July Wrap Up

Well, we're halfway through the month and I forgot that I hadn't already posted this because my time management sucks. Better late than never.

1. Touched by Death 

I gave this book 4 stars. I had been wanting to read this book for so long and while it wasn't exactly what I expected, it didn't disappoint. Would recommend to Paranormal NA lovers.

2. Kung Fu Panda 3 

I gave this movie 4 stars. I still prefer the first and second movies to this one, but it accomplished what it was supposed to: it was fun to watch. 

3. Good Girl 

I gave this book 4 stars. Usually, I wouldn't include this kind of book in my wrap up because the central idea is really sleazy. However, it isn't as sleazy as you think it is and it actually has a really funny and cute romance. Good for romance lovers.

4. The Shadows 

I gave this book 4 stars. Minor Spoiler Alert: This is probably the only book in this series so far where it didn't have a completely satisfying ending with the two romantic interests end up together.  I'm a romance addict and I hate when the characters I love together don't end up together. I'm a sucker for a happy ending and this half delivered.

5. Antman and the Wasp

 I gave this movie 4.5 stars. Antman is not my favorite in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, however, I can't ruler out the fact that I find the Antman movies absolutely hilarious. And can I just say, I looooooooooved Ava. I want to see a lot more of her.

6. The Greatest Showman 

I gave this movie 4 stars. I loved the music that was played in this movie. It was good in its context, but I don't think I'll ever listen to the playlist just on its own. Hugh Jackman's character was one of those characters that you simultaneously wanted to succeed but also fail. You root for him knowing his upbringing and his love for his wife, but then some of the other things he does just make you loathe him. His wife is too good for him.

7. The Peer and The Puppet 

I gave this book 5 stars. I read this one and just couldn't stop thinking about it. Thinking about it just now makes me want to start reading it all over again. If you love Penelope Douglas, Erin Watt, or other B. B. Reid novels then you're gonna want to read this one.

8. Hairspray 

I gave this movie 3.5 stars. While I loved the premise, I wasn't that fond of the actual execution. I didn't particularly like the music and I didn't find the main character to be that likable. I honestly, feel pretty bad for not liking it that much but I can't change the way I feel. Maybe in a few years, I'll watch it again and like it more.

9. And Playing the Role of Herself 

I gave this book 4 stars. A few months ago when doing a top 10 favorite LGBT couples post I realized the majority of my list was gay male couples and realized I need to branch out more. This is getting out of hand. I haven't read a lot of books about lesbians, but I think this one was pretty fricken good. If you guys have any recommendations for LGBT books let me know, I'd love to check them out.

10. Siren’s Lure 

I gave this book 4 stars. I saw this on Netgalley and it seemed really cool, but I didn't look it up before requesting and reading it and only after did I realize that this book was a novella of a bigger series and I feel like I've actually missed a bit of context which made this not the best read for me. I do hope to eventually read that series and reread this story in hopes I will like it more.

11. Mamma Mia! 

I gave this movie 4.5 stars. I watched a lot of musicals this month, very hit or miss. This one was probably my favorite. I had no idea what it was about until I started watching it and holy shit. I cannot believe that this girl had the balls to invite three of her mother's ex-boyfriends to the same place at the same time in hopes of figuring out which was her father. That was crazy but I loved it and I loved the characters. 

What were some of your favorite from July?

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Anticipated August Releases

I thought it would be fun to do monthly posts about books I'm highly anticipating for the month. I've seen posts like these around and often think of the books I myself am excited for and so this is post 1 of hopefully many.

Catwoman: Soulstealer August 7th

This one is actually already out and if you read my preorders post then you know I preordered it. Currently, this is making it's way to my house and I'm very excited to crack into this one.

City of Ghosts August 28th

Victoria Schwab never fails to create amazing premises for her novels and I'm pretty excited to see where she goes with this one. 

Ruin of Stars August 28th

This is the sequel to Mask of Shadows, a book I read and really enjoyed last year. This is the second and final book and I'm really excited to see how this duology comes to a close.

Toil and Trouble August 28th

I love witches and I love books about women, so I'm pretty fricken excited to get this book and give it a read.

What August releases are you guys dying to get your hands on?

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Ravensong Review

Ravensong
by T. J. Klune

Release Date: July 31st, 2018

Synopsis:

Gordo Livingstone never forgot the lessons carved into his skin. Hardened by the betrayal of a pack who left him behind, he sought solace in the garage in his tiny mountain town, vowing never again to involve himself in the affairs of wolves.

It should have been enough.

And it was, until the wolves came back, and with them, Mark Bennett. In the end, they faced the beast together as a pack… and won.

Now, a year later, Gordo has found himself once again the witch of the Bennett pack. Green Creek has settled after the death of Richard Collins, and Gordo constantly struggles to ignore Mark and the song that howls between them.

