Skye's Scribblings: Seven Seas

Showing posts with label Seven Seas. Show all posts

Friday, October 23, 2020

The #FridayReads Review (10/23/20)

Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!

>> CURRENTLY READING <<

Servamp vol. 7 by Strike Tanaka (PBK)

Currently in the middle of bingeing the first 13 volumes of this series from the library. For a paranormal battle manga it hasn't been what I expected with its focus on emotional turmoil and very little actual battling, but I'm a sucker for "simple" protagonists and haunted immortal characters so I'm invested enough to read all volumes on hand.

>> JUST FINISHED <<

The Get To Principle by Ted Larkins (HBK)

3.5 Scribbles. "Get to" is such a simple and obvious mindset for a calmer and happier life yet most of us are mired in the miserable "Have tos" instead. I don't know if the concept needed an entire book - I must admit I skipped over a few chapters - but the chapters I read left me contemplative and inspired and I'm already feeling lighter by applying the "Have to/Get to" swap to my thoughts and actions. I'm glad this book caught my eye at the library.

>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

The Ancient Magus' Bride vol. 13 by Kore Yamazaki (PBK)

A new volume of this favorite series has finally released! I haven't been as enamored of the university arc, but with its fascinating world, intricate magic, and onion-layered characters I'm invested in this series until the very end.

So what are you reading this week?

Friday, October 16, 2020

The #FridayReads Review (10/16/20)

>> CURRENTLY READING <<

Snapdragon by Kat Leyh (PBK)

I've been excited by the surge in MG/YA graphic novels of late but haven't been keeping up with them as I should, so I only discovered Snapdragon last week. I just finished Part 1 of this diverse and currently contemporary story and am intrigued to find out in Part 2 if it's actually in fact magical realism...

>> JUST FINISHED <<

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket (HBK)

3 Scribbles. Re-read. I was feeling nostalgic (as I do in the fall) and randomly thought of this series again, so I picked up the first book from the library and found myself reading the entire thing in less than 3 hours. It was both what I remembered and not, unsettling yet playful but also surprisingly really simple as it barely hints at all the layers of dark secrets to come. I vaguely recall that I got a bit bored with the later books in the series and distinctly recall that I hated the last with its depressing end, but I couldn't help but put the second book on library hold and will be curious to see how far I end up diving into this disturbing children's series now that I've begun anew. Review to come.

>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

Servamp vol. 2 by Tanaka Strike (PBK)

The first volume was surprisingly good (if a little gory) with a unique premise and engaging characters - I couldn't believe I'd never heard of the series before now! I've put the rest of the released volumes on library hold (there are currently 13, I believe?) for a serious binge very soon.

So what are you reading this week?

Friday, October 9, 2020

The #FridayReads Review (10/9/20)

>> CURRENTLY READING <<

Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab (PBK)

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this ghostly MG series a few months ago (review) and once this sequel arrived I just couldn't hold off reading it in favor of more pressing titles. Just like City of Ghosts it is easy and engrossing with a chilling ghost story and lots of spooky atmosphere, and no surprise I'm already eager for the third book!

>> ON HOLD <<

The Language of Ghosts by Heather Fawcett (ARC)

The writing style was a lot thicker and the story a lot slower than I was expecting so I wasn't enjoying this as much as I'd hoped. I'm definitely still interested in reading it though, and plan to continue after Tunnel.

>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

Yokai Rental Shop by Shin Mashiba (PBK)

I was reminded of this series last week and discovering there are only four volumes, all released, I put them on library hold for an October binge. Possible review to come.

So what are you reading this week?

Friday, March 6, 2020

The #FridayReads Review (3/6/20)

>> CURRENTLY READING <<

Nosatsu Junkie vol. 5 by Ryoko Fukuyama (PBK)

I haven't felt much like fiction the past few weeks, so I've been reading a lot of non-fiction and manga. This romantic comedy about teen models - one of them a cross-dressing sadist, the other a timid but determined girl with a scary face who discovers his secret - is one of my favorite unfinished in the US (*SOB*) series by the author of the uber-popular Anonymous Noise. Hoping that means a US publisher will pick the series back up soon, because re-reading the first six volumes has reminded me just how fun and flirty and fantastic it is and I want to finish the story!!

>> JUST FINISHED <<

The Ancient Magus' Bride vol. 12 by Kore Yamazaki (PBK)

3 Stars. Surprisingly disappointed. Most of the volume was spent over-discussing emotions and not defining relationships. Luckily the last chapter returned to the magic and magical world I read for and I'm thankfully looking forward to the next volume.

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett (PBK)
3 Stars. This was an interesting look at the world of book collecting from a different perspective than the typical bibliophile, but it would've been better as a short series of articles than an entire rambling book. Review to come.

>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

Honor Lost by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre (HBK)

After LOVING the first book (review), I wasn't as impressed with the second (review) and barely recall what happened in it. But my library hold came in so I'll at least give it a try.

So what are you reading this week?

Friday, February 28, 2020

The #FridayReads Review (2/28/20)

>> CURRENTLY READING <<

Everything Isn't Terrible: Conquer Your Insecurities, Interrupt Your Anxiety, and Finally Calm Down

Everything Isn't Terrible by Dr. Kathleen Smith (HBK)

A quick and easy to understand self-help about dealing with anxiety by getting a better handle on your relationships (family, friends, dating, work, etc.). I'd actually started unconsciously working on this already, but it's been nice to have it explained out and get some helpful hints and tips.

>> JUST FINISHED <<

Something from the Nightside (Nightside, #1)

Something from the Nightside by Simon R. Green (MMP)

3 Stars. 2/20 Re-read. A darkly imaginative but heavily commentative adventure that covers a lot of genres, from urban/contemporary fantasy with both supernatural and paranormal elements, to hardboiled and noir mystery, as well as monster and survival horror. The long-winded dialogue was unrealistic, but overall it was better written than I originally remembered. Looking forward to re-reading more in the series soon.

