Mel's Feb to June 2017 Book Haul

So these book hauls have really gotten away from me lately, mostly due to the worstening condition of my laptop. It's getting slower and slower almost everytime I boot it up, and processing photos is taking longer and longer to do, assuming I have the patience with the computer to bother. Posting here is bad enough! Anyway, I'm going to stick to doing text only hauls for a while, until I finally fix my laptop (I'm in the process of building a powerful PC, but that's going to take a while).

I don't remember which months I actually bought these books (except June), so I'm not listing them by month, but I am roughly listing them in the order I think I bought them in. I did scavenge a few books from my sister too, which I'll give their own section at the end.


Frost Blood by Elly Blake
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken
Cradle and All by James Patterson
The Bronze Key by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black
Valentine by Jodi McAlister
The Last Beginning by Lauren James
Zoo by James Patterson
Dawn Study by Maria V Snyder
Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton
Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly
Splintered by AG Howard
Unhinged by AG Howard
Untamed by AG Howard
The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows
The Mirror King by Jodi Meadows
Inuyasha Omnibus Edition Volume 1 & 2 by Rumiko Takahashi
Crystal Storm by Morgan Rhodes
Fruits Basket Collector's Edition Volumes 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 & 12 by Natsuki Takaya
As Old As Time by Liz Braswell
Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse
The Bone Collection by Kathy Reichs
Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray
The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi
Pride and Prejiduce and Zombies by Jane Austin and Seth Grahame-Smith
The Width of the World by David Baldacci
Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer
Pocket Hong Kong by Lonely Planet
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes word cloud edition by Arthur Conan Doyle
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas
A Court of Thorns and Roses Colouring Book
Release by Patrick Ness
The Silent Invasion by James Bradley
Geek Girl All Wrapped Up by Holly Smale
Geek Girl Sunny Side Up by Holly Smale
Geek Girl Forever Geek by Holly Smale
Legion by Julie Kagawa
Akarnae by Lynette Noni
Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare
Vigilante by Kady Cross
The Possible by Tara Altebrando
The Black Witch by Laurie Forest
A #Love Oz YA Anthology edited by Danielle Binks
York: The Shadow Cipher by Lauren Ruby
Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde
Beyond the Wall by Tanya Landman

I've likely missed a few, but that's still quite a daunting list!
The following books are the books I claimed from my sister's unhaul.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer:
Halloween Rain by Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder
Coyote Moon by John Vornholt
Night of the Living Rerun by Arthur Byron Cover
Deep Water by Laura Anne Gilman and Josepha Sherman
Blooded by Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder
These Our Actors by Ashley McConnell and Dori Koogler

Angel:
Nemesis by Scott and Denise Ciencin

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by CS Lewis
The Ghosts of Ravens Crag by Hugh Scott
Quest by David Skipper
Dragonsbane by Patricia C Wrede
Dawnspell - The Bristling Wood by Katherine Kerr
The Shining Ones by David Eddings
The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

I also got one book from a friend.

Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

June 2017 Wrap Up

Jen

I feel like I got a decent amount of reading done in June. I’m pleased that I’m now closer to finishing a few series and I discovered a new favourite book and author of mine!

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick → 4.5/5

In The Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken → 3.5/5

Raelia by Lynette Noni → 4/5

Cress by Marissa Meyer → 5/5

Fairest by Marissa Meyer → 2/5

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys → 5/5

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry → 5/5

Bakuman Volume 5 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata → 4/5

Bakuman Volume 6 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata → 5/5

Bakuman Volume 7 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata → 4.5/5

Bakuman Volume 8 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata → 4/5

Bakuman Volume 9 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata → 4.5/5

Bakuman Volume 10 by Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata → 4/5

Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow → Did Not Finish 

Mel
I read bits and pieces of several books in June, but only finished one, so this is an extremely short wrap up for me!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Halloween Rain by Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder  3/5 

 

Jen's Anticipated Reads of 2017

So this is a post that should’ve happened way back at the start of the year, but it just never did. It’s now half way through the year and I still want to make a post about my anticipated books so here we go. Quite a lot of these books have now been released, but I’m just going to leave them in my list anyway because I was so excited about these books and that hasn’t changed even now.

