October 2018 TBR

Jen

There’s a few thrillers on this list that have actually been on previous TBRs but I wasn’t in the mood for them then. I think that October has put me in a thriller and maybe a darker contemporary kind of reading mood so I’m going with it and giving myself plenty of options to choose from!

However the highest priority will be the Throne of Glass series. I’m behind on my re-read and I’m still hoping I can get caught up in time for this month’s release of Kingdom of Ash!!! I’ve waited years for the final book in the Throne of Glass series and I’m dying to know how this epic series will end!!

In Too Deep by Samantha Hayes

He Will Be My Ruin by K.A. Tucker

Bonfire by Krysten Ritter

Dangerous Lies by Becca Fitzpatrick

The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer

A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

I Was Here by Gayle Forman

Series to continue

One with You  (Crossfire #5) by Sylvia Day

Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2) by Katie McGarry

Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J. Maas

Empire of Storms (#5) by Sarah J. Maas

Tower of Dawn (#6) by Sarah J. Maas

Kingdom of Ash (#7) by Sarah J. Maas

Mel
I'm still kind of slumpy, but I'm going to try to get through at least 2 audiobooks this month. There are a few other books I want to get to, but that's definitely going to depend on if I'm in the mood to read. I think half of my slump has got to do with some ongoing personal issues that are stressing me out, but hopefully those will be done with soon. 

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han (audiobook)
Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han (audiobook)

And if I'm in the mood to read a physical book:
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

October 2016 Wrap Up

Jen

October seemed to be a pretty mixed month for me. I read some pretty average books but there were some fantastic books as well. I also made some good progress on my currently reading series. I didn't end up sticking too closely to my TBR and the themed books that I wanted to read in October, but I'm okay with that!

The Tin Woodman of Oz (Oz #12) by L. Frank Baum → 3/5

Sex Criminals Volume One: One Weird Trick by Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarsky → 4/5

Sex Criminals Volume Two: Two Worlds, One Cop by Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarsky → 3/5

Sex Criminals Volume Three: Three The Hard Way by Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarsky → 3/5

Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia #4) by C.S. Lewis → 3.5/5

Finale (Hush, Hush #4) by Becca Fitzpatrick → 2/5

Anne of Windy Poplars (Anne of Green Gables #4) by L.M. Montgomery → 3/5

Frayed by Kara Terzis → 4/5

Trick by Natalia Jaster → 4.5/5

The House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus #4) by Rick Riordan → 4.75/5

No Virgin by Anne Cassidy → 3/5

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (#1) by Ransom Riggs → 2.5/5

Hollow City (Miss Peregrine’s #2) by Ransom Riggs → 3/5

Gemina (The Illuminae Files #2) by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff → 5/5

Gemina in particular deserves a special mention because I have been eagerly anticipating reading that book since I first read Illuminae almost a year ago and it was definitely my favourite book for the month! 

Mel
I definitely didn't end up sticking to my goal of as many Goosebumps books as possible. I only read one and it wasn't even part of the Goosebumpsalong! Oh well. I did have a big slump, so audiobooks helped there, but I did manage to squeeze in a few books at the last minute.

Welcome To Dead House by RL Stine → 3/5
Doctor Who: The Runaway Train by Oli Smith → 3/5
Doctor Who: The Ring of Steel by Stephen Cole → 3/5
Doctor Who: The Jade Pyramid by Martin Day → 4/5
Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff → 5/5
Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven → 4/5
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling → 4/5

October 2016 TBR

Jen

Mel had the idea of having a themed month for October. It’s not strict, but I liked the idea of reading some spooky/creepy/paranormal/thriller books during this month, so I have decided to split up my TBR into two parts. The first part being the themed books.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

Finale (Hush, Hush #4) by Becca Fitzpatrick

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (#1) by Ransom Riggs

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

In Too Deep by Samantha Hayes
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

If I manage to finish those, or I just feel like something different, the second part of my TBR consists of the many series that I am STILL trying to complete.

