king of scars – Story-eyed Reviews

For those of you who don’t know, which included me too until this week, there is a popular book tag out there that’s a bit of a tradition in the bookish community, The Mid-Year Freak Out Book Tag! This year, I’m participating, and to be honest I cannot believe half the year is already over! So many books, so little time…

I stole my questions this year from The Literary Phoenix. I loved reading her post and love her blog! Check her out.

And check out these questions! Let’s goooooo:

What is the best book that you’ve read so far in 2019?

Ohh boy. This was a tough one. I chose three.

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage
Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
The Noonday Demon by Andrew Solomon

What has been your favorite sequel of the first half of the year?

Gemina & Obsidio by Amie Kauffman and Jay Kristoff. I can’t believe it took me this long to discover The Illuminae Files! WOW this series was amazing. It’s YA Sci-Fi, but I would honestly recommend it to anyone who likes Sci-Fi, or anyone who likes fast-paced novels that read like you’re actually in the book. I could rave about this series for a long time.

Is there a new release out that you haven’t read yet but you’re really excited for?

Yes! Aurora Rising by Amie Kauffman and Jay Kristoff.

Haha on the note of my last answer, the same authors came out with a fourth book this year and I cannot wait to read it. It’s already been optioned for a movie and has stellar reviews. So excited.

What is your most anticipated release for the second half of the year?

See last week’s Top 10 Tuesday! There are so many!

What is your biggest disappointment so far?

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare — I’m sorry! I wanted to like this so badly because the series is so beloved in the YA world. I might check out one of her other series or try the sequel, everyone swears it gets better, but I wanted to love this immediately! Sigh. It happens. I tried.

What is your biggest surprise so far?

Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte.

I loved this!! I expected it to be relatively similar to a lot of other YA fantasies out right now, but Four Dead Queens surpassed my expectations. It was original, it was fun to read, it had like a hundred twists at the end and I didn’t see most of them coming, I was so pleased. Would definitely recommend. Look for a review of this title soon.

Who is your favorite new or “new” author?

Robin Benway, who is new to me, has blown me away this year. I read both of her books in the same month and blew through them both. Far From the Tree is one of my favorites of the year.

Who is your favorite fictional crush from this year?

I don’t really have one I feel crazy strong about, so I decided to answer a slightly different question: Who is your favorite fictional SHIP from this year?

And that, my friends, would be Wylan van Eck and Jesper Fahey from Crooked Kingdom. I squealed through that entire scene!! So cute.

Which book has made you cry?

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. This book made me feel…pretty much every human emotion, haha. I loved it so so much and it was so tragic and beautiful. I recommend this book to anyone, all the time, with all my heart. Just have tissues nearby. And maybe your therapist on call.

A book that made you happy?

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli. I enjoyed her debut novel, Simon and the Homosapiens Agenda, but I LOVED Leah on the Offbeat. This book felt like parts of my teen years, the feel and the spirirt of it, and I loved Leah’s surly, insecure, whole-hearted self. She and Abby are one of my favorite couples of the year!!! OTP

Your favorite book to movie/tv adaptation that you’ve seen so far?

Can I choose anything other than Good Omens by Neil Gaiman??

I reread the book this year and since the adaptation came out this year I’m going to count it. This show might be the best adaptation I’ve ever seen, when it comes to accurately capturing the spirit of a wonderful book. I loved every bit of it! Can’t wait for more.

What is your favorite post that you’ve written this year?

I really enjoyed writing both the reviews for Baby Teeth and The Unhoneymooners! I also love Top Ten Tuesdays.

Show us the most beautiful book that you’ve bought this year!

I have spent a lot of energy and patience this year trying to buy fewer books and borrow more, so I don’t have a book for this! A lot of them have been gorgeous but then I return them to the library and they go brighten someone else’s day for a while.

What are six books that you want to read by the end of the year?

There are WAY more than six, but here are a few.

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Snow Falling by Jane G. Villanueva (haha any more Jane the Virgin fans out there?? I have to read this)
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez
Educated by Tara Westover

Whew, that was in depth! That’s it for this year, and what a seriously fun year its been. And it’s been a month here at Story-eyed! I’m a little overwhelmed with how much I have to read right now, but more than anything I am so grateful for all of it.

Tag, you’re it next, @Jenniefromthebook! Have fun! ❤

Did you freak out this year? Send me your mid-year posts in the comments!

I’ve seen a lot of bookish memes and list ideas here on the book-blogging circuit, and I wish I could do all of them! One of my favorites has been a trend of bloggers posting their current reads on Wednesdays.

This week I’ll be taking inspiration from Taking On a World of Words, and trying out their “WWW Wednesday!”

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

What I’m currently reading:

Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte

I am almost finished with this one and I have enjoyed it SO much! The way this story is told is brilliant. This YA fantasy follows a world where each of the four countries on this continent is run by a queen…until all four of them are killed. The chaos, mystery, intrigue, and creativity in this book abounds. I love the way the author plays with technology and the use of timelines. I really could go on and on about this book right now. Definitely a fan.

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

Unlike Four Dead Queens, I only just started this one! This is one of the Books of the Month in my book club so I am trying to get it done before July! So far, I’m really liking it. This is my first foray into Schwab’s work but I know how beloved she is, so I’m excited. I’m ready for the rest of this spooky story!

What I’ve recently finished:

Roomies by Christina Lauren

I’ve been on such a Christina Lauren kick lately. This is book three in my unofficial marathon and I enjoyed it a lot. It’s probably my least favorite of the three I’ve read (this, Autoboyography, and The Unhoneymooners) but maybe only because I LOVED the other two more than I can describe. This was still so much fun! Definitely recommend for anyone who likes romance and contemporary.

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

I’d been reading a lot of romance and fantasy lately, I needed a good thriller. Whew! This was fun AND it was my first Karin Slaughter novel, an author who’s been recommended to me hundreds of times by people I know. I enjoyed it a lot! Pretty Girls was chilling, well-paced, and fascinating. I’ll definitely be looking into more of Slaughter’s work.

What I think I’ll read next:

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

I’ve been waiting to read this all month! I’m so excited haha. I couldn’t fit this one into my bingo/challenge/review schedule for June and I kept giving it the eye as it sat neglected on my bookshelf. It’s finally time! Muaahahaha

Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford

This is an ARC I received from Netgalley and I’m also participating in the blog tour for this title, which is great! Because I wanted to read it so badly! This was on my list of intriguing new releases, so I’m grateful and excited that I get to read this one early! Keep an eye out for my review and a GIVEAWAY of this title next month!

What are you reading? Tell me in the comments!