I actually think that my list is pretty limited this year. As I am really trying to reign in my wild book buying ways in 2017, I tried to keep this list only to books that I’m absolutely dying to get my hands on. That means that the vast majority of the books in this list are final books in either a duology or a trilogy! Some of the books that I most want to read have release dates that are still pretty far away, but at least the wait has been lessened by six months now. *Sigh*

Also, I posted a progress update on my most anticipated releases of 2016 (way back at the start of the year) and I was surprised to discover that out of a rather long list, I had only managed to read two of the books. It was quite an eye opener for me and I really want to try and read more of the new releases that I’m super keen for in 2017. Limiting my list as I mentioned above should definitely help with that!

Long May She Reign by Rhiannon Thomas

The synopsis sounds great and it’s a standalone fantasy. These are so rare to come across and I wish there were more standalone fantasies because I would love to be able to just dive into a fantasy book without having to commit to a long series. Also, because I hate starting a series when not all the books have been released, I always seem to have to wait forever for that series to be completed! And I am by no means a patient person.

 

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

This is a realistic contemporary that was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. It is a topic that is so relevant and extremely important in today’s world and I immediately wanted to read it as soon as I heard about it. (Since this post is going up much, much later than initially intended, this book is out now but I am still so looking forward to reading it.) 

   

 

Always and Forever, Lara Jean (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before #3) by Jenny Han

I have to be honest that when I first heard about this book, I was not happy at all. I thought that these books worked well as a duology (and so did the author originally!). I was upset and angry and I was actually dreading this book because I hated the thought of my ship being messed with! Not gonna lie, I searched for some early reviews and actually went looking for spoilers about the love triangle because if it didn’t end how it was supposed to, then I would’ve just pretended that this book never existed. Thankfully, it all worked out how it was supposed to and I could finally let myself be excited for some Jenny Han greatness because it had been a long time indeed since she last came out with a new book.

Wreck by Fleur Ferris

I actually don’t even know what this book is about but it’s on this list because of the author. Fleur Ferris is an Australian YA author who I think should receive a lot more recognition than she does. Her books are very quick reads and the writing style completely pulls me into the story. Her first two books, Risk and Black were phenomenal and I can’t wait to get my hands on Wreck.

There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

I read the Anna, Lola and Isla companion series a couple of years ago now and I absolutely loved Anna and the French Kiss and Isla and the Happily Ever After. However, I hated Lola and the Boy Next Door. Despite my very mixed feelings on that series, I loved the writing style and I’ve been wanting a new book from her for a while now. Horror generally isn’t really my thing, but what I do love about this book is that Stephanie herself has said that it will be a realistic novel with human characters and nothing paranormal. That makes me so excited because if there’s one thing that I hate, it’s when a book is marketed as realistic fiction and some paranormal aspects creep into the story.

 

 

Wayfarer (Passenger #2) by Alexandra Bracken

I received Passenger in a YA Chronicles box a year ago but I held off on reading it until the sequel had been released. That time has finally come and I want to read this duology soon because it just sounds amazing. (As this post is going up much later than expected, this book has already come out and it looks amazing sitting on my shelf next to Passenger. Now to actually getting around to reading it…)

 

Lord of Shadows (The Dark Artifices #2) by Cassandra Clare

Lady Midnight was one of my most anticipated releases of 2016 and while I somehow still have not gotten around to reading it yet, I’m super excited for the sequel! What I’m not so excited for however, is the long wait for The Queen of Air and Darkness, the third and final book in this trilogy to come out.