But time is running out. Something is coming. And this time, it’s crawling from within.

Some bonds, no matter how strong, were made to be broken.

My Thoughts:

I gave this book 5 stars. It was a hell of a lot darker than the first one which you probably wouldn’t think is possible considering how dark the first one was. While the first book started off light and then became dark, this one was dark all the way through.

This is a very slow burning book, it jumps between three different timelines: Before, when Gordo and Mark were just kids, Wolfsong, which takes place during the period of time where Joe, Kelly, Carter, and Gordo are off on their own for three years, and then After, where things finally start to come together.

There is so much we learn in this book. There was a lot that we never got to know about Gordo and Mark’s relationship from the first book that we are now getting an in-depth explanation of. 

I felt like this was a very cohesive sequel. It flowed perfectly from where the first book left off. Even though the book was about different characters it had the similar feelings while still being different. It was much like when a song shifts to another tune but it’s still part of the same song. 

A question I never asked before but often think of is what are the author's plans for Carter? He seems to be the only “straight” Bennett brother. Or is he? I think we may have another book coming to us after the Kelly and Robbie one.

During the first book in this series, I really didn’t care for Robbie. I felt like he was latching onto Ox when I just wanted Ox to be latching onto Joe. However, during this book, I felt like he really got a personality. Robbie is no longer the nuisance I found him to be in the first book and is now a character that I love.

Man, we got rid of one villain just to have two more in his place. Two more enemies were introduced in this novel, meaning that if one enemy is defeated in each book we will have at least two more books after this one, one a known villain and another a surprise that I won’t spoil for you guys.

I wasn’t as die-hard about Mark and Gordo as I was about Joe and Ox, but I did really enjoy reading their story.

Overall, if you liked the first book then I would say you would probably like this second book. I think the first is still better though, but I think it is a matter of opinion. I think some people would find that they like this one more.

Books I Have Preordered

I was sitting here thinking to myself "What kind of post can I make that isn't just a repetition of everything else I've done?" and I realized that I recently preordered a whole bunch of books and thought, why not make a post about that? So if you're interested in seeing which books I have preordered right now then keep reading! Also, in case you're wondering I have them all preordered with Chapters Indigo.

Kingdom of Ash

I've been waiting years to finally read this book and obviously, I want to get my hands on it as soon as possible. Also, I know that with Sarah J. Maas books there is usually a cool preorder gift that you can apply for so if there is one for this book I definitely want to get in on it.

The Darkest Star

I didn't realize I wanted a book about Luc until Jennifer released all the information on it. It sounds so good and I can't wait to see what has become of all my favorite Lux characters after the end of the series. Also, I've heard rumors that Luc might even be better than Daemon which I don't think is possible, but I'm excited to see.

The Golden Tower

The final book in the Magisterium series and I am so pumped! All the books in this series have such beautiful hardcovers and I can't wait to have the full hardcover set. Also, I can't wait to see how it ends. 

Two Dark Reigns

I wanted the signed edition of this so I preordered it when I preordered The Golden Tower. I'm gonna have an aesthetically pleasing row of black hardcovers and I can't wait.

Queen of Air and Darkness

Do I need to explain this one? I'm gonna lose my mind because I still have to wait 4 months for this to come out. The only way I could keep myself from just dying was to preorder it.

Catwoman: Soulstealer

I have the first two books in this series and I wanted the third one. I thought I would be able to get the preorder gift for this one, but I don't live in the UK or US so I get nothing which is sad. However, all the books have cool little posters in the back so at least there's that.

The Reckoning of Noah Shaw

I got really excited when I saw some cool things on Michelle Hodkin's Instagram page. And I swooped in and ordered a signed copy because I love Mara and Noah. 

Do you guys have any books preordered? Would you be interested in a preorder giveaway?

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Top 5 Favorites That I Want to Revisit

Man, I have so many books on my plate I don't know when or if I will ever get to these books, but just know that I really do want to give them another read.

5. Clockwork Angel

I was doing a reread of all the Shadowhunter books a year or two ago and I just never got to this one. I read all of the Mortal Instruments books up until Heavenly Fire and then just got too busy with other things happening and never got to this one. Honestly, I miss my Will and I want to read about him again.

4. Throne of Glass

Surprisingly I’ve only read this series once and I think that’s kind of weird. I want to go back and see all of the small details that I maybe didn’t notice the first time through.

3. I’ll Give You the Sun

I only read this book once but that was probably the happiest I have ever been from reading a book. 

2. The Outsiders

I’ve read this one through a couple of times, but I haven’t read it in a few years and I want to give it another read.

1. The Sea of Tranquility

I haven’t read this book in years but it is definitely something I would love to revisit. It has one of the most heartfelt relationships and storylines that I’ve ever read and I want to see what else I can see reading it after all this time.

What are some books you guys would like to revisit?

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