>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

The Ancient Magus' Bride vol. 12 by Kore Yamazaki (PBK)

A new volume in this favorite series just released! Expecting my copy this weekend, and brushing up on the previous volume to prepare.

So what are you reading this week?

Friday, October 4, 2019

The #FridayReads Review (10/4/19)

>> CURRENTLY READING <<

The Atlas of Happiness: The Global Secrets of How to Be Happy

The Atlas of Happiness by Helen Russell (HBK)

Randomly grabbed this from the library new books shelf and I've been thoroughly enjoying it! I love reading about how different countries relax and enjoy themselves while at the same time getting a glimpse into how they live their lives. Fascinating.

The Mediator: Twilight by Meg Cabot (PBK)

I finally hit my limit with Paul and have been struggling a little with this final book. Still planning to finish and finally read Book 7, but compared to the rest of the series it's been slow going, especially with better non-fiction and manga to read.

>> JUST FINISHED <<

The Ancient Magus' Bride vol. 11 by Kore Yamazaki (PBK)

4 Stars. A lot of infodumping as the world continues to expand and get ever more complicated, but I'm really enjoying the new school characters! Looking forward to the next volume.

>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

The Mediator: Remembrance by Meg Cabot (PBK)

I'll be interested to see how Meg picked the series back up in their adult years.

So what are you reading this week?

Friday, August 30, 2019

The #FridayReads Review (8/30/19)

>> CURRENTLY READING <<

The Ancient Magus' Bride, Vol. 2 (The Ancient Magus' Bride, #2)

Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine (PBK)

I couldn't settle on a novel to read so I decided to continue this series before I forgot absolutely everything that happened in the first book (it was a close call). While the writing is solid and I'm definitely invested, the constant thick tension strains my nerves so the second half has been slow going as I've taken multiple breathers to decompress. Will definitely be finishing though, and currently don't see why I won't continue the series at a later date.

The Ancient Magus' Bride vol. 2 by Kore Yamazaki (PBK)

I was in desperate need of magic so I decided it was finally time to re-read the first 10 volumes before the 11th releases next month. It is proving the breath of fresh air I needed from Paper and Fire and even better than I remember as I'm reading slower and noticing more of the nuances than before. Look for a Volumes 1-9 review to come soon!

>> JUST FINISHED <<

Love in Focus vol. 2 by Yoko Nogiri (PBK)

3 Stars. The love triangle comes into focus for the previously oblivious main girl. I'm interested and invested enough to give the next volume a read.

>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

The Water Dragon's Bride vol. 9 by Rei Toma (PBK)

Discovered I have several manga series from the library I need to catch up on including Water Dragon's Bride, Anonymous Noise, Queen's Quality, and Royal Tutor, so I put them all on hold last week. There is now a large stack of manga in my immediate future and I'm excited to binge it soon!

So what are you reading this week?

Saturday, January 6, 2018

2017 End of Year Book Survey

It's time for the 2017 End of Year Book Survey hosted by The Perpetual Page-Turner!

Number Of Books You Read: 170
Number of Re-Reads: 6 novels
Genre You Read The Most From: YA Fantasy

1. Best Book You Read In 2017?

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

SCIENCE FICTION: Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre
FANTASY: The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye (review)
CONTEMP/HISTOR: Murder, Magic, & What We Wore by Kelly Jones (review)
NON-FICTION: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
MANGA: The Ancient Magus' Bride vol. 6 by Kore Yamazaki

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Starfall by Melissa Landers (review)

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

Good: Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller (review)

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

Murder, Magic, and What We Wore by Kelly Jones (review)

5. Best series you started in 2017? Best Sequel of 2017? Best Series Ender of 2017?

STARTED: The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye (review)
SEQUEL: A Poison Dark & Drowning by Jessica Cluess (review)
ENDER: Kamisama Kiss vol. 25 by Julietta Suzuki

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2017?

A. Lee Martinez (via The Last Adventure of Constance Verity)

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller (review)

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

Nyxia by Scott Reintgen

9. Book You Read In 2017 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2017?

Roar by Cora Carmack

11. Most memorable character of 2017?

Nadim from Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2017?

The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye (review)

13. Most Thought-Provoking/Life-Changing Book of 2017?

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2017 to finally read?

Top Ten Clues You're Clueless by Liz Czukas

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2017?

I didn't mark any this year (I'm so bad about quotes)...

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2017?

SHORTEST: Explorer: The Mystery Boxes by Kazu Kibuishi
LONGEST: Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (re-read)

17. Book That Shocked You The Most (Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)

A Poison Dark & Drowning by Jessica Cluess (review)

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!) (OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar)

Zadim from Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Zadim from Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2017 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray (review)

21. Best Book You Read In 2017 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller (review)

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2017?

Abel from Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray (review)

23. Best 2017 debut you read?

Nyxia by Scott Reintgen

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye (review)

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight vol. 1 by Rin Mikimoto

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2017?

Kamisama Kiss vol. 25 by Julietta Suzuki

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Murder, Magic, and What We Wore by Kelly Jones (review)

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

A Poison Dark & Drowning by Jessica Cluess (review)

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2017?

Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2017 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2018?

Pitch Dark by Courtney Alameda

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2018 (non-debut)?

Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston

3. 2018 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

Ink, Iron, and Glass by Gwendolyn Clare

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2018?

Defy the Worlds by Claudia Gray

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading Life In 2018?

Read more backlog!

6. A 2018 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre

* * *

And that's it! Did you read any of these? What did you think of them? And if you filled out the survey as well, leave a link to your post in the comments below!