next:

I want to finish the Vicious e-book by V.E. Schwab, which I had found very interesting before I had to stop reading it. I also need to finish Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, which I had stopped reading as well.

What are you guy’s WWW’s?

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The Raven Boys

June 10, 2019February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Publication date: September 18, 2012

Series: The Raven Cycle #1

There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”
Neeve

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

I thought Stiefvater’s writing was spectacular. The story was hypnotic and entertaining. I admit to laughing out loud many times throughout it. She makes great use of similes and metaphors without overdoing it. I really liked the different POV’s, even the ones from the bad guy’s perspective, it really brought the whole story together.

She wasn’t interested in telling other people’s futures. She was interested in going out and finding her own.”
Blue

Blue was unique, from her name to her clothes to the way she decorated her room. I don’t blame her since she had a very strange upbringing, and grew up surrounded by fortune tellers. But this story was mainly about the boys. I really liked that they all had their own unique voices and distinct personalities. I still can’t decide which one was my favorite Aglionby boy, maybe Ronan, and I hope she wrote a book where we get to find out more about him. I still don’t know about Gansey, I can’t get past his obsession with this quest of his, and it seems like neither can he.

Gansey had once told Adam that he was afraid most people didn’t know how to handle Ronan. What he meant by this was that he was worried that one day someone would fall on Ronan and cut themselves”
adam

There was a great sense of adventure to this story, and the quests and discoveries were unique. I expected some of the twista, and there were some that caught me by surprise. Even though I understand this was part of a series, I still docked a few stars because I felt like the whole story was building up to something and then it fell flat at the end. Sometimes when authors do this, it makes me feel like they cut the story short just so they could write a second book, and it leaves me wanting.

When I was done with this book, I didn’t immediately feel like reading the next in the series. I did really like her writing style, and I am curious to learn more about all these characters, so I will definitely pick it up in the future. Hopefully, in the next book the ending is a bit better and I am left feeling more satisfied and less empty.

Have you guys read this? What did you think? Does the series get better plot-wise?

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Monday Cleaning Day

June 9, 2019February 8, 2022 Dee’s Reading Tree

On Mondays I take the opportunity to clean up my TBR list. I ordered it in reverse chronological order from the date it was added. I looked at the oldest five books I’ve added on there and decided whether to keep them or delete them.

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

There are so many mixed reviews for this book. I feel like this is one of those you either love or you hate. I read a sample and decided I did not care for the writing style.

Delete 😦

Nevernight (The Nevernight Chronicle, #1) by Jay Kristoff

I read a sample of this book and I loved it. The main character is so snarky, she reminds me of Caelena from Throne of Glass. I can’t wait to read it. It also sounds like a good audio book so I might listen to it instead.

Keep 🙂

Crown of Feathers by Nick Pau Preto

I think I’m just tired of sister feuds. I recently got fed up with One Dark Throne by Kendare Blake. I re-read the synopsis for this one and it no longer sounds appealing. I did not even feel like reading a sample.

Delete 😦

I love dystopian novels. There’s something about seeing how different people react at the end of the world as they know it. I almost got lost in that sample. This book seems to be part of a series, and many on Goodreads are calling it a hidden gem. I will give it a try.

Keep:)

Descendant of the Crane by Joan He

This sure is a beautiful cover. It’s probably what made me add this book to my TBR in the first place. I might have grown a bit tired of Chinese mythology lately. But I’m sure I will be in the mood eventually.

Keep 🙂

Just like that I got rid of two out of five books on my TBR, and I feel so free. Do you guys ever re-assess your never ending TBR? Anything you would have kept or deleted from mine?

Category: Uncategorized

How I Save Money on Books

Harry Potter Booktag

Soul of the Sword

WWW Wednesday

This Savage Song

Monday Cleaning Day

Identity Crisis Booktag

WWW Wednesday

The Raven Boys

Monday Cleaning Day