The House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus #4) by Rick Riordan

Prince Caspian (Narnia #4) by C.S. Lewis

The Tin Woodman of Oz (Oz #12) by L. Frank Baum

Anne of Windy Poplars (Anne of Green Gables #4) by L.M. Montgomery

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (#5) by J.K. Rowling 

Mel
This month I'll be participating in Richard Denney's (Books & Bullshit on YouTube) Goosebumpsalong! The way it works is Richard had chosen 3 Goosebumps books to read throughout October, which equates to a book per week between the dates he's chosen (Oct 3 - Oct 21), then watching the corresponding Goosebumps episodes. So the three books he chose were:

The Headless Ghost
The Haunted Mask
The Ghost Next Door

In addition to these 3 books, I'll be reading as many of the original Goosebumps books as possible! I'll hopefully be reading one book per day, but more if I can manage it/I'm in the mood for more.

Of course, I might wish to take a break from these, so I might throw in the possibility of other books, I just don't have any set for the month. I will try to keep within the theme for the month though!

September 2016 Wrap Up

Jen

This is a fairly small wrap up for me and looking at it makes me think that I didn’t read many books at all. I need to keep reminding myself that most of these books were huge chunkers! Also, all the books were ones I’ve been wanting/needing to read so I’m super happy in that regard.

Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J. Maas → 5/5

Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5) by Sarah J. Maas → 5/5

The Problem With Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout → 4.5/5

Rinkitink in Oz (Oz #10) by L. Frank Baum → 3/5

The Lost Princess of Oz (Oz #11) by L. Frank Baum → 3/5

Crescendo (Hush, Hush #2) by Becca Fitzpatrick → 3/5

Silence (Hush, Hush #3) by Becca Fitzpatrick → 3.5/5

The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus #3) by Rick Riordan → 4.5/5 

Mel
I read way less than I thought I would in September, but I should be making up for that in October!

4001 A.D. by Matt Kindt → 3/5
Angel: Cordelia (Angel comic #17) by Christopher Golden → 3/5
Empire of Storms by Sarah J Maas → 5/5
Persona 3 by Shuji Sogabe → 3/5
A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty → 4/5

I also DNF one book.
Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs → 1/5

I'll just watch the movie ;-)

Review: Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

Publication: October 7th 2014 by Simon & Schuster

Source: Purchased

Goodreads description:

Britt Phieffer has never been that adventurous, but that's about to change. Wanting to impress her ex-boyfriend, Britt convinces best friend, Korbie, to take a trip with her and go trekking through the Grand Teton Mountains in Wyoming. But when a freak storm leaves the girls stranded they seek shelter in a cabin, and find two knights in shining armour, Shaun and Mason, who are also hiding out.

But all is not as it seems, and Britt quickly discovers that the guys are there for reasons other than hiking…dangerous reasons that mean they need to get off the mountain, fast. In exchange for her life, Britt is forced to guide them down, and as they set out on a harrowing journey through the cold and snow, Britt realises the only way to get out of this alive is to pretend she is on their side.

But playing nice is hard, especially when Britt is unsure whether Mason, gorgeous and sexy, is the enemy or an ally. And as she begins to lose track of who is in control it is only a matter of time before things turn deadly…

---

This was a book that I kept putting off reading because I hadn't heard the greatest things about it. However the synopsis did grab my attention and kept me interested in reading it. I went into it not expecting too much and while the book wasn't particularly spectacular, I did really enjoy it. I loved the setting and the author did an excellent job of creating the terrifying situation where if the psychopathic murderer doesn't kill you, then the harsh and unforgiving weather will get you instead.

The plot was fairly predictable and I had the plot twists worked out well before they were revealed. However I liked the mystery and suspense and the way that the author still managed to make me second guess myself at times. There were points where the book felt like it was dragging but it was still captivating enough that I didn't want to put the book down because I needed to know what was going to happen next and if my suspicions were correct.

I wasn't really a fan of the characters either. The main character Britt was likeable enough, and I really admired her survival instincts but she just did and said some stupid things at times which was frustrating.

The romance aspect also could have been handled better so that it was more believable. While I was okay with the epilogue and how things ended, the romance was just one of the most ridiculous instances of instalove that I have read.

Not everything about the plot was entirely believable and there were some unanswered questions I had at the end, but overall I really enjoyed this book and I gave it a 4/5 rating. Pick this one up if you’re looking for a good YA mystery thriller.