Tag: read

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Monday Cleaning Day

Dee’s Reading Tree

I have come to really enjoy writing these Monday posts. They create the illusion that I have some sort of control over my TBR list. On these posts I got to my Goodreads TBR list, I order it in reverse order, and from “date added.” I then pick the first ten books and I choose whether to keep them or delete them from my list. I obviously skip the books I decided to keep in past weeks.

Picture from Goodreads

The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson

The first thing I noticed when I looked at this book is that the cover is gorgeous. As you probably know, I am a sucker for pretty covers. My friends on Goodreads have rated this book 3 to 5 stars, which is promising. But, what really sold me on this was the fact that one of my favorite authors Sabaa Tahir (author of An Ember in the Ashes) rated it 5 stars. If she loves it, then I will love it.

Keep 🙂

Picture from Goodreads

In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan

Lets face it, the cover is terrible. But, my friends on Goodreads who have read it all have given it above a four star rating. It seems like a feel good book. I just have to be in a certain mood to read those. But I will try it!

Keep 🙂

Picture from Goodreads

The Star Touched Queen and A Crown of Wishes (#1 and #2) by Roshani Chokshi

Both of these look really good, and they have great reviews from all my friends on Goodreads. Also, another one of my favorite authors Sarah J. Maas, rated it five stars so now I definitely have to read it!

Keep 🙂

Truthwitch (The Witchlands, #1) by Susan Dennard

There are a lot of mixed reviews on this one. But many of my friends on Goodreads did not finish it, and many more did not like it. So I will have to pass.

Delete 😦

Shadow and Bone Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

I can’t believe I still haven’t read these. I loved Six of Crows, and I am currently loving Crooked Kingdom. I am sure I will like these as well.

Keep 🙂

Picture from Goodreads

Wonder Woman: Warbringer (DC Icons, #1) by Leigh Bardugo

I love everything Wonder Woman, and I love Leigh Bardugo, so essentially this book was made for me to read it.

Keep 🙂

King of Scars (Nikolai Duology, #1) by Leigh Bardugo

I guess I went on a Leigh Bardugo TBR spree for a while there didn’t I? I’ve heard great things about this one, and it has great ratings on Goodreads. But I will wait until I finish the Shadow and Bone trilogy and then decide if I want to read this one.

Delete (for now)

Ninth House (Alex Stern, #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Okay, I am noticing a trend here. It seems like Bardugo has started a lot of trilogies and duologies and has yet to finish them. That makes me nervous. Once again, I will finish the Shadow and Bone trilogy and then decide if I want to read this one.

Delete (for now)

Dangerous Beauty (Dangerous Beauty, #1) by J.T. Geissinger

This is one of my guilty pleasures. It has great reviews. I am keeping it there for whenever I am in the mood.

Keep 🙂

Picture from Goodreads

Verity by Colleen Hoover

I haven’t read one of her books in a while. It has almost all five star reviews, and barely any bad reviews. It looks like an interesting story. Also, look at that cover!

Keep 🙂

So I ended up looking at thirteen books, because they were part of a series. I deleted only three this time, but I still feel better about it.

P.S. You guys know how I said on my first Monday Cleaning Day post I had 70 ish books on my TBR list? Well…theres 109 there now, and I have no idea how that happened.

How are you guys doing on your TBR list? How do you manage it?

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The Red Scrolls of Magic Review

Dee’s Reading Tree
My Bookstagram

I had been looking forward to The Red Scrolls of Magic (The Eldest Curses, #1) by Cassandra Clare for almost a year now. One of my favorite characters from her other Shadowhunter books is Magnus Bane, and when I saw the book was mostly about him I was super excited. On the other hand, one of my least favorite characters is Alexander Lightwood, but this book was exactly what I needed in order to understand his personality more.

I trust you with my life. But can I trust you with more than my life?”

alec

Alec and Magnus have decided to take a vacation around Europe after the Mortal War. Then, bad news arrives to ruin their trip. There are rumors of a demon worshipping cult called the Crimson Hand circling around. A cult supposedly founded by Magnus as a joke, but now it has become very real and out of control. In order to continue on with their vacation, Magnus and Alec must put a stop to the Crimson Hand before they cause any more damage.

He’d have no vacation at all without Magnus, no shine of magic and no shocks of joy, no lights and no music.”

alec

There was so much humor in this story, and with a main character like Magnus what else did I expect? Even in the worst of moments he was still making jokes. I found myself laughing out loud throughout the story.

Do I know you?” said Magnus. “No, but you definitely could,” the dryad said, blowing Magnus a kiss. Alec coughed loudly from behind Magnus. “I’m flattered, but as you can hear, I’m spoken for. Well, coughed for.”

magnus

During the book, we are able to see a lot of character development when it comes to Alec. He really has a chance to come out of his shell and shine, now that Jace and Isabel are not there to overshadow him. He is really sweet and protective of those he loves, and this book definitely changed my mind about him.

Ever drive stick before?”

Alec hesitated. “Can’t be harder than shooting a bow and arrow while riding a horse at a full gallop.”

magnus and alec

The world building is amazing as always. Not only do we travel Europe alongside Magnus and Alec, but we get to travel in style. There are hot air balloon rides, gondolas, trains, and luxurious sports cars. We get to attend an awesome party full of downworlders, and as we all know no one knows how to throw a party like a warlock. This book was amazing and I cannot wait for the second one.

Did you guys read the book? What did you think?

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The Sparrow by Denna M. Davis

Dee’s Reading Tree

This book had a lot of potential. The story was unique, and the world building was well done. Unfortunately, the characters lacked depth and there was a tendency to over explain feelings and emotions which became very bothersome as the story progressed.

