We here at Goldilox and the Three Weres have talked a lot about tackling our TBR piles in 2017 so I made a video about some of the books that have been on my TBR for a while now that I plan to read in these first few months of 2017!
What books are on your immediate TBR? Have you been doing a good job clearing off that TBR shelf so far in 2017?
Books From My TBR I'm Finally Reading in 2017!
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Whatever you've heard about Caraval, it doesn't compare to the reality. It's more than just a game or a performance. It's the closest you'll ever find to magic in this world . . .
Welcome, welcome to Caraval―Stephanie Garber’s sweeping tale of two sisters who escape their ruthless father when they enter the dangerous intrigue of a legendary game.
Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.
But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.
Review: Caraval by Stephanie Garber is a highly anticipated young adult release for 2017. In the past six months, I've seen this book floating around the internet nonstop and I've seen this pop up on countless "Most Anticipated" lists. Now that I've read it, I can say that Caraval does deserve all the anticipation. It's a fun and intriguing read that's firmly in the YA Fantasy genre while also being different enough to stand out. I really enjoyed it and now I'm highly anticipating the next book!
Below is my spoiler-free review of Caraval! Let us know if you're one of those who can't wait to get your hands on a copy!
Caravan by Stephanie Garber | Spoiler-Free Review
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Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland and a favorite of the unmarried King, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, she wants to open a shop and create delectable pastries. But for her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for a woman who could be a queen.
At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the King’s marriage proposal, she meets handsome and mysterious Jest. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into a secret courtship.
Cath is determined to choose her own destiny. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.
Review: Marissa Meyer has long been one of my absolute favorite authors of YA. Her newest release is Heartless, a stand alone fantasy that tells the origin story of the Queen of Hearts.
If you love her Lunar Chronicles series like I do, be prepared to devour the delicious whimsy, romance, and heartache of Heartless. This has some similarities to Meyer's novella Fairest, in which she gave us Queen Levana's origin story. Catherine is a much more likable character in Heartless, but the parallels between their stores are definitely notable. Fans of Alice in Wonderland will be excited to see all of their favorite characters years before Alice showed up in Wonderland. My favorite character in this book was Hatter by far. His story is particularly compelling.
Check out more of my thoughts on Heartless in the video below - all spoiler-free of course!
HEARTLESS by Marissa Meyer | Spoiler-Free Review
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So there's this Gilmore Girls themed book tag floating around. It was originally created by another book lover at Pucks and Paperbacks and it was so much fun!
For each character from the series you match up a book. Here are the questions. If you're interested in making a blog post or a video for this tag consider yourself tagged!
Lorelai - A character with a witty or sarcastic sense of humor Rory - Your favorite classic Luke - A book you secretly love, but are afraid to admit. Lane - A musical character Dean- Your first book love (character or book you first loved!) Sooki - A book you’ve devoured Jess- A book you love, that gets the most hate. Miss Patty - A book that was ruined by the hype Emily Gilmore - expensive book Paris - An uptight character
Of course, my favorite one is the topic for Jess...
You can see the books I chose in the video below. Let us know if you choose to make a blog post or a video for the Gilmore Girls Book Tag!
Gilmore Girls Book Tag!
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I solemnly swear that I am up to no good...I've been shopping...
I love all the excitement in the air with the new movie in the Harry Potter world! And Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them was absolutely WONDERFUL - three thumbs up!!!
Sooooooooo I've done a little shopping over the past few weeks. I've bought some Harry Potter stuff and I've bought some Fantastic Beasts stuff and I thought I'd share my haul with you guys. I especially loved unboxing the Funko Pops. Why are those things so fun? They literally just stand still and look cute, but I can't stop buying them!
Christmas is coming up after all...got an HP or FBAWTFT lover you need to buy a present for?
Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts Haul
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I'm still hanging onto my Owlcrate subscription because I love opening those boxes so darn much! For the month of November, Owlcrate's theme is WONDERLAND! I'm a big Alice in Wonderland fan, so I was really looking forward to unboxing this month - and I was NOT disappointed!
Check out my unboxing of November's Owlcrate box in the video below!
Owl crate Unboxing | November 2016 | Wonderland
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This is only my second time receiving the Quarterly Lit YA box since it only arrives once every three months (Quarterly...get it?) and I've been super excited to get this month's box! This one is curated by author S.J. Kincaid and the focus book the box is but around is:
Diabolic S.J. Kincaid Amazon
I'm unboxing the Quarterly box and all its bookish goodies in the video below!