 

A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses #3) by Sarah J. Maas

I know that more books have been announced in this series, but apparently this is the conclusion to this trilogy and the remaining books are a spin-off. I’m super glad that is the case because I have been dying to start this series since ACOTAR came out and I just couldn’t wait any longer! I have actually read ACOTAR and ACOMAF now and I hate to say it, but those did not live up to all the hype for me. That dropped the excitement level of ACOWAR for me but I still want to read it and finish up the trilogy.  

 

Immortal Reign (Falling Kingdoms #6) by Morgan Rhodes

Again, I broke my rules with this series and actually read the first two books. I loved them so much and just those two books were enough to earn this series a place in my favourites. I wanted to continue on but unfortunately I was forced to stop when I couldn’t get my hands on a copy of the third book. I moved onto other books and forced myself to wait for the final book to be published so I could marathon the series when it was finally complete. That was way back when only the first three books were out so it has been (and continues to be) a very, very long wait indeed.  

*Disappointing news*

The untitled sixth (now seventh) Throne of Glass book by Sarah J. Maas was originally on this list (when I wrote it way back in January), but it has since been announced that this book has been pushed back to 2018 and the novella about Chaol has been turned into a full length book instead. I was so sad when I heard that this was happening because Chaol would have to be one of my least favourite characters.

The Throne of Glass series is absolutely phenomenal and the insane hype about it actually made me break my rule of not starting a series unless it has been completed. However, the books just kept getting better with each one and it became one of my all time favourite series. But the ending of Empire of Storms absolutely killed me and now thanks to this Chaol book the excruciating wait for the final book has been stretched out even further. Not happy!

*More disappointing news*

Obsidio, the third (and I think final) book in the Illuminae Files trilogy by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff was originally on this list, but I have since discovered that the release date has been pushed back until 2018. This is yet another series where there was crazy hype surrounding it and I just couldn’t stop myself. I read Illuminae when it first came out and it was a long, painful wait for Gemina. I read Gemina when it was released and began yet another long and painful wait for the third and final book. I loved everything about these books and this is also another favourite series of mine, but the waiting in between books is the worst! Especially now that the wait has been dragged out even longer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 2017 TBR

Jen

This is a completely ridiculous TBR and I won’t get anywhere close to reading all these books (unless I somehow gain speed reading as a superpower), but I’m just in the mood where I want to read everything. I can’t narrow my choices down so I’m not going to and I’ll just see what I feel like picking up at the time.

Series I Want to Continue/Finish  

In The Afterlight (The Darkest Minds #3) by Alexandra Bracken

This book has been on my TBR for the past few months and I’m sick of seeing it there. My problem has been that I’m just never in the mood for it, but I actually picked it up towards the end of May and got through a decent chunk of it. I’m interested enough in the story now so I’ll definitely be aiming to finish it as soon as possible in June.

Through The Dark by Alexandra Bracken

I’ve already read the first two novellas in this collection, so I actually only have the last one, Beyond The Night, left to read. The plan is to move onto this as soon as I finish In The Afterlight. I cannot even express how excited I am to finally complete this series so that I can move onto other books!

Raelia (The Medoran Chronicles #2) & Draekora (#3) by Lynette Noni

I started reading this series in May and am absolutely loving it! They are such quick reads and every time I start reading I just don’t want to stop. I am over halfway through Raelia and I’d love to finish it and move right onto Draekora.

Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) & Fairest (#3.5) by Marissa Meyer

I read the first two books in May and I’m just loving this series. I’ve heard that the books just keep getting better and I would love to actually finish this series this month. Probably an unrealistic goal (especially with the size of Winter!) so I’ll just settle for these two.

Picture Perfect (Geek Girl #3) & All That Glitters (#4) by Holly Smale

I’m really enjoying this series and I’m excited to continue on with it, but I still have four books and a novella left to go and with everything else that I want to read, I seriously doubt that it will be possible to finish this entire series this month. I’ll be happy if I can just read one book. Two, if I’m lucky.

Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson & Robin Wasserman

I’ve actually already read this collection of novellas but it was over a year ago so I don’t remember too much. I really enjoyed them though and I would love to read them again just to get me back into the Shadowhunter world before I tackle Lady Midnight and Lord of Shadows. 


