How do you #SpellTheMonthInBooks?
Hello, everyone!
So glad to be here with my latest addition of SpelltheMonth!
This time I chose to go with what ‘I Have Read,’ adding a quote from each book, and a few of my own opinions.. Followed by a second ‘I Wish I Were Reading‘ book from my TBR. And, since I’m still playing catch up, it may not be until next year before I can get to some of these.. but I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed!
Let’s get started, shall we?
The Rules:
- As implied.. the goal is to use the first letter in the title of books you’ve either read or have on your TBR. They can be physical or virtual, skipping such words like A, An, and The, to spell out the current month.
- A theme is supplied every month but following it is entirely up to you.
- Once you have your stack.. you can join the linkup! You can do this by creating a post and adding your link to the linkup at the bottom of Review from the Stacks page or by sharing your link in a comment.
- The linkup remains open for the duration of the month so.. there’s no need to rush but, as always, feel free to join!
(Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Any purchases made through my links may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you.)
J
Justice Calling by Annie Bellet – Have read
Publication date: July 2014
Pages: 152
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy fiction, Paranormal Romance, Contemporary fantasy
Series: Book 1 of 10: The Twenty-Sided Sorceress
Gamer. Nerd. Sorceress.
Jade Crow lives a quiet life running her comic book and game store in Wylde, Idaho. After twenty-five years fleeing from a powerful sorcerer who wants to eat her heart and take her powers, quiet suits her just fine. Surrounded by friends who are even less human than she is, Jade figures she’s finally safe.
As long as she doesn’t use her magic.
When dark powers threaten her friends’ lives, a sexy shape-shifter enforcer shows up. He’s the shifter world’s judge, jury, and executioner rolled into one, and he thinks Jade is to blame. To clear her name, save her friends, and stop the villain, she’ll have to use her wits… and her sorceress powers.
Except Jade knows that as soon as she does, a far deadlier nemesis awaits.
Life-changing moments are sneaky little bastards. Often we don’t even know that nothing will ever be the same until long after, and only in hindsight can we look and say, “There! That was it! That changed everything.”
Justice Calling
I loved this series, it wasn’t perfect, but it was one heck of an entertaining read! The characters and the situations they get into make for such a great reading experience! For urban fantasy, paranormal romance fans. It gets extra points for making the protagonist a female nerd.. they’re so rare.
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri – TBR
Publication date: June 2021
Pages: 585
Genre: Fantasy fiction, High fantasy, Historical fantasy, LGBTQ+
Series: Book 1 of 1: The Burning Kingdoms
A ruthless princess and a powerful priestess come together to rewrite the fate of an empire in this “fiercely and unapologetically feminist tale of endurance and revolution set against a gorgeous, unique magical world” (S. A. Chakraborty).
Exiled by her despotic brother, princess Malini spends her days dreaming of vengeance while imprisoned in the Hirana: an ancient cliffside temple that was once the revered source of the magical deathless waters but is now little more than a decaying ruin.
The secrets of the Hirana call to Priya. But in order to keep the truth of her past safely hidden, she works as a servant in the loathed regent’s household, biting her tongue and cleaning Malini’s chambers.
But when Malini witnesses Priya’s true nature, their destinies become irrevocably tangled. One is a ruthless princess seeking to steal a throne. The other a powerful priestess seeking to save her family. Together, they will set an empire ablaze.
U
Under Different Stars by Amy A. Bartol – Have read
Publication date: December 2014
Pages: 317
Genre: Young adult, Science fiction, Fantasy fiction, Romance
Series: Book 1 of 3: The Kricket Series
Kricket Hollowell never wished upon stars. She was too busy hiding in plain sight, eluding Chicago’s foster care system. As her eighteenth birthday approaches, she now eagerly anticipates the day she’ll stop running and finally find her place in the world.
That day comes when she meets a young Etharian soldier named Trey Allairis, who has been charged with coming to Earth to find Kricket and transport her to her true home. As danger draws close, he must protect her until she can wield the powers she cannot use on Earth…and he soon realizes that counting a galaxy of stars would be easier than losing this extraordinary girl.
Kyon knows the powerful depths of Kricket’s gifts—gifts he’ll control when he takes her for his tribe and leads the forces that will claim Ethar and destroy his enemies, starting with Trey Allairis. Now, Kricket faces the most difficult choice of her life: whether to wage a battle for survival or a fight for love.
It’s when the crickets stop singing that you know the enemy is near and the battle is about to begin.
Under Different Stars
I’m not sure this series would get as much love if I read it now, as opposed to when I did read it, but it has so much to offer. Let’s call it a young adult, psychic, space romance. It’s quite an unusual, but interesting, read. I will warn you that this is absolutely a YA Romance so.. if that’s not something you would normally enjoy, you won’t like this book.
Unwritten by Alicia J. Novo – TBR
Publication date: May 2021
Pages: 365
Genre: Novel, Young adult fiction, Fantasy fiction, Coming-of-age story
Series: Book 1 of 1: The Zweeshen Chronicles
Books whisper to Beatrix Alba. But they aren’t the reason she has never fit in. Bullied at home and school, she keeps a secret—a power of violence and darkness.
When the spell that keeps her hidden fails, she’s catapulted into the Zweeshen, a realm where all tales live, and her dream of meeting her favorite characters comes true. But wishes are tricky, and behind its wonder and whimsy, the Zweeshen is under attack.