Come read my full review at:

http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-deesreadingtree.html

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WWW Wednesday

Dee’s Reading Tree

On Wednesdays I share what I just read, what I’m currently reading, and what I plan on reading next.

What I just read:

1. The Sparrow -by Denna M. Davis ⭐️⭐️ (review pending on onlinebookclub.org)

I am not allowed to say much about the online book club reviews. I will post the link to it later on when it’s approved.

2. The Watchmaker’s Doctor -by G.M.T. Schuilling ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another online book club review which I posted yesterday.

3. The Wicked King -by Holly Black ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I posted all about this amazing book last week ♥️

What I’m currently reading:

1. The Red Scrolls of Magic -by Cassandra Clare

This has been a much anticipated book on my TBR list. It came out this month and it just became available for me to read on Overdrive.

2. Crooked Kingdom -by Leigh Bardugo

This book started right in the middle of the action and I love it for now. I had to put it on hold to finish The Red Scrolls of Magic before it expires.

3. Legendary -by Stephanie Garber

This is a re-read because Finale (the 3rd book in this series) is coming out soon, and I had to brush up on the events of this book.

What I will read next:

1. One Dark Throne -by Kendare Blake

I better get to this one soon before I forget everything that happened on the first book.

2. Daughter of the Pirate King

I just picked this one up while on vacation. I heard the second one in the series is also really good.

That’s all for now guys!

What’s on your WWW lists? Leave a comment below!

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Monday Cleaning Day

Dee’s Reading Tree

Monday is cleaning day in my household. My goal is always to get all the deep cleaning done in one day so I can spend the rest of the week doing other things, and only needing to touch up here and there.

This week I decided to do the same on my Goodreads TBR list. I have 70 books on there right now and it’s getting a bit out of control. I started by organizing the list in reverse order, filtered by the date the book was added so that the older books show up first. Then, I went through the first ten books. For each one I read the reviews of those who’s opinions I trust on my friends list, I also read the synopsis again, and finally I made a decision. Keep or delete.

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

I’m not even going to pretend I thought about deleting this one. I will always read anything Maas writes, even if it’s a narrative about watching water boil. This book is highly anticipated and I cannot wait for the cover reveal. I know it’s going to be epic.

Keep : )

Can’t wait for the cover reveal!!

Imagine Me (Shatter me, #6) by Tahereh Mafi

I’ll admit I was a little disappointed with the last book. I felt like it was more like a filler book, and it could’ve just been a novella. That said, I definitely want to finish this series and I hope Mafi will redeem herself with this one.

Keep 🙂

Catwoman: Soulstealer (DC Icons, #3) by Sarah J. Maas

Please refer to book one on this post.

Keep 😉

Circe by Madeline Miller

I have never read a book by this author before which made me a bit hesitant. But, I currently have seventeen of my Goodreads friends who gave this book a good review. I also love books about Gods. It reminds me of the book Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor.

Keep 🙂

One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns, #2) by Kendare Blake

I really liked the first one of this series, and I am really curious to know what happens next. Her books do start out a little slow, but once they pick up they’re great.

Keep 🙂

La Belle Sauvage (The Book of Dust, #1) by Philip Pullman

I really liked the whole Eragon series. But I think I have outgrown these type of books.

Delete 😦

Shadow of the Fox (Shadow of the Fox, #1) by Julie Kagawa

I love most of her books, except the Talon series, so this could be a hit or miss. I decided to read a sample before making a decision. The first sentence reads “It was raining the day Suki came to the Palace of the Sun, and it was raining the night that she died.” Well now I have to read it.

Keep 🙂

Untitled (Oxygen, #2) by Shelly Crane

I loved the first book called The Other Side of Gravity, but I have lost hope that she is ever going to write a second one. She wrote the first one back in 2016. I’ve been holding on to hope for too long and it’s time to let go. If she ever does write one I am sure I will find out.

Delete 😦

The Seeker and The Soul (The Host, #2 and #3) by Stephenie Meyer

Meyer wrote The Host in 2008, once again I’ve lost all hope. I’m starting to think she never really announced these for real and it was all made up by the fans.

Delete 😦

Hold on to Me and Melt for Me (Against All Odds, #2 and #3) by Elisabeth Naughton

I really liked the first book in this series Wait for Me, but I feel like it should’ve stayed a stand alone book. I was happy with the ending, an it looks like a lot of other reviewers felt the same.

Delete 😦

Okay, so really I ended up deciding on twelve books instead of ten, but only because some were part of a series. In the end I deleted six out of twelve books and it feels right. Like spring cleaning.

Were you sad or surprised I deleted any of these? Which ones would you definitely keep? Leave me a comment!

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My TBR Basket

Dee’s Reading Tree

Who else has a never ending TBR (To Be Read) pile?

Mine currently includes:

~The Lord of the Rings (#1 and #2, I still need to get #3) by J.R.R. Tolkien

~Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

~One Dark Throne (Three Dark Crowns, #2) by Kendare Blake

Am I the only bookworm who has never read “The Hobbit” or “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy? I’m so ashamed to have those on my basket.

Daughter of the Pirate King was a new acquisition while on vacation. I’ve heard it has a strong female character, and those are my favorite.

Finally, I really need to get to One Dark Throne, the third one of the series is already out and it’s getting really hard to avoid the spoilers.

And these are only the real books I have yet to read. I still have a long list of e-books I haven’t gotten to, and a huge “To Read” shelf on Goodreads.

How about you?