Series I Want to Start 

The Search for Wondla (#1) by Tony DiTerlizzi

I visited the Hong Kong Central Library again and I saw this sitting on the shelf there and suddenly wanted to read it. I’ve actually already started this one and it’s pretty good so far!

The Eye of Minds (The Mortality Doctrine #1) by James Dashner

I only just bought these books! I was browsing the bookshop and I saw the entire trilogy sitting there so I snapped them up. (A bonus was the 20% discount for buying three or more books!) This was actually a series that I had been highly anticipating a couple of years ago but I just never got around to it until now. I’m really looking forward to at least starting the series in June.

And now here’s just a bunch of other random standalone books that I’ve been wanting to read for a while now. They’re mostly contemporary with a couple of mystery/thrillers thrown in, and it's a good mix of newer releases and older ones that I just haven't gotten to yet. I have quite a selection of unread ones to choose from so I’ll just list the ones that I most want to read here and let my mood dictate me.

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

On The Fence by Kasie West

Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith

Can You Keep A Secret? by Sophie Kinsella 
Everything Leads To You by Nina LaCour

Something in Between by Melissa de la Cruz

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed

Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

The Takedown by Corrie Wang

The Messenger by Markus Zusak

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas 

 

Mel
I have absolutely no idea what I'm in the mood to read this month! My contemporary kick is well and truly over, so I can't imagine I'll be reading too many of those this month. I'm definitely in the mood for fantasy though, so I'll list a few books that I'm interested in getting to, but there's no guarantee that I'll read all of them. I'm sort of in the mood for some thrillers too. Eh, I'll just start listing books, shall I?

The Black Witch by Laurie Forest
The Bone Collection by Kathy Reichs
The Possible by Tara Altebrando
Akarnae by Lynette Noni
Vigilante by Kady Cross
The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Defy The Stars by Claudia Gray
Geek Girl All That Glitters by Holly Smale

May 2017 Wrap Up

Jen

Looking at this list, I’m actually pretty surprised that I managed to read the amount that I did in May. I haven’t read this much for what seems like quite a few months now, but it helped that there were quite a few short-ish easy reads that I just flew through. I read a few books that I had been wanting to get to for a long time, discovered some great new books and also read a few from my TBR so overall I’m super happy with what I read for the month.

Soundless by Richelle Mead → 5/5

All Wrapped Up (Geek Girl #1.5) by Holly Smale → 4/5

Model Misfit (Geek Girl #2) by Holly Smale → 4/5

Geek Drama (Geek Girl #2.5) by Holly Smale → 3/5

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher → 4/5

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West → 4/5

Always and Forever, Lara Jean (#3) by Jenny Han → 5/5

The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith → 3.5/5

A Court of Mist and Fury (ACOTAR #2) by Sarah J. Maas → 3.5/5

Gravity (The Taking #1) by Melissa West → 4.5/5

Hover (The Taking #2) by Melissa West → 4/5

Collide (The Taking #3) by Melissa West → 4.5/5

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer → 5/5

Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer → 4.5/5

Akarnae (The Medoran Chronicles #1) by Lynette Noni → 4.5/5

Fullmetal Alchemist (3-in-1 Edition), Volume 6 by Hiromu Arakawa → 4/5

The Hogwarts Collection by J.K. Rowling

- Short Stories From Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies → 5/5

- Short Stories From Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists → 5/5

- Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide → 5/5 

Mel 

I definitely didn't finish as many books as I'd hoped, but I did start several books that didn't really hold my interest at the time. Still, this wasn't a bad effort!

Fruits Basket Collector's Edition Volume 12 by Natsuki Takaya  5/5
Geek Girl All Wrapped Up by Holly Smale  4/5
Geek Girl Model Misfit by Holly Smale  4/5
Geek Girl Picture Perfect by Holly Smale  4/5
Beauty and the Beast Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly  4/5