A character is burning book worlds in pursuit of a weapon to rule both stories and storytellers. To succeed, he needs a riddle in Beatrix’s keeping. Now he’s hunting her down.
Joining forces with William, a cursed conjurer, Beatrix must face an enemy who knows her every weakness in a realm where witches play with time, Egyptian gods roam, and Regency heroines lead covert operations. And with her darkness as the only weapon, she may have to sacrifice everything to save a world that rejects her.
L
Legend by Marie Lu – Have read
Publication date: November 2011
Pages: 318
Genre: Novel, Young adult fiction, Science fiction, Weird fiction, Dystopian
Series: Book 1 of 4: Legend
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Young Elites
What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.
From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths – until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.
The boy who walks in the light. The girl who shatters the shining glass.
Legend
Whether this book is ‘Divergent‘s ugly stepsister or better half is still being debated. But, either way, if you haven’t read this series.. they are worth giving a chance. I would recommend this if you enjoy young adult, fast paced, dystopian fans looking for something besides ‘The Hunger Games.‘
Lies and Other Drugs by CoraLee June – TBR
Publication date: December 2018
Pages: 188
Genre: Fiction, Reverse harem, Romance, Suspense
Series: Book 1 of 2: Lies Trilogy
Killing my brother’s murderers has become my latest obsession.
Against the advice of my alcoholic therapist, I’ve left my life behind, moving across the country with just two goals in mind: Take down the elite Ivy League School that covered up my twin brother’s death, and seek revenge on the ones responsible.
But nothing is what it seems at Blackwood University, and it starts to feel like I’m grieving a stranger.
Although I’m prepared to do whatever is necessary to bring his murderers to justice—nothing could prepare me for falling in love.
Y
Year of the Griffin by Diana Wynne Jones – Have read
Publication date: August 2000
Pages: 272
Genre: Children’s literature, Fantasy Fiction, Parody
Series: Book 2 of 2: Derkholm
It is eight years after the tours from offworld have stopped. High Chancellor Querida has retired, leaving Wizard Corkoran in charge of the Wizards’ University. Although Wizard Corkoran’s obsession is to be the first man on the moon, and most of his time is devoted to this project, he decides he will teach the new first years himself in hopes of currying the favor of the new students’ families—for surely they must all come from wealth, important families—and obtaining money for the University (which it so desperately needs). But Wizard Corkoran is dismayed to discover that one of those students—indeed, one he had such high hopes for, Wizard Derk’s own daughter Elda—is a huge golden griffin and that none of the others has any money at all.
Wizard Corkoran’s money-making scheme backfires, and when Elda and her new friends start working magic on their own, the schemes go wronger still. And when, at length, Elda ropes in her brothers Kit and Blade to send Corkoran to the moon . . . well . . . life at the Wizards’ University spins magically and magnificently out of control.
A place like the University was essential to the world, or the whole globe would be full of untrained wizards heaving mountains about like Elda, or worse, raising demons and getting those demons to teach them further shocking things to do.
This one, I have to admit, I reached for. I read this over ten/fifteen years ago so.. I know for a fact that it would be a different experience reading it now. However, if you’re interested in middle school grade, young adult high fantasy like ‘Harry Potter‘(but funnier).. I’d say this is a good choice.
You’ll Thank Me For This by Nina Siegal – TBR
Publication date: March 2021
Pages: 257
Genre: Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Coming-of-age story
Standalone
A pulse-pounding psychological thriller based on the popular Dutch tradition of blindfolding and dropping teens and pre-teens in the middle of a forest — and what happens when it goes horribly wrong.
Twelve-year old Karin is blindfolded and dropped into the Hoge Veluwe National Forest with three other children. With nothing but a few basic supplies and emergency food, the children are tasked with working together to navigate one of the Netherlands’ most beautiful and wild locations and return to where their families are anxiously waiting.
Karin quickly finds herself at odds with two of the older teens, and suddenly looks up to see that the other children have vanished. As Karin struggles against the elements to find her way back, she soon realizes that something far more sinister lurks in the woods.
Grace, Karin’s mother and an American married to a Dutch husband, has been nervous about this practice from the start. At first, she tells herself the space is good for her daughter, but as the hours begin to tick by and the children fail to arrive at their designated campsite, she becomes certain something has gone horribly wrong.
As Karin fights for survival, and Grace hastens to find her daughter, the night culminates in the reveal of a deadly secret—and a shocking confrontation—that will push each of them to her edge.
Did you read the part about how this is based off of an actual, real life tradition? Can you imagine dropping your kid in the middle of the woods and being like, ‘Okay, well, we’ll be in that direction‘ *points unhelpfully* ‘Good luck!‘
And that’s a wrap! If you participate in this, let me know, I would love to see what you would choose!
What has been your favorite read this month?
Mine (so far) is: House of Hollow.
Love this list! I also have Jasmine Throne on my summer tbr. I remember The Dark Lord ofDerholm, but I guess I never got to reading the sequel, whhich is a shame because Diana Wynn Jones is a fabulous author.The last one sounds scary!
Thank you! Hopefully we’ll both get a chance to read it soon! And I love DWJ but this ‘series’ gets so little love. If you read the second one, I would love to know what you think!
‘You’ll Thank Me For This’ does look pretty dark.. but I think it’s going to be a fantastic read! Is it sad that I kind of feel bad for the forest? Teens are terrifying. 😂