Quarterly Lit YA Unboxing | October 2016
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I've been feeling a little down the last two weeks...anybody with me? I could really use some inspiring. And then while in my office where my bookshelves are I started looking at book covers and thinking how it would be great if some of these strong, smart, kickass female characters existed in real life because we could certainly use them right now.
SO, I compiled a list of some of my favorite series that have strong heroines. There are certainly many more that could be added to this group. If you have suggestions for badass book heroines we should check out let us know in the comments!
Heroines We Need Right Now | Book Recommendations
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It's time for another Nerdy Bookworm box! These boxes include a young adult book and lots of bookish goodies and are fantasy/sci-fi in nature. This month's Nerdy Bookworm theme is DOPPLEGANGERS! Watch the unboxing in the video below! I was super into this particular box this month. OMG THE SOCKS!
Do you subscribe to any bookish subscription boxes? Let us known the comments below!
Nerdy Bookworm Unboxing | Dopplegangers | October 2016
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Empire of Storms
(Throne of Glass #5)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Narrator: Elizabeth Evans
Release: September 6, 2016 GoodreadsAmazon Book Depository
The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don't.
As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.
Aelin's journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?
Review: Empire of Storms is the fifth installment in the Throne of Glass series and the newest release in that series. I've been reading this series for the past couple of months and now I'm caught up and waiting patiently impatiently for the final book - due out next year! Empire of Storms was quite the wild ride and full of craziness like all the other books, however I still think the previous installment, Queen of Shadows was a more enjoyable read. Check out my spoiler-free thoughts on the book, followed by a spoilery chart session, in the video below! Did you read Empire of Storms yet?
The CRAZINESS of EMPIRE OF STORMS by Sarah J. Maas
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This week I participated in Top 5 Wednesday again!
If you don't know, Top 5 Wednesday is a feature for bloggers and booktubers based on a Goodreads group. There is a unique topic for each Wednesday and bloggers and booktubers make posts or videos to discuss their responses. Here is the link to the Goodreads group if you'd like to participate - and let me know if you do!
These are your favorite character relationships that didn't actually work out in the canon of the book or series (canon = everything that actually happened in a book). There are a few different ways you could go about this week's theme, but I chose to talk about the couples I really wanted to make it that just...didn't. You can click on the video below to watch, and then go check out the Goodreads group for a lot more blog posts and videos on this theme!
Series talked about in this video (possible spoilers!):
Vampire Academy series
Throne of Glass series
Covenant series
Sookie Steakhouse series
Harry Potter series
Favorite Ships That Didn't Make It | Top 5 Wednesday
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Queen of Shadows
(Throne of Glass #4)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Narrator: Elizabeth Evans
Release: September 1, 2015 GoodreadsAmazon Book Depository
Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past…
She has embraced her identity as Aelin Galathynius, Queen of Terrasen. But before she can reclaim her throne, she must fight.
She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die for her. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.
The fourth volume in the New York Times bestselling series continues Celaena’s epic journey and builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.
Review:
If you've been following along over the past few months, I've been reading and reviewing the books in the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas and I am up to book four, Queen of Shadows. This one has so many epic events that I really felt like a plain old review or book talk wouldn't cut it, so instead I'm discussing the five things that shocked and surprised me while reading! Don't worry, the beginning is spoiler free if you just want to know my review of this one. Check out the video below and let me know if you've read this series!
Queen of Shadows | 5 Things That Totally Blew My Mind!
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After Margaret and I finished sharing our unboxings and thoughts about several different book subscription boxes, I STILL couldn't decide which to keep and which to get rid of! And then my September boxes for Owlcrate and the Nerdy Bookworm arrived within a couple days of each other.
These boxes are very similar - they both ship monthly, typically the book is YA, and both give subscribers lots of little bookish goodies inside the box. So, I decided to pit them against each other, head to head, and see who did it better for the month of September! And guess what?! I even got a huge surprise at the end!
vs.
I need help guys! Which box do YOU think won out? Which should I keep and which should I cancel? Do you have either of these subscriptions? Let me know!
Battle of the Book Boxes: Owlcrate vs. Nerdy Bookworm (September)
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